Three years after Hillary Mantel published the first installment of the Cromwell trilogy, here’s another award-winning novel ––Bring Up the Bodies. Another engrossing and thrilling work of historical fiction from Mantel. It follows the final months in the life of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife and Queen Consort of England. In this powerful story, Mantel paints a picture of a tumultuous period in English history with vivid detail and captivating prose.
The story begins with Anne Boleyn’s coronation as queen consort of England. As one would expect from such a momentous event, display of grandeur is everywhere, and also plenty of intrigues. While King Henry VIII is enchanted with his new bride, he soon finds out that she cannot provide him with an heir, which puts their marriage in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Thomas Cromwell—Henry’s loyal adviser—is determined to bring down Anne and her family so that Henry can marry Jane Seymour. The rest of the novel chronicles Anne’s eventual downfall and execution on charges of treason and adultery.
Mantel brings history to life in this period through her lush descriptions, detailed characters, and engaging dialogue. Her writing style is elegant yet accessible; she does an excellent job of weaving together facts about the time period with her own narrative voice to create something that feels both realistic and compelling. Her use of metaphor and imagery adds an extra layer to her storytelling; for example, when describing Cromwell she writes “He wears black like a signet ring on his finger; it declares him dangerous.” This type of writing allows readers to connect more deeply to the characters as they experience their journey alongside them.
Bring Up the Bodies has been very well received by both critics and readers alike since its publication in 2012. It won two prestigious awards—the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 2012 and the Costa Book Award for Best Novel in 2013—and was shortlisted for several others. In addition to its critical acclaim, it was also a commercial success; it sold over half a million copies worldwide within its first year alone.
Bring Up The Bodies is an engaging work of historical fiction that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. As always, Mantel’s writing style brings alive Tudor England. Her masterful use of language creates obvious tension between characters while still letting reading glimpse into their innermost thoughts and motivations. With its gripping plotline and powerful characters, it’s no wonder why Bring Up The Bodies has been met with such critical acclaim from readers all around the world. If you are looking for an entertaining read full of suspenseful drama set during one tumultuous chapter in British history then look no further than Bring Up The Bodies.
AWARDS
Booker Prize 2012
Specsavers National Book Awards UK Author of the Year 2012
Costa Book Awards (Novel) 2012
Costa Book Awards (Book of the Year) 2012
Walter Scot Prize for historical fiction, shortlist 2013
First Edition:
Author: Hilary Mantel
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Fourth Estate (UK)
Publication date: 8 May 2012
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