Novel About Wily 16th-Century Lawyer & Adviser to Henry VIII Wins Rave Reviews
It may not be the best choice for those seeking winter resort reading. But a challenging novel about a 16th-century lawyer who served as a top advisor to Henry VIII is winning rave reviews both in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall brings Thomas Cromwell (Oliver Cromwell’s lesser-known relative) vividly to life, reports a Wall Street Journal book review. (In a New York Times book review, Janet Maslin describes the book’s characters as “scorchingly well-rendered.”)
“Make no mistake: In the shark-tank that was Henry’s court, Cromwell was as skilled and as deadly as any,” states the WSJ review. “But in Wolf Hall he is the one whose motives we come to understand. And since we know what makes him tick better than we do any of the other players in the drama, we come under his spell and begin to see events from his point of view.”
Additional coverage:
Bloomberg: “Hilary Mantel Wins $79,500 Man Booker Prize With ‘Wolf Hall’ “
Daily Mail: “Prince of Darkness: The truth about Thomas Cromwell”
