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2015 Book Review #9: Wolf Hall
Title: Wolf Hall
Author: Hilary Mantel
Genre: Historical Fiction (Henry VIII)
Thingummies: 3.5
Synopsis: Clever, ruthless, loyal Thomas Cromwell tries to help his master, Henry VIII, marry Anne Boleyn.
Thoughts: A new spin on a well-covered time--Mantel takes a look at the beginning of Henry VIII's rotating cast of wives through the lens of an upstart commoner who manages to rise to the top of the court. Cromwell is a ruthless man, but his perspective paints him as having his own kind of principles and a deep loyalty that guides him to the side of the king.
It's an interesting look at court politics, and the politics themselves can be riveting. But Mantel also takes a dreamy approach to time, with flashbacks weaving in and out of the text, that I found to be artificial and irritating. It's a very literary approach to historical fiction, and while I can enjoy literary, I found this to be literary in the service of literariness rather than in the service of the story. It feels pretentious and unnecessary, and does not accomplish its own goals. I'm debating whether to read the sequel or not. I like Cromwell as a character and while everyone knows what happens to Anne, there's still a kind of suspense. But I'm not sure whether I like Mantel's style enough to stick it out.
Author: Hilary Mantel
Genre: Historical Fiction (Henry VIII)
Thingummies: 3.5
Synopsis: Clever, ruthless, loyal Thomas Cromwell tries to help his master, Henry VIII, marry Anne Boleyn.
Thoughts: A new spin on a well-covered time--Mantel takes a look at the beginning of Henry VIII's rotating cast of wives through the lens of an upstart commoner who manages to rise to the top of the court. Cromwell is a ruthless man, but his perspective paints him as having his own kind of principles and a deep loyalty that guides him to the side of the king.
It's an interesting look at court politics, and the politics themselves can be riveting. But Mantel also takes a dreamy approach to time, with flashbacks weaving in and out of the text, that I found to be artificial and irritating. It's a very literary approach to historical fiction, and while I can enjoy literary, I found this to be literary in the service of literariness rather than in the service of the story. It feels pretentious and unnecessary, and does not accomplish its own goals. I'm debating whether to read the sequel or not. I like Cromwell as a character and while everyone knows what happens to Anne, there's still a kind of suspense. But I'm not sure whether I like Mantel's style enough to stick it out.