Apologies for the quiet time on my blog for the last month, but the world has been a crazy place and some things had to slip! But I'm back with a bang to tell you about The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel. This is the final part of the Thomas Cromwell trilogy which began with Wolf Hall. The action picks up from where we left off - it's spring 1536 and pretty much as soon as Ann Boleyn is relieved of her head, Henry VIII settles into a happy state with his new wife, Jane Seymour. Thomas still seems to be at the top of his game, and his power keeps on building with his influence over Henry seeming to know no bounds. But nothing ever stays the same for long, and a rebellion in the north of the country, together with a range of traitorous plots abroad and a new threat of invasion start to impose pressure on the one man who is supposed to keep Henry's reign glorious and trouble free. Thomas uses all his guile, but receives little support from men of power in Henry's court, who have always resented this lowborn, son of a blacksmith, his position as Henry's right hand man. When Jane Seymour dies just after giving Henry his long awaited son and heir, things start to sour - first with the unsuccessful contract with Ann of Cleves as Henry's fifth wife, for which Thomas is blamed, and then the failure of completely snuffing out the many plots against Henry. Sniffing blood, the blue blooded vultures start to gather and Thomas tries to protect his family and those close to him as he can see where this is going - well, he's been on the other side of it so often in the past! Thomas Cromwell isn't supposed to be a likeable person, but you can't help but admire him. Hilary Mantel presents us with a man who has ambitions for himself and his country, but who is also deeply loyal and generous to those close to him. He achieved so much from such humble beginnings and managed to survive and thrive despite standing so close to a king whose ever changing whims and temper could mean death for anyone, at anytime. The end was inevitable, and although we all know the outcome, you cannot help but hope that, somehow, Thomas will manage to wangle his way out of his final destiny. But history is history! I have thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy and, despite the huge length of this last book, I was saddened when I reached the last page. I will definitely miss spending time in the company of Thomas Cromwell! I have read all three parts as audio books and each is a tour de force of narration - go on, immerse yourself in Tudor England!
My STAR rating: FIVE.
Length: 912 print pages.
Price I paid: £5.84.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook
No comments:
Post a Comment