Bring Up the Bodies: A Novel

Written by Hilary Mantel

Narrated by Simon Vance

The sequel to Hilary Mantel's 2009 Man Booker Prize winner and New York Times bestseller, Wolf Hall delves into the heart of Tudor history with the downfall of Anne Boleyn

Though he battled for seven years to marry her, Henry is disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. She has failed to give him a son and her sharp intelligence and audacious will alienate his old friends and the noble families of England. When the discarded Katherine dies in exile from the court, Anne stands starkly exposed, the focus of gossip and malice.

At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down. Over three terrifying weeks, Anne is ensnared in a web of conspiracy, while the demure Jane Seymour stands waiting her turn for the poisoned wedding ring. But Anne and her powerful family will not yield without a ferocious struggle. Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies follows the dramatic trial of the queen and her suitors for adultery and treason. To defeat the Boleyns, Cromwell must ally with his natural enemies, the papist aristocracy. What price will he pay for Anne's head?

Bring Up the Bodies is the winner of the 2012 Man Booker Prize
Bring Up the Bodies is one of Publishers Weekly's Top 10 Best Books of 2012 and one of The Washington Post's 10 Best Books of 2012

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: May 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781427225832

Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel is the author of seventeen books, including A Place of Greater Safety, Beyond Black, the memoir Giving Up the Ghost and the short story collection The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher. Her latest novel, The Mirror & the Light, won the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, while Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies were both awarded the Booker Prize.

Reviews for Bring Up the Bodies

[melparish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fabulous read, with an almost hypnotic quality, in both the style of writing and the descriptions, that draws the reader into the Tudor period and offers a fascinating portrayal of Thomas Cromwell as a man of intelligence and wit in a way that induces sympathy from the reader even as he plots the downfall of others in his attempt to serve the king by any means necessary.

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, so I was a wee bit worried that her second in the series, Bring Up the Bodies would not live up to my high expectations. Thankfully, Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies not only lived up to my expectations, she surpassed them. I found myself unable to set the book down and eagerly await her next book.

[visuallibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great detail and fast paced narrative. On parr with her first book Wolf Hall.

[everfresh1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Maybe the magic has little worn off after 'Wolf Hall' - which I liked a lot - but the the writing style started to annoy me, portrait of Thomas Cromwell became less and less realistic, some characters (Anne Boylen) seem not completely developed. Still, strong and unique novel.

[angelic55blonde · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I did not get a chance to read Wolf Hall, and this book is the second in the series. However saying that, I had no problem following the story or getting engrossed in it. As long as you know of the history of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, you will be able to read this book without having to read Wolf Hall first. I will be getting Wolf Hall based on my experience with this one.This was a great book from start to finish. I personally loved how it was from the eyes of Cromwell. Most historical fiction novels based on this time period are almost always through the eyes of Anne Boleyn, her sister or even Henry VIII himself. However, I haven't seen many through Crmowell's eyes. I loved this perspective and it allowed the writer greater freedom than the would have had otherwise. This is absolutely a fiction novel about the downfall of Anne Boleyn and the rise of Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour. From the beginning the reader is brought into this world. I could hardly put this book down.I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good fiction novel. Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this book as well as people who don't really know the first thing about Anne Boleyn or Thomas Cromwell. However, I would suggest reading Wolf Hall first, but it is not required as in other series where the reader would be utterly lost if they didn't read the books in sequence.

[the_hibernator · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this second book of the Wolf Hall Trilogy, Mantel brings to life Thomas Cromwell during the reign and fall of Anne Boleyn. I've noticed a few reviews saying that Bring Up the Bodies isn't quite as good as Wolf Hall, though I'm not sure why people feel this is so. This book is slightly lighter reading, and much more straightforward, than Wolf Hall, and I think that makes up for any slight loss of lyricism. Also, some people may not have liked Cromwell's character as much in this book as in the first, but this was necessary for historical accuracy. If anything, Mantel has made Cromwell more human and likable than I'd ever imagined him to be. And this, I think, is the magic of Mantel's writing. This book is about the people, not the events. And she has taken a rather slimy, vengeful, self-serving historical figure and delivered a man that we can relate to...and even like. So, personally, I think this book was slightly better than the first.

[nivramkoorb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an excellent follow up to "Wolf Hall". It did seem that the characters of both Henry and Anne Boleyn were less flushed out in this book. It seemed more focused on Cromwell. There was also a matter of factness to the last hundred pages when people were being tried and then executed. However, having seen "The Tudors" and read both of the Mantel books, I do look forward to the next one. Once you get the flow of the narrative which can be confusing as to who is speaking, the book is well written and very descriptive. I thoroughly recommend it.

[celerydog_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Marvellous sequel to 'Wolf Hall', perhaps even more enjoyable.Superb historical fiction from a wordsmith.Suitable for older teens, though some sexual innuendo.

[tboomer_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The undoing of Anne Boleyn unfolds with swift inevitability. Hilary Mantel brings Thomas Cromwell to life as one of the most interesting characters in historical fiction. He is a player and manipulator at the top of his game. Is he settling personal scores? Extracting revenge from those who brought down and humiliated his patron Cardinal Woolsey? Acting as the fixer and loyal servant of his king? ...Yes.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just when I thought that the topic of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII was truly exhausted, through many here in our challenge group, I heard about Mantel's latest.Since college days I've been fascinated with Anne Boleyn. She is one of my favorite historical characters and over many years I've enjoy reading about her personality and downfall through various different perspectives. Some books are scholarly written and heavily researched -- E.W. Ives for example. Others written in a historical fiction slant without embellishment and with some fiction but basically adherence to historical "fact", those in my opinion are written by Alison Weir and Carolly Erickson. And, then there is Phillipa Gregory who plays very fast and very inaccurately with this subject.It is a joy to read a book by an author who confesses the book is in the category of historical fiction, yet rarely have I found a book re. Anne Boleyn that weaves so much fact into an obviously well-researched story, while page after page holding the reader captive.Following on the heels of her bestselling and Man Booker Prize winning Wolf Hall, Mantel once again chronicles history through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, schooled by treacherous, cast- aside Cardinal Woolsey, he then became Henry's trusted and ruthless Chief Minister serving him well from 1532-1540.We learn of Anne's downfall through Cromwell's perspective. The cast of slimy characters show the underbelly of human nature. If you want to learn about court/political intrigue, then this is the book for you!If you want to learn about self aggrandizing plots that swirl wherein no one is spared from sudden downfall, this is the book for you.If, at times you believe your family is dysfunctional, read this book to realize you are not alone.In many books I've read, while Ann is portrayed as a shrew, yet also one to be pitied. In Bring Up The Bodies Ann's soul is laid bare. She is a conniving, cunning, intelligent and phony. She is a hypocrite who, while well versed in how to use people, is very naive in thinking she can stab and not be stabbed (hung) right back by those she so willingly threw to the lions of the court while gleefully watching their bodies hang from the Tower of London.As Cromwell plots and schemes Anne's downfall, knowing the tempestuous fickle, sociopathic nature of his boss, the snakes of the court bite and twine their way in ever constricting circles.This is the court of lies and deceit. This is the court of back stabbing snakes who smile in front of relatives, friends and foes while striking at the heel as soon the person is out of sight.These are the group wherein no one is spared from poisonous, violent attacks, either by sly smiles and pretend alliances or from sudden ambush.As the Boleyn faction wanes and the Seymour faction rises, just as when Henry tossed aside Kathryn of Aragon, Cromwell is placed in the role of once again cleaning up Henry's mess while trying to save his own neck.Mantel's writing style can be confusing. Those well versed in Tudor history will like this book. Those who haven't read a lot of Tudor history may be confused by her at-times difficult to follow switching from characters without transitional explanations.Initially I found the book difficult to read, but as I continued was enthralled by her ability to capture an image. Her turn of a phrase is marvelous.My favorite quote of the book occurs on page 239 wherein Edward, brother of Henry VIII's new love Jane, meets with Cromwell to broker a deal for power in the placement of his sister on the throne.Fearing Henry's two-faced nature and also reprisal from the Boleyn's he notes to Cromwell, "The Boleyns if they go down will take us with them. I have heard of serpents that, though they are dying, exude poison through their skins."And, in reading this book, while the setting is 1535-36, human nature is the same then as now.Those who smile while holding hands, will gladly inject venom before the unsuspecting victim realizes the deceit. Those who, through insecurity, jealously, immaturity, prior territorial claim or down right psychopathic motives, will indeed spew venom long after a battle that never should have been fought scorches the earth and leaves the attacked worn and scarred.Highly recommended and destined to be one of my top ten favorites of 2012.

[lesleynicol · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This sequel to the writer"s previous Booker Prize winner "Wolf Hall" continues the story of Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII's wives. It is a very interesting historical novel and so well researched giving a wonderful insight into those times. This books main character is mainly about Thomas Cromwell and all his devious ways and as I didn't like him at all, the book didn't please me as much as the first book which seemed to have more interesting characters.However, it was a very good sequel and a worthy winner of the 2012 Booker.

[librarianbryan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

More of the same, but oh how I missed Thomas Cromwell. I’m sure this and Wolf Hall will be published as one volume someday. The ending was great and now I understand why the first had the title it did.

I was sorely disappointed that Simon Slater did not read this one though.

[needmoreshelves · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think it's the sign of a good author when a story I've read literally probably 100 times still makes me tense about what is going to happen next. Mantel's Cromwell is a fascinating creation, and I am looking forward to the next installment in her series.

[laura400 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another wonderful book in what is shaping up to be an amazing achievement by Hilary Mantel.If Mantel's technique is less dazzling this time, it's only because this is such a perfect sequel. In tone and narrative the transition from the first book is seamless; you feel like you just put down Wolf Hall for a short break.Here in Part 2, we begin to get intimations of Cromwell's approaching fall. He is also a tad less sympathetic of a character. What he is asked to do is more brutal, but there is no question that he also performs his task more brutally, using the occasion to settle private scores against old enemies. In the process he allies with other enemies who, the book suggests, will soon turn on him.It's a brilliant portrayal of power in a time when no one seemed to retire quietly to the country. At stake was generational wealth, or ruin, not to mention life or death. It's a brilliant portrayal all around of life at the time, of Cromwell, of the beginnings of the Church of England, of the courtiers in the court of Henry VIII, and of the death of Anne Boleyn.

[ktleyed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was not as good as Wolf Hall, in my opinion. It did have it's moments - but not many. The same old 'how do we get rid of Anne' storyline from Cromwell's point of view. I listened to this on audiobook, narrated by Simon Vance. He did a fine job, but overall, I found nothing overly special about it. Oddly enough, I love Simon Vance's narrating, but even that could not win me over on this dry historical fiction. Cromwell is all business here, as expected, since he has almost no home life any longer, his wife and daughters dead and his sons are getting older and becoming their own men. He's not as likeable here, his dry wit and insulting observations on everyone is not as amusing as it was in Wolf Hall. Here they sound more bitter and just mean. The characters in the novel were flat and inscrutable and there is a certain pretentiousness in the writing itself that took away from the story. Although the author's pronoun use is slightly better than in Wolf Hall, what is it with her odd use of he, Cromwell instead of just using his name? Why do it?

[stacey42_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the sequel to Wolf Hall and begins where it left off. It tells the story of the downfall of Anne Boleyn from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell. The fictional motivation for the choice of her lovers is quite interesting & entirely plausible. I wouldn't say Cromwell is a sympathetic character but he isn't an evil one either. He's just a man with a flexible outlook, trying to serve a king who is rapidly becoming a tyrant. And if he takes a chance to even a few scores along the way, well, he's no better or worse than anyone else at the time. It's well done, if a bit dry to start out. It covers a much shorter time period than Wolf Hall but is just as gripping. I've read a lot of Tudor fiction over the years, possibly even most of the Tudor fiction written in the past 20 years and this is some of the best. I assume there will be a 3rd one & I look forward to it, even if I am not looking forward to how it has to end.

[kraaivrouw · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mantel writes beautiful prose and has a deeply held perspective on history. After a zillion books about Anne Boleyn and her fair, but lost head, Mantel's telling of this story is rich and compelling. Seen through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, the Tudor court is both glittering and rotting. As Henry's top advisor it is up to Cromwell to re-write the past, to punish transgressors to Henry's vision, and to remove any obstacle to Henry's desire for a son.Henry is an after-thought here. He's the Wizard of Ozian character, back behind the curtain, pulling the levers and setting the task. The stars here are Anne and Cromwell as they pursue a fever-pitched battle for survival. If you know only the bare bones of this history, you know who won (and no, it was neither Anne nor Cromwell).Mantel's writing is impeccable, her plot and timing spot-on, her imagery vivid. This is not your average historical fiction, but rather a deep dive into the history of the Tudor court in all its tarnished beauty. A must read.

[nmele_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mantel continues the story of Thomas Cromwell in this sequel to "Wolf Hall". The historical detail is there and her interpretations of people and events all plausible but, perhaps because of the absence of figures like Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas More, or perhaps because the rise and fall of Ann Boleyn lacks the drama of the earlier novel's account of the early English Reformation, I found this second novel much less engaging although still quite a good read. Maybe it's just that this is the second novel of a projected trilogy.

[fist_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having read Wolf Hall, I found that the characters lingered in my mind, so I downloaded the sequel with some expectations. Bodices are being loosened all through this second instalment of the Wolf Hall series, as Anne Boleyn goes through consecutive pregnancies. This leaves readers wondering whether they are devouring a work of historical fiction or a female romance novel. I hesitated, but n the end I vote for the second option. There are some great scenes as Anne Boleyn meets her end, but otherwise the characters are flat (even flatter than in the first installment, especially the protagonist Thomas Cromwell), and driven by base and unchanging machinations. The author's irritating and sometimes confusing gimmick of not mentioning the protagonist has been let go, but the "he said, he Cromwell" interjections are potentially even more contrived. Anne Boleyn's head has been chopped off, no interesting character is left alive, so we can all move on to other books now.

[leander2010 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like many other people (the vast majority of the British public, it seems), I thoroughly enjoyed Wolf Hall and was thrilled when I heard that Hilary Mantel was writing a sequel. Bring up the Bodies offers another satisfying dose of Elizabethan intrigue and treachery, told in Mantel's strikingly pared-back prose. She focuses not on sets, costumes and locations, but on the events that unfold, the relationships that form and fade between the members of the court, and the man who stands to one side, watching and weighing them. Her writing is refreshing and pacey; her language is never inappropriately modern, but it nevertheless feels like dialogue that could actually be spoken. Once again the book is entirely written in the present tense, which works amazingly well and keeps the story bowling hurriedly along. And a sense of speed – of events almost careening along out of control – is especially significant in this book.It is 1535 and we plunge back into the mind of Thomas Cromwell, as he attempts to keep Henry VIII happy and his court loyal – a far from easy task. Henry is beginning to tire of Anne Boleyn and his eye creeps towards the meek and modest Jane Seymour; Cromwell must judge which way the wind is blowing, and do what he judges best for the realm - and for himself, of course. Mantel's character is delightfully complex: he's always conscious of his humble roots in Putney, but he’s no less conscious of the skills he’s picked up from his unorthodox youth as a mercenary in Italy, a banker in Florence and a student of the human psyche. He is not a good man, in a moral sense, but he is loyal, honest and amazingly sharp. Like all the most engaging fictional characters, he lives in shades of grey. He cares about what makes people tick, how you can rule, and how you can apply just the right pressure at just the right time to make someone behave. And he is prepared to sacrifice those who are no longer useful or who start to cause difficulties for him. Mantel creates a very plausible practical mind - which is all too prepared to put sentimentality aside. She also shines in her depiction of Cromwell's 'family', which is a vivid Renaissance household, made up not of a modern nuclear family, but of relatives, servants, informants, wards and general hangers-on; his house is a blend of home, office and fortress. Similarly, court life is shown in all its claustrophobic detail: parted from their families, confined in a hothouse atmosphere, the ladies and gentlemen have little to fill their time but rumour, temptation and jealousy.The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn has been rather over-exposed recently, thanks to The Other Boleyn Girl (in book, TV and film form) and The Tudors. But although her path is well-trodden, Mantel makes the story seem fresh and new, not least in showing how breathlessly quick was Anne Boleyn’s fall. Her characters live and breathe, seen through Cromwell’s unforgiving and unrelenting scrutiny. The only false point for me was Mark Smeaton’s confession: I didn’t believe in the way that the character started boasting about the queen to Cromwell, of all people. But otherwise it’s a wonderfully-written book, ferociously readable. This was one case where my Kindle came into its own: had I bought the hardback copy, I would have been rather less keen to lug it around with me and so it would have been much harder to lose myself as entirely as I did.I understand that Mantel plans to continue Cromwell's story - and I'll definitely be queuing up for the next instalment.

[citizenjoyce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the second in the Wolf Hall trilogy and even better. I think Mantel must have paid attention to the number one criticism of Wolf Hall, the ambiguous pronoun. In this book she frequently says he, Cromwell says or does such and such. It's much easier to follow, but ol' Cromwell is getting kind of creepy. Being his friend is certainly much safer than being his enemy, and apparently he held a grudge for a very long time. Anne Boleyn, that often romantic heroine, comes off as quite the petulant schemer; but the detailed description of her execution, in spite of the harsh way she is portrayed, is gut wrenching.Royalty, all in all, is seen to be much like the Mafia - its friends profit wildly, but friendship is fickle and falling out of favor dangerous. Since I hear this is planned only as a trilogy, and since we are on just wife number 3 of 8, I'm thinking the all powerful and vengeful Cromwell is going to be one of those unfortunates out of favor in the final book. Ow, it will be hard to read that.

[jbd1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you liked Wolf Hall, you won't want to miss the sequel. Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies (Henry Holt, 2012) hits shelves soon, and at least from my perspective, it's just as good a volume as its predecessor.In the new book, Mantel gives us her fictional account of Thomas Cromwell's perspective on the period from September 1535 through the fall of Anne Boleyn in the middle of 1536. The short time-frame allows Mantel to really explore events deeply, from the death of Henry VIII's estranged first wife Katherine of Aragon, to Henry's growing disaffection for Anne Boleyn (and attraction to Jane Seymour). Cromwell was positioned perfectly to provide a view of all these goings-on, and Mantel puts him to good use. She's left out a few characters, &c. to make the story work better (see her Author's Note for details), and of course her version isn't meant to be the "real" story, but as a possible interpretation it certainly makes for an enjoyable read.I wrote in my review of the previous book that having a search window open nearby as you read would be handy, but I feel like the characters have become a bit more familiar to us (or at least to me) in the meantime, and I didn't feel that need as I read this volume. That made it easier to just lose myself in Mantel's version of this, surely one of the most interesting few-month periods in English history!

[keywestnan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just as good as everyone says -- nobody does gathering menace, or making history's villains into understandable and sympathetic characters like Hilary Mantel. If you have any interest in the Tudors, or in well-written historical fiction, read this book. And her others, including Wolf Hall and A Place of Greater Safety.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thomas Cromwell has been given the job of finding Henry VIII a way out of his marriage to Anne Boleyn who has failed to produce a male heir. There are rumors floating around about Anne's marital unfaithfulness to Henry, so Thomas must simply find a way to implicate a few men. While there is nothing wrong with the plotting or writing, this book failed to engage me as Wolf Hall did. Several of the chapters are entirely too long -- one is 159 pages long; another is 85 pages long. The two books thus far in this trilogy have given me insights into the period of Henry VIII.

[thinkingmeat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This might not have been quite as good as Wolf Hall, Mantel's earlier novel about Thomas Cromwell, but it's still historical fiction of a high order. Wolf Hall covered Cromwell's early life and his time at the court of Henry VIII while Henry was seeking to cast off his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, so he could marry Anne Boleyn. In Bring up the Bodies, Anne's brief time as queen is coming to an end; Henry is falling for Jane Seymour and looking to get rid of Anne, who wasn't any more able than Katherine was to provide him with a son. Cromwell is instrumental in helping him to oust Anne, although he has to take up new allies and inevitable make new enemies. The book was readable and engaging; it can stand on its own quite well even if you haven't read Wolf Hall.Maybe one reason I found it somewhat less enjoyable than Wolf Hall is that this time period is darker and Henry's course is less hopeful. Even though you know how things end up with Anne, you can still feel that his optimism is at least somewhat reasonable as he pursues a new life with her, despite all the power grabs and cynicism that surround his romance, and his own undeniable reliance on rationalization. When you see him going through the same thing a second time, the cynicism, delusion, and rationalization are highlighted. It's a very psychologically realistic portrayal, but not as pleasurable to read about. I've read a fair amount about this period, both fiction and non-fiction, and found it interesting to view it from the eyes of Cromwell rather than the eyes of Anne, Henry, or Jane. I was surprised to find how sympathetic a character Cromwell was in Wolf Hall, since he is often regarded as a heartless, ambitious S.O.B. He was not quite so sympathetic this time, caught as he was doing some of the king's nastier dirty work; Mantel described his motivation as revenge for the earlier demise of his mentor, Cardinal Wolsey (who was brought down when he failed to release the king from Katherine). For me, this was was intellectually plausible but somehow not all that emotionally compelling. The men falsely accused of being Anne's lovers come across as less sympathetic than in some tellings as a consequence, since many of them were involved in Wolsey's downfall. Despite the bleaker atmosphere, I was impressed at Mantel's capacity to leave me shaken by all the deaths at the end (of Anne and her so-called lovers), although I've read so much on this topic. There were also moments of humor to leaven the proceedings. All in all, this was a good read.

[daisyq-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this. While I admired Wolf Hall, I found it a bit of a slog to get through for reasons I could never quite put my finger on. This was very different and for me an easier read. It was more tightly focused on the fall of Anne Boleyn. It's an amazing skill to write so well that the lack of tension from knowing the story so well is irrelevant.

[pondlife_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd already read Wolf Hall, so I remembered the rather unique writing style, but it still took a little while to get used to it again. But once I did, I found the writing flowed easily.In some ways, the writing style seems a bit easier than Wolf Hall because the author uses "he, Cromwell" to avoid ambiguity in some places.Whereas Wolf Hall covers a long time - from Cromwell's childhood until Thomas More's execution, Bring Up the Bodies only covers about nine months, and is all about Anne Boleyn's fall from grace and execution.The main issue I had with this book is that the most interesting bits are just pure conjecture. Still a good read though.

[hvanwillegen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just loved both books and I will definitely read others by her, but not surprised that series is panned by many. You have to be a history fan to truly appreciate the nuances of the characters and that time period in English history. Both "Wolf Hall" and "Bring up the Bodies" are two of the best books I've read this year.

[4fish_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Continuing the saga she began in Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel once again gets inside the brain of Thomas Cromwell, the commoner who became one of the most powerful men in the kingdom of Henry VIII. Having moved mountains so that Henry could marry Anne Boleyn, one might forgive Cromwell for balking when Henry's eye roves to Jane Seymour and he decides that he must be rid of Anne. Instead, Cromwell puts his agile brain to work and finds the means.Written entirely from Cromwell's point of view in a manner almost stream-of-consciousness, this is a fascinating character study, although it takes longer to get really interesting than Wolf Hall. I'm eagerly awaiting the third volume, which presumably will deal with Cromwell's misstep in promoting Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves.

[mercury57 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this in August but am only now getting around to writing up the review. The year is 1535. Thomas Cromwell has put aside his lowly origins as the son of a blacksmith and is now chief minister and leading statesman within the court of Henry VIII. He’s fast approaching the height of his career, having found a way for Henry to extricate himself from his childless marriage and uncovered a rich source of new income for the King through sequestration of monastic lands and buildings.Most books featuring Cromwell concentrate on his work and achievements as lawyer and statesman. What makes [Hilary Mantel’s] novels about this period different is the way she reveals the man behind the titles and the legislative actions. The Cromwell she shows us, first in [Wolf Hall] and again in her sequel, [Bring up the Bodies], is a complex character. He’s an astute business man with a thriving cloth trade with Flanders derived from relationships built during his years in that country. He’s a politician par excellence, nimbly navigating the myriad jealousies and jostlings for position amongst the gentry and aristocracy that surround the King. But in Mantel’s text he is also a loving and devoted father with a touch of humanity that extends to opening his home to the poor and needy who require food. The man who manipulates young, impressionable men into confessing they committed adultery with Henry’s new queen (Anne Boleyn) is the same man who is moved to tears when he finds the angel wings his dead daughter once wore at Christmas time.It’s that duality of character that Mantel brings to center stage in [Bring up the Bodies], conveying it in a third person narrative style that simultaneously has the intimacy of a first person narrator. Often those moments of character revelation come through short comments made almost en passant.One such passage occurs when Cromwell is despatched by Henry to see the woman he divorced (Katherine of Arragon) in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Katherine is a problem that will not go away for this royal couple – she refuses to acknowledge the validity of the divorce, refuses to give allegiance to the new queen and is a focal point for Catholic plots against Henry. they need to know whether reports she is dying are true. What Cromwell sees is a shrunken figure of a woman swaddled in an ermine fur cape.She is jaundiced, and there is an invalid fug in the room – the faint animal scent of the furs, a vegetal stench of undrained cooking water, and the sour reek from a bowl with which a girl hurries away: containing, he suspects the evauated contents of the dowager’s stomach.Noticing the ermine fur coat in which she is swathed, the pragmatic side of Cromwell’s character comes to the forefront. “The king will want that back, he thinks, if she dies.’ But almost immediately the lens is changed to show his more thoughtful nature as he wonders whether Katherine’s dreams are of the gardens of the Alhambra she left as a young girl:….the marble pavements, the bubbling of crystal water into basins, the drag of a white peacock’s tail and the scent of lemons. I could have brought her a lemon in my saddlebag, he thinks.Four months after I closed the book, I could still remember that passage and the way Mantel shows Cromwell’s mind leap from the wizened creature he sees in front of him to a simple action he could have taken to remind her of a better life.Moments like this abound within the novel. For that reason alone, Mantel for me deserved to win the Man Booker Prize 2012.