The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel

The Mirror & the Light

By Hilary Mantel

In the final installment of the Wolf Hall/Thomas Cromwell trilogy, we follow Thomas Cromwell's final year. He attains his highest position as Earl of Essex, but his downfall is imminent as his enemies find new purchase and surround him.

Anne Boleyn is dead and Cromwell carries on with his and Henry's agendas, which usually align, but not always. Cromwell has plans for England. He works hard to make religion accessible to everyone and to have justice and equality become the law of the land. He has his work cut out for him because now his enemies, who helped him free Henry from his marriage, want their rewards.

Mary is reunited with Henry after Cromwell makes her swear obedience. Henry becomes sovereign over the church and requires all nobles in his family to have his blessing in their marriages. A rebellion rocks England, but is soon squelched, with all of its leaders executed. The Duke of Norfolk, Cromwell's great enemy, looks to him to get back into Henry's good graces, which happens to Cromwell's end. He should have got rid of Norfolk when he had the chance. Cromwell is super rich and is increasing his land holdings and building his estate. He makes sure to have money hidden away for his son and (in the book) hie illegitimate daughter. Public opinion is turning against him. He is seen as the devil and rumor spreads that he wants to be king himself, with intentions to marry Mary, a treasonous offense, as it would put him in line to be king.

 

Henry takes Jane Seymour for a wife and they finally have a boy child they name Edard, who will be heri to the throne. But Jane dies after the christening and Henry is left a widower. He soon gets over it and wants a new wife and many are considered, but Cromwell devises that he should marry Anne of Cleves to form an alliance with the German princes which would upset France and Rome. Henry agrees, but finds the marriage unsuitable. He is repulsed by Anne.

This is one of the final ways the king becomes displeased with Cromwell. As Cromwell's enemies start returning to England, he finds himself surrounded by them and they also have the king's ear. Cromwell's informers soon turn on him one by one, and a couple he trusted within his household also turn against him. He is ambushed and taken to the Tower where he is interrogated for schemes of overthrowing Henry. Even the King of France wants Cromwell gone, and tells Henry they can be friends again if this should come to pass. Cromwell knows he has no defense as his words and actions will be twisted toward the ends he himself had previously devised for the ruin of others. He goes to the axe alone.

This was a good ending to the trilogy, especially the end of part 5 and the whole of part 6. I have to admit that I wasn't as enamored with this book as I was with Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies. The writing was not as engaging or thrilling as in those two books. It is mostly a character study of Cromwell looking back on his life, which becomes poignant at the end of the book. Still, it is a 4 star book for me, with the trilogy as a whole being 4.5 stars. I'm glad I read them and am looking forward to more from Hilary Mantel, who is a genius with words.