Wolf Hall

A Novel

This program is read by Ben Miles, who played Thomas Cromwell in the Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies

“[Ben] Miles’ charming, yet dastardly narration makes Cromwell an anti-hero worth rooting for no matter how hard you try not to.”—TIME on Wolf Hall

WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR FICTION
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?

In inimitable style, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall is "a darkly brilliant reimagining of life under Henry VIII...Magnificent." (The Boston Globe).

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

One of the best novels I’ve encountered

The Audible performance is superb. This was such a stunning “read”. Watching the television adaptation, which is much condensed, was very helpful for orienting to what is a very long story with very many characters, BTW.

Be careful...

If you enjoy any or all of 1) historical fiction, 2) fine writing in English, 3) spoken-work performance, 4) audiobooks in general, then starting this book will very likely turn into a ca. 80-hour commitment, since you will likely feel compelled to listen to the rest of the trilogy, and experiencing the last few hours of The Mirror and the Light may be almost as painful, due to anticipation of the end, as it is rewarding. All of your usual diversions - streaming services, regular TV, reading, whatever - anything that doesn't let you also listen with reasonably full attention, will lose value, and, when you're done, you may find it difficult to persuade yourself from samples, descriptions, and reviews that new audiobooks will measure up.

Spectacular Narration, Some Confusing Points

Overall, "Wolf Hall" is a most excellent, entertaining read. Ben Miles's narration is spot on. Narrating this is no small feat. He does all the accents well, and translates the character's moods. Namely, he makes the reader see Anne Boelyn, one character he finds most distasteful. One thing about this book is it is hard to follow. The the third first person narrative is complicated, and one never, or rather has to decipher who is often being discussed or doing the discussing. As this is Thomas Cromwell's story, it is still confusing. And too, the flashbacks from early in his life to the present day aren't always clear. But this aside, the reader just has to remember this is Cromwell's story, as this is not normal for a book on the Tudor dynasty. Hilary Mantel truly did a masterful job of making this unique in that way. All in all, this is a masterpiece.

A Historical Masterpiece

Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall tells the captivating story of Thomas Cromwell through a distorted fictional lens. The real-life Thomas Cromwell was likely less noble than the character depicted in these pages; however, the protagonist we do follow is perfect for fans of Tyrion Lannister. This fictionalized Cromwell is witty, charming, and usually ten steps ahead of his adversaries.

It is enthralling to follow Cromwell on his journey from the son of a backwater blacksmith, to the advisor of a cardinal, to weathering the fall of that same cardinal and becoming a close confidant of the despicable Henry VIII. Aside from Cromwell, we the readers are introduced to many other compelling characters, including Thomas More, Anne and Mary Boleyn, and the boys of Cromwell’s household—his son Gregory, Rafe, and the king’s “cousin,” Richard. All of these characters are brought to life magnificently, and Mantel is an expert at depicting real-life historical figures with a sense of theatrical gravity combined with gritty realism.

If you are an audiobook reader, you are in luck, because Ben Miles delivers an amazing performance, bringing all of Mantel’s characters to life. He expertly contrasts the haughty nature of much of the nobility with Cromwell’s quiet intellect, and this will be my preferred way of experiencing the remaining books in the trilogy.

I deliberated between a 4.5 and a 5/5 and ultimately decided to land on a full five stars. This is not only one of my favorite historical fiction novels of all time, it is easily one of my favorite first installments in a trilogy that I have ever read.

Astonishingly beautiful and detailed writing

What the PBS special failed to capture is the mirthfulness of Cromwell’s character. I laughed out load many times while listening to this book.