Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I worked very hard yesterday to try and finish this book before it was due back at the library. But the main critique I have of the text was an opinion formed early on in my reading - that the author has an issue with pronouns. I realized fairly early on, that when the author referred to "he", it was often, but not always, Thomas Cromwell to whom she was referring. Despite who may have been speaking a second ago. And that leads to confusion for me, as the reader. 

I know it is a technique. Mantel chose her point of view, and was going to stick with it. And it works, 
to some extent. Since Cromwell is the main character, the narrator should know his thoughts 
intimately. But why not write it in first person? There were MANY times when just using the "he" pronoun was confusing - for example, whenever Cromwell was speaking to another man, which happened a lot, especially since other main characters including Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII. 
He. He. He. I know I shouldn't be so picky about it, but as a former English teacher, it was maddening to me every time the pronoun usage was unclear. I'd mark a student off for that. The editor of this book, however, didn't suffer from those scruples. 

Other critics of this book think it's brilliant, and there are certainly parts that are. I love the Tudor era, and this historical fiction covers one of the most powerful but maligned men of his age, just as fascinating in his way as was Henry VIII. And the point of view that the writer uses does help the reader enter Cromwell's head, which is a wonderful place indeed, especially during this point in history when Henry is putting off his first wife in order to marry Anne Boleyn, over the objections of just about everybody! It follows Cromwell's rise to power, and as such is a thrilling look at the halls of power, the wishes of a king, the tempers of a mistress, the workings of all levels of government, business and married life during the Tudor era. 

The book succeeds for me, in this intensity and historical depth. And even though I am familiar with the story, and have read all kinds of biographies on King Henry, Queen Katherine, Princess Mary, Princess Elizabeth, and "Anne of a Thousand Days", this book showed me an entirely new side of the famous Catholic martyr, Thomas More. In much literature of the time, it is King Henry and his 
henchmen who are vilified, but for the first time in my reading, Mantel shines a light on the extreme cruelty and vanity of Henry's deposed Chancellor, showing up More as a religious fanatic who cared little for Christian dictates as he brought down those who didn't agree with him. Mantel shows More's victims as common people, moved by their own faith and little deserving their terrible 
punishments at his hands. She also shows how More's family is victimized by his desire to put a principal over their feelings and needs, and by his vanity and need for self-punishment. 

In summary, ·Wolf Hall" is a brilliant look at Tudor life during its most turbulent, but is not for that reason without its flaws. Among them, is why Mantel chose the name of Jane Seymour's home as the name of the novel, even though at this point, Seymour and her family play only a small part on the Tudor stage. 

Submitted by Gerti