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Bring Up the Bodies

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About this listen

Costa Book of the Year, 2012

UK Author of the Year - Specsavers National Book Awards, 2012

Man Booker Prize, Fiction, 2012

By 1535 Thomas Cromwell, the blacksmith's son, is far from his humble origins. Chief Minister to Henry VIII, his fortunes have risen with those of Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife, for whose sake Henry has broken with Rome and created his own church.

In Bring Up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel explores one of the most mystifying and frightening episodes in English history: the destruction of Anne Boleyn. This new novel is an audacious vision of Tudor England that sheds its light on the modern world.

©2012 Tertius Enterprises (P)2012 Macmillan Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction World Literature Thought-Provoking Witty Tudor Middle Ages
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Mantel has produced another masterpiece. I didn't find it quite as satisfactory as Wolf Hall but even so I cannot give it less than 5 stars.



Her command of the period and the ability to make the reader feel they are in the room and know the characters are in my view matchless. This book is more tightly written than Wolf Hall, it is less shadowy and more focused on plot. I must admit I rather missed the dream-like quality and the flights of fancy from Wolf Hall but it is nevertheless a great listen.



One small thing rather bothered me though. Mantel, perhaps stung by some of the criticism of Wolf Hall from readers who didn't know which "he" was being referred to has peppered this book with "He, Cromwell..." etc. I found it a little intrusive, perhaps because I didn't find the references in Wolf Hall caused me any problems.



Simon Vance is an excellent reader but his characterisation was not, for me, quite as sure as Simon Slater's superb voicing of Wolf Hall. I found myself missing Slater's Cromwell a lot.



Despite all of this, I still rate this reading highly.

Worthy sequel to Wolf Hall

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As with Wolf Hall I will also be reading the printed novel, but have thoroughly enjoyed this narrated edition. Simon very clearly chills down Cromwell's voice as he interrogates Anne's "lovers" and elicits ambiguous confessions. I was there in the room with them. Hilary has addressed the problem within Wolf Hall in that you didn't always know who she meant by "he", by changing it in this novel to "he, Cromwell". This is a novel, like Wolf Hall, which I shall keep on my mp3 to dip into again and again.

another stunning novel

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Well written, well read. The book has a good pace, and of course a broad cast of characters! Monarchs are never alone, even on the loo...
Many historical novels have been written about this era, but most often it is the women who are centre-stage. Thomas Cromwell, usually cast as a villain without redeeming features, makes a complex and intriguing (in both senses) protagonist. Bring on the next set of bodies...

Great sequel

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An astounding performance of a thrilling book. Great characterisation. Really brought the book to life. Recommended.

Just do it

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I loved this book, we met Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall and now we see him have his day.
I feel sad to have finished it and am praying that we get another.

Imagine Mike from Breaking Bad as a Tudor.

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