Such actions were obviously fraught with danger and intrigue. Ms. Mantel gives us a view into the complex, brilliant mind of Thomas Cromwell, and deftly enables us to follow his reasoning and machinations as he strives to do his master’s work. That’s not an easy task, given the mercurial, strong-willed King Henry VIII. Helping Henry to move himself away from a wife of some twenty years, and into the extremely eager arms of another woman, would be a risky business even if one didn’t at the same time have to deal with the king’s (and thus Cromwell’s, as well) political friends and foes at home and on the Continent.
Mantel manages to present those political/religious/regional struggles and alliances in terms the modern reader can grasp, which, given the distances of time and custom, is no small feat.
The title, Bring up the Bodies, by the way, is the phrase used by the court, when it orders the warders to fetch prisoners held in the Tower of London, so that they may face their accusers in a court of law, and receive judgment.
Portrait of Thomas Cromwell by Hans Holbein, The Younger, beteen 1532 and 1533. Medium, oil on oak panel; 78.4 × 64.5 cm (30.9 × 25.4 in). Current location Frick Collection
One expects that Ms. Mantel will eventually give us the third novel, to complete her trilogy of Cromwell’s career and his eventual fate. Those of us tottering on the edge of senility can only hope that she has it already well in hand.
©2013 Julia Sneden for SeniorWomen.com
*Man Booker Long List for 2013 prizes is available at the site. 10 September 2013 is the date for the Shortlist announcement; 15 October 2013 – Winner announcement.
The Cuckoo’s Calling
By Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling; c. 2013
Published by Mulholland Books. Hardbook; ebook; 464pp.
Crime fiction holds a place dear to the heart of many law abiding citizens. That we find comfort in curling up with murder mysteries, however, ought to give pause: all that blood and gore on bed sheets, beach blankets, and armchair upholstery not to speak of the psychological misery demanded by the genre.
Readers devour crime novels because they love to solve puzzles and learn about places and times featured in stories. Like pop music groupies, they follow iconic detectives loving their particular moxie, independence, and preferences in food, music, and sports. Writers such as Donna Leon have won a following by plotting books around critical public issues such as human trafficking. And transcending all this is the pact that exists between the crime writer and reader, one which promises that there will be justice. Few bad guys get off. This feel-good keeps us along for the ride and, curiously, in general, makes reading about blood and gore rather painless.
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