Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel.
So not everyone had managed to finish this weighty volume although some had completed a second or even a third reading.
All agreed that it was not an easy read but was well worth the effort.
Mantel writes beautifully and her evocation of a historical period is superb, meticulously researched, detailed and authentic.
The story unfolds mainly through wonderful dialogue and there are some lovely, economical descriptive passages all conveyed in language appropriate to the time.
The central character, Thomas Cromwell, is not generally viewed in a sympathetic light being seen as ambitious, unpleasant and manipulative (“as cunning as a bag of serpents” as Mantel’s Henry VIII has it).
Her, Mantel’s, Cromwell is altogether different.
From humble and abused beginnings he becomes one of the most powerful men in the land.
But through it all he retains his humanity and a strong moral sense.
The picture of his household and family life is tender and often amusing.
So he, Cromwell, comes across as quite a nice guy.
NS
(E-mail, 13th April, 2013)
Hi there, bookworms!
So I've re-done the math and regret to inform you that she, Mantel, did not quite achieve the coveted accolade of a Hull Action Aid Book Club five-star rating.
The mean average comes out at 4.4444444444444etc which is a 4 in our book.
I suppose we could have used the mode which would have been 5 but would have been unprecedented.
The median would also have been 4.
Isn't life complicated?
So she, Mantel, can walk off with a pocketful of Bookers but can't make our 5-star grade.
Perhaps she'll achieve it with the sequel which is, by all accounts, even better....................
Nige x
Then again, if you have the won the Man Booker prize, twice, the loss of 0.6 of a subjective star rating from a book club is hardly a serious problem.
PC
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