Author: Hilary Mantel
First published: 2009
Add it: Goodreads, Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★☆
Last year when I was in Vancouver on a conference I stumbled upon a wonderful bookstore selling used books. I didn't have much money on me, but I still spent an hour there and bought three rather thick books. Then I walked about 15 km with this heavy parcel in my hand because my hotel was already far behind and I had big touristic plans for the day. I was so dead at the end of the day that I cursed my book-buying addiction. But I repented thinking so as soon as I looked at my precioussssses again (and took a bath!).
These three books were Titus Groan, Wolf Hall and Watership Down (which I haven't read yet, but will soon!). Now I can say that at least two of them were totally worth the effort :)
Sometimes I think that half of all the historical novels out there are about Henry VIII. But I doubt any of them are anything like Wolf Hall. The novel is written from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell, one of the most powerful courtiers of Henry VIII's time. He is behind Henry's first divorce, the new legislation concerning ecclesiastical matters and foreign politics of the time, so his is a VERY informed point of view! He is also an interesting person himself - born a son of a smith, having served abroad for the most of his youth, learned not only in economy but also in theological matters, with wide correspondence abroad and an infinite influence at court, but still despised by every titled man of the realm for his descent... An outstanding person indeed!
The most striking feature of Wolf Hall is its writing. It is sometimes hard to get into it after a long pause, but as soon as you do, it doesn't let you go. And I mean, literally! I physically couldn't stop reading, I didn't notice how many pages ago I should have put it down to go do something useful (like getting food! Once I missed the shop's closing time and had to order a pizza.) Mantel doesn't give you the story in chunks, set in different places and peopled with different characters, divided by cliffhangers. Instead, she somehow makes you turn the pages even though the narrative is very calm and meditative, and nothing sudden happens.
The only problem I had with the writing was that Cromwell was always referenced as "he". Although the narrative is totally first person. Does it have some clever name? Help me out here, English majors! Anyway, I found it really confusing, because sometimes it was difficult to understand who is speaking or doing something. Imagine a passage like this: "Sir BlaBla remarks: "blablabla". He goes to the window". You would think that the "he" here refers to Sir BlaBla, but it doesn't! It's actually Cromwell who is doing it. So confusing.
In my book:
A beautifully written and haunting novel! Recommended even to those who are sick and tired of Henry VIII and his public family life.
I remember how confusing the matter with "he"-s was! One of the problem I put the book aside. Your review has given me a bit more motivation to start it again though (I planned to do it this year anyway). I'll try to be more patient and wait for that moment when I can't put the book away anymore :)
ReplyDeleteThe usage of "he" was killing me in the beginning, but I promise you it gets better! Good luck with your second go!
DeleteI had the same problem with pronouns but I found the book to be an interesting take on a well known tale. It is incredible history. I also read Bring Up the Bodies and I'm waiting for the 3rd book. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIs Bring Up the Bodies as good as the first one? I'm going to read it sometime, but I should probably take some rest from the crazy pronouns :)
DeleteWatership Down is a pretty great book. I haven't read anything by Hilary Mantel, but I really hoped to read A Place of Greater Safety, her historical novel of the French Revolution, this summer. I don't think it's going to happen... but your review of this one (which I've heard many positive things about) makes me want to read her as soon as I can.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard about A Place of Greater Safety, need to check it out... I'm not a fan of the French revolution though. English royalty is so much better! :)
DeleteI have high expectations for Watership Down, and I think I'll finally read it this spring!
This book has been on my to-read list since it came out. Your review makes me want to read it even more, maybe it will be a good choice for a readathon one of these times. Maybe since you told me the "he" is always Cromwell I will be less confused than I would have.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a good candidate for a read-a-long! I know I would have merited from some discussion! making sense of all the "he"s is not that difficult is you keep it in mind! Hope it helps!
DeleteWow, I think we had the exact same experience with Wolf Hall. I was so unsure of it in the beginning, but the book and Hilary Mantel's style just quietly grew on me and I slowly could see its brilliance. The "he, Cromwell" was very confusing and I also could not keep straight everyone in the story because sometimes Cromwell used their first name, sometimes he called them the Duke of blah blah, sometimes he had a pet name for them, etc. .
ReplyDeleteTotally agree about names/titles/pet names! I would be very helpful to have them ALL listed in the character list. Maybe I should have kept my own, but I'm a lazy reader and never do things like this :)
DeleteIf I remember correctly, Mantel plans on writing a third book and I'm holding out for that one before I begin with any of then. At first I didn't want to read this novel because I have been very disappointed in the other Tudor novels that others highly recommended. But this one is a Man Booker winner and whatever doubts I may have had were set aside with that. This has to be better than the other Tudor inspired novels I've read.
ReplyDeleteI also feel suspicious about Tudor novels - there are so many of them that the chance of it being crap is rather big. But the Man Booker prize helped me decide too. Also,it doesn't have a girl in a gorgeous dress that have nothing to do with the epoch on the cover. It's also a sign for me :)
DeleteI loved Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies. ButB was more readable than Wolf Hall, too. I think Mantel got so many complaints about the overuse of "he" that she decided to say he, Cromwell... instead. He, Cromwell, said such and such, etc. That got a bit tiresome, too, but at least there was less confusion. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I heard this story too. And Bring Up the Bodies was an easier read for the better use of the he said stuff.
DeleteAlthough we started to see the darker side of Cromwell coming out...and I can't wait for the third book to be published...will Mantel become the first person to win 3 Bookers for the books in the same series?
Excellent review of an excellent book. I can't wait for the rest of the story in Bring up the Bodies. Yes, the style and ambiguous use of "he" takes some getting used to, but I agree that it's worth the effort.
ReplyDelete