Wolfhall Trilogy [Wolfhall, Bring Up The Bodies, The Mirror and The Light : Book Review] published

Titles: Wolfhall, Bring Up the Bodies, The Mirror and The Light

Author: Hilary Mantel

                                           

The Wolfhall Trilogy: As Girths Thicken and Sins Multiply*

Outset: A version of this review was published by Think Publication : a book lovers collective. I left all stylistic freedom with the editor and her team and the review was published in a lovely verse-form reminiscent of Bernadine Evaristo's style in her novel Girl, Woman, Other. Interested readers may view it here

This is a fine trilogy. In all three books Mantel describes events with an impeccable turn of phrase littered with a piquant wit that is, in the best -and the worst-of occasions, deliciously tongue-in-cheek. What held my interest throughout each book - in the respective year when it was published - was that the author managed to avoid excessive background detailing, eg. the many shades of the sky, the number of spots on a goat and so on in order to set the mood. The books are replete with dialogue that keep the reader immersed and entertained.

The first book revolved around getting Anne Boleyn on the throne. The second book revolved around getting Anne off the throne. The last book proceeds with wading through the onslaught that follows in the wake of accomplishing the enterprise delineated in the second book, and how it tells on Thomas Cromwell and those who were key executors of the King's wishes. 

Coming to the themes: The book is set during the reign of the Tudors. Henry VIII decides to do a little polito-theological jig by deciding to find ways to divorce his wife Queen Katherine in order to wed Anne Boleyn. Then ways are found to rid him of Anne in order to allow him to marry Jane Seymour (and so the story goes). Some of this appears to be driven by Henry VIII's desperate desire to bear a son. These private travails snowball into England separating from the Church of Rome, establishing the Church of England and - consequently- constantly being on the look-out for a retaliation from the Emperor of Rome, for these actions. The books deal with a myriad of topics ranging from social upheavals to theology to political unrest to how to cross-examine a witness to how to go about an elderflower cordial to how to evade a beheading (though not enough of the characters appear to heed this advice). Issues such as political intrigue, diplomatic manoeuvres, clambering for the king's favour, 'yes men' and their machinations would resonate with contemporary times - however, one should probably not expect to be gifted a seal (the mammal) by an ambassador.

An interesting aspect of the book is that the more powerful Cromwell becomes the more his success is juxtaposed with scenes from his disturbing childhood and rather vagabond youth. The first two books appear to contain greater reminisces of Cromwell's moments with his deceased wife and daughters while the last book contains far more sordid memories from his childhood with a sprinkling of his wistful nostalgia for his time in Italy. It is as if each victory appears to tighten the defining yoke of Cromwell's origins, a yoke that eventually appears to bring everything crashing down. The third book indicates how Cromwell begins to disappear into his own musings. This is indicated by his desire to-he believes rightfully-be declared regent in the event of Henry's untimely demise and his increasing neuroticism regarding policy and practice.

Some may believe that these books focus on the life of Thomas Cromwell, a man who rises up the ranks from being a hatchet-man for an erstwhile close aid of Henry VIII, to becoming one of Henry VIII's closest advisors and confidants. Some others may believe that these works revolve around Anne Boleyn, a woman who was linked to one of England's founding families i.e., the Howards, for whom Henry divorced his Spanish wife and queen, Katherine. I believe that while these are definitely key aspects of the book(s), what the book actually revolves around, is the rule of Henry VIII and the state of England both domestically and internationally, through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell. Throughout the book a seamless parallel is drawn between the rise of Cromwell's star and the consolidation of Henry VIII's rule. The biggest hint in favour of this hypothesis is the 'Author's Note' at the end of the final book that documents the developments under Henry's rule post-Cromwell.

An article recently encouraged the fashion-savvy to read the final book in the trilogy while alluding to it alongside a breathless appreciation for Anne Boleyn's style and how she influenced the 16th century. Please do not read The Mirror and The Light assuming there will be much mention of Anne Boleyn's fashion preferences. If you you do that then you're going to be exceptionally frustrated after wading through the 882 pages that comprise The Mirror and The Light. While the first and second books revolve around Henry VIII's relationship with Anne Boleyn (which is where one will find many more references to her dressing, style et al) the references to Anne Boleyn, in the last instalment are, at best, in terms of how the protagonist and his officers are haunted about their part in the drastic step taken by their ruler, and, in  terms of effacing her existence in order to recycle cloth, bauble and insignias in deference to the new queen. In the aforementioned article, the details regarding Anne's dressing are offered via excerpts from the other books on Anne Boleyn and not from The Mirror and The Light.

On a more humorous note: In some ways Henry VIII's fervour for love, beheadings and to have all of his arbitrary whims  to be met with an obsequious smile, reminded me of the Queen of Hearts in the Walt Disney animation of Alice in Wonderland.

While I definitely recommend these books, I suggest that the third instalment be read when the reader has ample time to spare. The last book weighs a lot more, cognitively as well as page-wise, than the first two. The Mirror and The Light, lends an air of finality indicating that the author finally wanted to move on from the Cromwell and Henry saga while ensuring that the readers were provided a well-crafted and substantive ending, thereby allowing them to move on as well. Kudos.

*paraphrased from The Mirror and the Light [page 682]