Book Name - Wolf Hall

Author - Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel won the 2009 Man Booker Prize for her fabulous work ‘Wolf Hall’, after having won thousands of fans the world over! From my humble position as an avid reader and an aspiring writer, I must say, she is perhaps one of the most deserving winners.

Wolf Hall is a fictionalized account of true events that transpired in 16^th century England when Christianity in Europe was thrown into turmoil by the whims of the Lion of England, Henry VIII and his insatiable desire to marry Anne Boleyn. This seemingly innocuous feat stunned devout Catholics all over England, from priests and bishops to the common people, as it required the monarch to annul his first marriage to queen Katherine. Wolf Hall traces this event, the proposed consequences and the roles played by Henry’s councilors and advisers in subverting the predicted downfall of England amidst the rise of Protestantism in Germany. This book primarily focuses on the part played by Thomas Cromwell, a ‘low-born’ albeit self- made man, in achieving what many considered impossible. Cromwell is a shrewd and charming genius who, in this account, almost single- handedly restores England to peace and prosperity during these trying times. How he rises from nowhere and evolves into Henry’s closest confidant and advisor, how he becomes the man who ‘runs the show’, is the crux of this book, and it makes for an intriguing and thoroughly engaging tale, thanks to the brilliant writing. Put in one word, this book is Phenomenal!

Hilary Mantel has a unique style of writing. It’s an artful combination of modern sensibilities and ancient poeticism that keeps you glued. Thomas Cromwell is the classic hero. Despite a troubled upbringing, he gets himself educated in the laws of the land and uses his intelligence to climb up the hierarchy of influential people in England, all the while, with his heart in the right place.

As the author draws you into the life of Thomas Cromwell, you are introduced as much to the nuances of life in 16^th century England, as to the clandestine lives of aristocrats and royals wrapped in a shroud of greed, mercenary marriages, incest, infidelity, and envy. Religion is prime, and under the staunch policing of Christian extremists, it doesn’t take much to commit heresy. Amidst all this, is the slow rise in popularity of Martin Luther and his followers. As Lutheran writings and translations of the Bible in English are smuggled into their pious land, society has to brace itself for change. But change comes at a price, and martyrs are made in the quest for liberation from the deceptive and often hostile practices of the Church. As all this is brought to you, you cannot help the feeling of anger at the Church, you cannot help rejoice at the minor victories of the ‘heretics’. While Henry and Anne’s obstinate struggle for acceptance by the English society predominates the plot, silently in the backdrop unravels the slow but steady reformation of that society as wise and learned men open their eyes to new interperetations of the Bible. Wolf Hall is as much a royal saga as it is a story of men of faith, wise men, shrewd, earnest, diligent, men of integrity, men ruthlessly dedicated to God’s word. However, it is primarily the story of the self- made Thomas Cromwell, an intelligent and fiercely sensible man who helps make history despite the social strata he was born into. In 16^th century England, where only men born to aristocracy ever had the opportunity to influence decision- making, his arduous but exciting journey from a butcher’s household to becoming England’s second most powerful man, is certainly laudable.

Period dramas are often complicated by the infusion of too many characters, too many relationships, and too many details to remember. Although, this does tend to happen occasionally in this book as well, on the whole, Hilary Mantel keeps it simple and straightforward. Historical sagas also tend to take a while to pick up pace; this book on the other hand, gets you hooked from the word go. Without a doubt, one of the best period dramas I have ever read. I hear the author has already started working on a sequel. Needless to say, I will be eagerly looking forward to that!