Bring Up the Bodies: A Novel (Wolf Hall Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

Fascinating take on how Thomas Cromwell managed to get rid of so many people who had offended him one fell swoop, and false charges were laid against innocent Queen Anne, her friends and her brother George in such a blatantly devious diabolical manner. King Henry was a deliberately willful idiot. He wanted a son and so was willing to kill his Queen with any excuse. She didn't sleep with him for 7 years - she held out for a crown and marriage. Yet he's so stupid he thinks her character is going to change and she is going to have casual sex with 3 of the courtiers when it benefits her nothing to do so? Absurd. A very very good book. So sad that she was set up like this. Her revenge from the grave is that her daughter Elizabeth is the greatest Queen England has even known.

Just finished second book in series and although I know the ending historically, I'm beginning to wonder how this one will spin out. This is not the Cromwell presented in so many biographies, historical fictions or movies. Two thirds through the series I was beginning to think he was a dark Santa Claus..until Anne Boleyn! Yes, there were many references to a darker past, a terrible childhood. This Cromwell took in orphans, fed every hungry person within miles, smiles benevolently on obvious enemies who jealously covet his masters' confidences and rewards. This Cromwell remains a spymaster, a collector of both false information and the occasional slip of the lip. Left out seems to be the number of religious facilities that were pillaged to make his master wealthy and Anne Boleyn's desire for that money to care for the poor. But so goes fiction and I impatiently await the last book in the trilogy.

Oh, this book! Wow!That said, it's not for everyone. You will appreciate it and understand it far better if you have a basic knowledge of Tudor history—and by that, I mean more than being able to list the names of all six wives of Henry VIII.This, the second in the Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel, continues the story of the life of Thomas Cromwell, who is arguably the most misunderstood and wrongly disparaged personage from this time period. (And, yes, you need to read the books in order, so begin with "Wolf Hall: A Novel.") Mantel brilliantly tells the events of a single year—summer of 1535 to the summer of 1536—entirely from Cromwell's point of view.And what a year that was. Focusing on the rapid downfall and beheading of Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, the story is told afresh because it is all portrayed from how Cromwell viewed it, including his own masterful manipulations to do the king's bidding: Get rid of Anne so he could marry Jane Seymour. Even though we all know how the story ends, this book presents the tragic plot in a whole new way and shows not only the conniving Cromwell, but also the loving, generous side of the man that the history books tend to ignore.The best and most brilliant part of this book is the writing. It is absolutely exquisite with an exceptional eye for detail that will seemingly deposit the reader into the middle of the sixteenth century and right into the volatile court of King Henry VIII. Think intriguing, seductive, and sophisticated—all in one. Descriptions of sounds, flavors, odors, sights, and even touch are so vivid, so perfect that it seems as if you can really hear, taste, smell, see, and feel them.Bonus: If you're reading this on the Kindle, the X-ray feature is incredibly useful in that it clearly and succinctly defines each character's role and title. This is an excellent tool for keeping straight the varied and large cast of characters. It's especially helpful when someone is called by his title and not his name, such as the Duke of Norfolk. Click on X-ray, and you'll be told the Duke of Norfolk is Thomas Howard, uncle to the queen, ferocious senior peer, and an enemy of Cromwell. (There is also a Cast of Characters at the front of the book with the same information for those reading the paper version, but for Kindle readers it is much easier to click on X-Ray than "flip" back to that.)

The sequel to Wolf Hall. This book is very well written, and for the most part, Ms. Mantel has solved her problem with the "he, "him," whoever issue. She more clearly explains who is doing the speaking.This book covers the approximate three year period of time during which Anne Boleyn was queen of England. Although it took seven years to marry King Henry, she was married only three years. She failed to produce a son, so Henry decided to take a new wife. This book explains in detail the plot to rid the kingdom of Anne. (Really, of all the Boleyns.)While Ms. Mantel admits that this is not a history, per se, it is rather a story of what might have happened. There is no surviving transcript of Anne's trial. She was not allowed a defense attorney. We still don't know - not really - whether she was the wanton strumpet that Cromwell and the others hoped she was, or is she was much maligned.This book illustrates clearly how powerful Thomas Cromwell became. He became a very wealthy man and had much property. He rose very high in Henry's court. He had absolute power - second only to Henry himself. It is awe inspiring to think just how powerful he became.I simply cannot wait until the next book in the series is printed!! Please hurry, Ms. Mantel!

I have have enjoyed the story relating to the King and his rationalisations and manipulations (however did the author know about the King’s state of mind, so intimately, even to the extent that he liked Seymour’s “duckies” (clearly before the relationship went sour!). It’s the prosaic historical and political ‘connective tissue’ between these bones, albeit interesting scenes that I found somewhat tedious—reading in bed would not last beyond five minutes before my eyes lost focus and my brain glazed over (though I am now well informed about jousting and have resolved to avoid it at all costs). But what is intriguing is that it’s an early account of Brexit, isn’t it? One feels oneself in the era, quite convincingly, because the day-to-day anxieties are somehow not dissimilar, hoping that there would be an ultimate reversal of the break with Rome (the EU) with the restoration of England’s rapprochement with Europe. But you know what? I felt a great deal of kinship with Thomas, the way he had to dance around the King’s ego for the sake of survival – for I felt exactly in the same position as the head of an English department, dancing around and patting the inflated egos of other academics, especially that of the red-bearded Dean, who, like the King, was very much like a circus lion with claws.

The second novel in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy is still worth reading, and here we see that Henry has set his eye on another young lady, this time Jane Seymour. After all Anne Boleyn has only been able to supply him with one healthy child, and alas the baby was female. As we see the king start to show his age, with former injuries and illnesses, so we also start to see the real rise of his paranoia; and then there is Anne, who never that popular with the vast majority of the country, seemingly thinking that because she is queen she is somehow able to do more or less as she pleases – but of course there can be only one ruler.Although as before we have the king and queen and others in this story, the real attraction is of course the enigmatic Thomas Cromwell. Once again Mantel is ready to step into the crevices of history to try and give a rounder figure to this person, who over the years has been reviled, although the only real cause that can be seen for this is due to the later monarchs rewriting history for their own purposes. As not too much is really known as fact about Cromwell so Mantel has picked an ideal character for her books, and being in some ways sympathetic to him, she doesn’t shy away from things that we would consider beyond the pale today. By fleshing him out so even if she is wrong on certain points it does not matter, because she helps put us into his shoes and see the problems that he had to face and deal with.Here then we see old scores settled and new alliances being made. With the deaths of Wolsey and More in the last novel, here we see Cromwell at times pondering what mainly his old mentor would have said or done, and also what More would think about certain issues, thus we see someone who is contemplating his next move, rather that just rushing in blindly. Of course, after having made Anne queen, now Cromwell has to bring her down, so that Jane can take her place. This as with the other books in the trilogy also have perhaps become more pertinent, as we are living through uncertain times. We now have this Coronavirus to deal with, whereas back in the day it would have been plague and other illnesses, we have a country that is trying to forge a new way in the world, and finding itself directionless to a degree, because of Brexit, and with Henry VIII becoming more paranoid and less able to predict, so we can see similarities with someone like Trump, which gives the trilogy a certain added frisson.I had only read the first book previously Wolf Hall, which I have just recently reread as I want to read all the books in order, so it means although of course I know all the story, as indeed we all do, so I can see more and more similarities between the past and the present, and by reading them back to back, so the story somehow seems to flow better and be more immediate.

Bring up the Bodies is the follow up book to Wolf Hall. It takes up where Wolf Hall left off and continues the saga of Oliver Cromwell and friends. It tells English past events in a fresh and very readable style. No stuffy history here. This is faction at its best. Mantel’s sequence is well worth reading if you enjoy this genre of writing. The book is a long read, but worth the effort. I found I tried to pace myself - failing miserably - so as to enjoy the writing, story and drama as long as possible.The writing is elegant and beautiful. I liked this book very much.

I read Wolf Hall the year it was released and it has taken me a while to get round to the second book of the trilogy and I am filled with regret for taking so long - I've had time to read it several times over ; I feel like I've missed out.Mantel's man in the spotlight, Thomas Cromwell is an intriguing character and his work (for good or ill) in the court of Henry VIII is well worth examination - maybe it is better examined in fiction because Mantel does such an amazing job. Her characterization of all the main courtiers and officials in Henry's life is second to none. You will know them all so well by the end of the book that you will find yourself worrying about some of them. Sadly, some of them will come to an early end - Cromwell is exceptional. In spite of his work , I found myself quote liking him. I tended towards blaming Henry for most of the awful stuff that befalls his courtiers (and Anne Boleyn) but of course, Henry told Cromwell what he wanted and Cromwell merely ensured his master was pleased with the outcomes, whilst protecting Henry from any suggestion of wrongdoing or misunderstanding.Mantel's handling of pace is second to none - I could not stop reading. It is a book rich in dialogue; there is a lot of it but it is what brings characters to life. You read it and feel, often, like you are reading a play. Her books are dramatic, thrilling with levels of historical research to satisfy any historical fiction fan.Sadly, in straightened times, I will have to wait until her next book comes down in price before reading it....the anticipation is already killing me!

For me wolf hall was slow and, at times very confusing. The fact there are 4 thomas's didn't help, and the author would write "he said" without it being clear who "he" was! This book glides along at a very good pace, the characters are well established and he, Cromwell, as he is now referred to throughout is a wonderful subject for a book like this. Can't wait for the next installment