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• Mantel writes beautiful prose and has a deeply held perspective on history. After a zillion books about Anne Boleyn and her fair, but lost head, Mantel's telling of this story is rich and compelling. Seen through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, the Tudor court is both glittering and rotting. As Henry's top advisor it is up to Cromwell to re-write the past, to punish transgressors to Henry's vision, and to remove any obstacle to Henry's desire for a son.Henry is an after-thought here. He's the Wizard of Ozian character, back behind the curtain, pulling the levers and setting the task. The stars here are Anne and Cromwell as they pursue a fever-pitched battle for survival. If you know only the bare bones of this history, you know who won (and no, it was neither Anne nor Cromwell).Mantel's writing is impeccable, her plot and timing spot-on, her imagery vivid. This is not your average historical fiction, but rather a deep dive into the history of the Tudor court in all its tarnished beauty. A must read.

  5.00 out of 5

  kraaivrouw

• A fabulous read, with an almost hypnotic quality, in both the style of writing and the descriptions, that draws the reader into the Tudor period and offers a fascinating portrayal of Thomas Cromwell as a man of intelligence and wit in a way that induces sympathy from the reader even as he plots the downfall of others in his attempt to serve the king by any means necessary.

  5.00 out of 5

  melparish

• I really enjoyed Wolf Hall, the first of Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Oliver Cromwell, but this one is even better. I can't possibly say anything in a review that hasn't been said by the hundreds of reviews posted. Continuing the technique she employed in Wolf Hall, Mantel has the story told from the point of view of Cromwell, as he threads his way through the intrigues of Henry VIII's court, the maneuverings of rival families to maintain control through the women closest to Henry, and the ultimate downfall of Anne Boleyn.The historical detail and the dialogue ring so true to the period. Mantel shows us Cromwell as he manipulates people and opportunities to advance Henry and himself. She does not spare the sensitivities of her readers, giving us an unvarnished glimpse of the brutal, bloody, and traitorous mores of the Tudor Court. It is historical fiction at its best.

  5.00 out of 5

  tututhefirst

• This is a book about diplomacy. It demonstrates how people may have negotiated their positions in an age of superstition and little freedom. Mantel's objective is to bring the reader 'behind the eyes' of Cromwell, using a third person singular and recording his thoughts and actions as events unfold.

  5.00 out of 5

  freelancer_frank

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