His children are falling from the sky.
by Charlotte Reads Classics
I think I may have mentioned this every time I have written about Hilary Mantel or about a book by Hilary Mantel, but I’ll say it again: I LOVE HILARY MANTEL. I have to read all of her books or my life will be ruined. Bring Up the Bodies is about Thomas Cromwell and takes place during the nine months leading up to Anne Boleyn’s death. We all know Anne and Henry don’t live happily ever after tending to their enormous brood of sons so I’ll skip the plot and go straight for one of my favourite bits:
Once he had watched Liz making a silk braid. One end was pinned to the wall and on each finger of her raised hands she was spinning loops of thread, her fingers flying so fast he couldn’t see how it worked. ‘Slow down,’ he said, ‘so I can see how you do it,’ but she’d laughed and said, ‘I can’t slow down, if I stopped to think how I was doing it I couldn’t do it at all.’
This sums up what makes this book so fascinating – Mantel makes a point in Wolf Hall about the world not being run from where you think it is. Everyone is subject to scheming, underhand loyalties and bargaining; the Lords, the court and even the King. Cromwell seems to be right in the midst of it all and things always seem to be going his way, he controls court life with invisible strings. This book makes it seem like a dangerous time to be alive – even your thoughts can cost you your life.
I liked Bring Up the Bodies because it shows such a famous historical event from the perspective of a man we don’t pay much attention to. It also portrayed Jane Seymour with a focus she probably deserved, she was recognised by the King but a lot of modern historians keep her lost in Anne Boleyn’s shadow. I’m intrigued about the plot of the final book because my historical knowledge ends with the Kings and Queens and I’ve become quite attached to this version of Thomas Cromwell! There were times when I felt like Mantel didn’t add to what she’d achieved in Wolf Hall but the ending has left me completely desperate for more. In comparison with this book’s predecessor Mantel hasn’t lost her touch. She still controls language like no other writer, and builds up layer upon layer to a scene until it feels like you’re sitting on Cromwell’s shoulder.
Totally worth the wait.
Charlotte Reads Classics 
I love Hilary Mantel too; I think her writing is glorious–now! What I love most about her is that she has shown me how great works happen: by dint of dedication and perseverance. I read Eight Months on Ghazzah Street many years ago. Like Hilary, I lived in Jeddah. Unlike Hilary, I was married to a Saudi and stayed in Jeddah 17 years. The book was so-so in plot, simply because the author was on the outside. She did the best she could with the experience she had, in my opinion. I also agree and understand what she did in A Place of Greater Safety: she wrote like a lawyer (her own words, if I recall correctly). I wanted to finish it but couldn’t engage enough with any of the characters–and I am a francophone. Still, I enjoyed what I read, if that makes sense, and intend to finish the work. What Mantel has shown me and no doubt many others is that if you adore writing and have talent and work with passion, you may–if you have enough time, money and the right muse–write a masterpiece. Or two.
Bravo Hilary~! In the great body of world literature, your ripples will be seen.
Yes definitely, I like that you have been able to read the evolution in her writing. I loved A Place of Greater Safety and would have said it was my favourite, until I read Wolf Hall for the second time. I think with Thomas Cromwell she has really hit her stride.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this! Have just read the first 20 pages, but need to catch up with Clarissa before I can totally devote myself to Bring Up the Bodies. Must read faster…
Well done on prioritising Clarissa though, its always the first book I put aside when a new book comes along!
Eeee I can’t wait to read this! Loved Wolf Hall, she is such an amazing writer. I didn’t realise she planned it as part of a trilogy – even better!
She is! I’m so pleased it is a trilogy, especially so when I got to the end of this one 😉
[…] I ventured to my local library to see if they had a copy, having been greatly influenced by Charlotte Reads Classics and Dove Grey Reader and their posts on the sequel Bring Up the Bodies. Alas I saw no copy on […]