Wolf Hall is an award-winning historical novel by Hilary Mantel, which was first published in 2009. This book is the first in her trilogy about the life of King Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell.
The novel begins in 1527, at the court of Henry VIII. Cromwell is a rising star at court, his life seemingly headed for greatness. He is the son of a blacksmith and was initially apprenticed to a lawyer to serve as a clerk, but his intelligence and ambition have kept him rising through the ranks until he is being employed by the court.
The primary story is the story of Cromwell's changing relationship with Henry, along with his growing and changing family life as his wife, sister, and young children make their way at court. Despite their poverty and humble background, Cromwell is determined to secure a better life for his family. In pursuit of this goal, he makes powerful connections, despite warning signs, and takes drastic actions, including the execution of an anti-monopoly reformer, the dissolution of English monasteries, and his attempts to set up legal matters in support of Henry's new marriage to Anne Boleyn.
Along the way, Wolf Hall also tells personal stories about Cromwell, his sordid past, and the challenges he faces in his position as the king's chief minister. Through it all, he is cast as a complex figure and we learn much about him: his fear about past transgressions, his cunning manipulation of other people and political events, his loyalty to those he served, his ironclad code of ethics, and his love for his family.
Wolf Hall is structured partly in the form of a mystery, with Cromwell trying to penetrate the secrets of court – is Anne Boleyn really plotting to bring down the monarchy, is the man being accused of treason really guilty, and why isn't anyone talking about the family's annoying pet dog?
The story follows Cromwell through a range of events as he rises to the peak of pre-Reformation England: the schism with Rome, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the passage of the Act of Annulment. Cromwell succeeds in obtaining the largest divorce settlement of all time, paving the way for Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn. At the same time, Cromwell continues to stumble over secrets, carefully hidden away in the past.
Wolf Hall is a complex depiction of the period, written with skill and historical understanding. It is a riveting account of a man's journey from obscurity to a place of power, in which Mantel vividly describes the politics, intrigue, and emotions of the Tudor court. The plot ranges from thrilling to tragic, with vivid characters, witty dialogue and descriptive detail. Wolf Hall is a book that many readers found difficult to put down, since it offers a unique and intimate view of the Tudor court, as well as brilliant insight into the motivations and intrigue of its players.
