Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
"Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel is a historical novel that delves into the life and rise of Thomas Cromwell, a key figure in the court of King Henry VIII of England. The narrative opens with Cromwell's difficult childhood, marked by an abusive father, and follows his journey through various trades and military service in Europe. By 1527, he becomes an aide to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who is embroiled in the political turmoil surrounding Henry VIII's desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn.
As Cromwell navigates the complexities of court politics, he faces personal tragedy with the loss of his wife and children to an epidemic. The story explores themes of power, ambition, and faith, as Cromwell's pragmatic approach contrasts sharply with the rigid religious convictions of figures like Sir Thomas More. As he gains the king's trust, Cromwell becomes instrumental in the eventual break from the Roman Catholic Church, facilitating Henry's marriage to Anne. The novel intricately portrays the political machinations and personal struggles of its characters, all set against the backdrop of 16th-century England. Through Cromwell's eyes, readers gain insight into the shifting loyalties and moral dilemmas of the Tudor court.
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Subject Terms
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
- Born: July 6, 1952
- Birthplace: Hadfield, Derbyshire, England
- Died: September 22, 2022
- Deathplace: Exeter, Devon, England
First published: 2009
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Historical
Time of plot: 1500–35
Locales: London, England; York, England; Calais, France
Principal Characters
Thomas Cromwell, the confidant and minister to King Henry VIII
King Henry VIII, the king of England
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the archbishop of York and adviser to Henry VIII
Sir Thomas More, a Catholic philosopher and chancellor to Henry VIII
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII
Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII
The Story
Thomas Cromwell is fifteen years old when he runs away from home in 1500. His father, Walter Cromwell, is an alcoholic who savagely beats him. This abuse hardens Cromwell at a young age. He sails from England to continental Europe, where he takes on a variety of odd jobs that help him acquire numerous useful skills. He serves in the French army and fights against Italy in the Battle of Garigliano. Cromwell then becomes a merchant and grows his network of contacts around the Low Countries. He also works as a lawyer for a brief time.
The story then jumps forward to 1527, with Cromwell serving as the aide of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey of York. Cromwell is now married to Liz Wykys, and they have one son, Gregory, and two daughters, Anne and Grace. As aide to Wolsey, Cromwell is tasked with helping in the cardinal’s daily undertakings. Wolsey is an egotistical man who is attempting to establish two colleges in his name, but in order to do so, he has to consolidate church lands and close some monasteries in Yorkshire, England. His efforts are put on hold when King Henry VIII decides he wishes to annul his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon, who has not produced him a son and heir. Once he is divorced the king can marry his mistress, Anne Boleyn, a woman reputed to be promiscuous. Divorce is illegal under the Roman Catholic Church, however, so the king is depending on Cardinal Wolsey to persuade the pope to approve the annulment.
While Wolsey is away in Europe attempting to nullify the marriage, Cromwell’s wife and two daughters die from the "sweating sickness" epidemic that is sweeping England. By 1529, Wolsey has failed in fulfilling Henry VIII’s wish, so the cardinal is ejected from his position as lord chancellor and is sent back to York. Wolsey’s rival Thomas More, a Catholic philosopher and chancellor to the king, is adamantly against the divorce. His religious fanaticism and ruthless pursuit of heretics repulses Cromwell. In his youth, he witnessed an old woman burned alive for heresy. This sight turns Cromwell cynical toward Catholicism.
Around this time, Cromwell meets Henry VIII’s former mistress, Mary Boleyn, Anne’s sister. She slyly proposes marriage to Cromwell, who is still grieving his wife and daughters and turns her down. He learns later that had he accepted, he would have been forced to raise one of Henry VIII’s illegitimate children.
Cromwell sees the political tension Henry VIII’s desire for divorce is causing between England and the Roman Catholic Church. He also perceives Wolsey’s ejection as an opportunity to get close to Henry VIII and cement a powerful position for himself. The king finally meets with Cromwell and is impressed with his straightforwardness and perseverance. In short order, Cromwell is advising Henry VIII on matters of war. The king wishes to settle the divorce dispute in battle, but Cromwell sees the danger in this. Meanwhile, More subtly warns Cromwell to stay out of the king’s affairs, particularly in regard to his dispute with the church.
Anne Boleyn’s other lover, Harry Percy, begins to cause a stir around the king’s court by claiming that he and Anne secretly wed. While it may be true, Wolsey advises him to keep quiet. Percy is forced into an arranged marriage to another lady-in-waiting, Mary Talbot. Some time thereafter Henry VIII finally contracts a secret oath of marriage with Anne and consummates it on a visit to the French king in Calais, France.
By this time, Cromwell has made himself indispensable to the king. In 1532, Cromwell presented Parliament with several acts that recognized royal supremacy over the Roman Catholic Church. These acts finalized Henry VIII’s break from Rome and made it possible for him to wed Anne. After the acts were passed, More resigned as the king’s chancellor, and Cromwell took over as his chief minister.
Anne gives birth to a girl, much to Henry VIII’s chagrin. Cromwell continues to rise in power and even has his portrait painted by renowned portraitist Hans Holbein. Then, he becomes ill, which leads him to contemplate what all of his work has been for and what the point of it is. He spends most of his waking hours organizing things for other people he does not care about, persuading dissidents, and fixing legislation in Henry VIII’s favor. Anne is demanding and wholly unlikable, so even the king is not happy.
Anne becomes pregnant for a second time but miscarries. The problems for Henry VIII increase when the new pope refuses to acknowledge his break from the church, instead sending him a new cardinal. Around this time, Cromwell begins planning the king’s summer tour to western England. He decides to make the king’s absence a five-day holiday for himself as well—one he will spend at Wolf Hall in Wiltshire, home of the prominent Seymour family.
Bibliography
Acocella, Joan. "Tudor Tales." New Yorker 19 Oct. 2009: 78–81. Literary Reference Center. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=45037247&site=lrc-live>.
Benfey, Christopher. "Renaissance Men." New York Times. New York Times, 29 Oct. 2009. Web. 28 May 2014.
Greenblatt, Stephen. "How It Must Have Been." New York Review of Books 5 Nov. 2009: 22–25. Print.
Hitchens, Christopher. "The Men Who Made England." Atlantic Mar. 2010: 91–96. Literary Reference Center. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=48211066&site=lrc-live>.
Mantel, Hilary. "How I Came to Write Wolf Hall." Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 May 2014.