Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

 

Bring Up the Bodies

by Hilary Mantel

This is the second in the Thomas Cromwell trilogy.

Cromwell is well-positioned with the king, but he finds that he is gaining enemies. Some of the nobles have become more irritated that someone as low born as Cromwell should have such wealth and influence. Anne has no more use for him now that Katherine is dead, and he finds that King Henry has been having meetings without him.

Then Jane Seymour, one of Anne's ladies, catches Henry's eye and, when Anne miscarries again, Henry wonders  if his marriage is not legitimate in the eyes of God and he is being punished to continually not be given a male heir. Cromwell encourages the King's doubts and moves to gather the Boleyn enemies together to bring charges of adultery and treason against Anne and the many men that surround her. Though most of the men, as well as Anne herself, deny the charges, Cromwell is a master of word play and manipulation. He has a long memory and a knack for making everything appear to be sinister. He packs the court with Boleyn enemies and makes promises of wealth to key figures in order to get Henry's way. Even Anne's own kin and court turn against her. Meanwhile the Seymours are circling Jane, instructing her on how to behave as a queen and how to deal with Henry's affections. All the while Cromwell advises her and the family.

In the end it is inevitable that all who have been charged are found guilty and meet the edge of the executioner's axe, losing their heads. Anne goes to her death saying she is innocent. In just a matter of days Henry and Jane marry. Cromwell believes those he helped to these new heights will turn against him. Many were loyal to Katherine and he knows they will not forget how he orchestrated her removal as Henry's wife. Cromwell is raised to a noble status and has his eyes set on the future of England.

This book, again, was a triumph. The writing was gorgeous. Bring Up the Bodies had a more focused story that Wolf Hall, and at first I wasn't as into it, but the second part of the book amped up the action and the stakes. It was thrilling and reading Mantel's Cromwell is good fun. I really enjoy the duality of his character. She paints him as charitable and innovative, with his country's best interests in mind, frustrated when Parliament takes a selfish view rather than lift up those in need. Yet, he is also a ruthless schemer, and I love it. All of the characters are so well treated. We love some, love to hate others, and feel apart of the world, which Mantel describes in such beautiful phrases. Exquisite.

I give Bring Up the Bodies 5 stars.