Reviews

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

sdpannell's review

Didn't like the prose style and found myself fighting through every page.

annieg4444's review

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Hillary Mantell is brilliant 

jaimemt_reads's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An excellent read.  Highly recommend.

kttnmttn's review

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

Really good book. Gave a deeply human view of the infamous Tudor Court cast of characters, plus an interesting look at how the normal people (women, mostly) of the age lived. I took a couple of points off because the writing style requires getting used to. I also didn't love how the story wrapped up with

the trial and death of Thomas More

and feel like the ending lines only work if you know what is coming next in history. Speaking of, I am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy, Bring Up the Bodies, and am anticipating liking that one even more!! 

zisforzoey's review against another edition

Not for me

debout's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

tildahlia's review against another edition

2.0

So I feel like I didn't do this book justice, but TLDR.

alexandramue's review against another edition

funny informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

english_lady03's review against another edition

5.0

I listened on the audio version of this about two years ago, and of course I've seen the TV adaptation at least twice. I consider it one of the best historical novels of the last several decades.

Readers of authors like Philippa Gregory be warned: this is NOT a fluffy romance. Its almost like a political thriller. It is one of the best depictions of Tudor court politics that I've probably ever seen (or heard), so if you want realism. Read this. If you want pretty romance and silly fluff, don't.

Not everyone will agree with the depiction of certain historical figures, especially Sir Thomas More, and of course, the protagonist, Thomas Cromwell himself, but this is a novel that makes you think and helps you see the world from the perspective of a 16th century person. Well worth the read.

inhisbluegardens's review

challenging informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think it's fair to say that Hilary Mantel was a titan of modern literature and I am simply a FOOL for never having read her before. My attempt to remedy this was to sign up for the Footnotes & Tangents slows read of the Cromwell trilogy on Substack - it is *the* definitive read-along.

Wolf Hall describes the beginnings of Thomas Cromwell's rise to power in the courts of Henry VIII. Mantel's prose is a feast for the senses - this is history, viscerally told. Her imagery is so alive and atmospheric, it is genuinely spell-binding. Her characterisation of Cromwell is compelling. His calculating shrewdness, his quiet observation borne of a childhood at the mercy of his violent father is the making of him.

Alliances shift, betrayals abound and ambition bubbles under the surface of every interaction. A staggering work of fiction.