Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wolf Hall

Machinations. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will experience delight from Hilary Mantel’s finely written novel, Wolf Hall. Almost six hundred pages and packed with a giant cast of characters, the novel is set during the reign of England’s King Henry VIII. The protagonist is Thomas Cromwell, who comes across as a more sympathetic and complex character than is described in history. Those readers whose knowledge of Cromwell and Thomas More comes from the Robert Bolt play, A Man For All Seasons, will find a darker More and a kinder Cromwell in Wolf Hall. Those readers who enjoy this period of history will find an easier time keeping track of the characters; others may need to keep referring back to the list of characters to keep the players straight. The political machinations are presented with a liveliness that makes an exciting historical time seem contemporary, while remaining true to its period.

Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended)
Click here to purchase Wolf Hall from amazon.com.

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