Wolf Hall

WinneroftheManBookerPrize2009'LockCromwellinadeepdungeoninthemorning,'saysThomasMore,'andwhenyoucomebackthatnighthe'llbesittingonaplushcushioneatinglarks'tongues,andallthegaolerswillowehimmoney.'England,the1520s.HenryVIIIisonthethrone,buthasnoheir.CardinalWolseyishischiefadvisor,chargedwithsecuringthedivorcethepoperefusestogrant.IntothisatmosphereofdistrustandneedcomesThomasCromwell,firstasWolsey'sclerk,andlaterhissuccessor.Cromwellisawhollyoriginalman:thesonofabrutalblacksmith,apoliticalgenius,abriber,acharmer,abully,amanwithadelicateanddeadlyexpertiseinmanipulatingpeopleandevents.Ruthlessinpursuitofhisowninterests,heisasambitiousinhiswiderpoliticsasheisforhimself.Hisreformingagendaiscarriedoutinthegripofaself-interestedparliamentandakingwhofluctuatesbetweenromanticpassionsandmurderousrages.Fromoneofourfinestlivingwriters,'WolfHall'isthatveryrarething:atrulygreatEnglishnovel,onethatexplorestheintersectionofindividualpsychologyandwiderpolitics.Withavastarrayofcharacters,andrichlyoverflowingwithincident,itpeelsbackhistorytoshowusTudorEnglandasahalf-madesociety,mouldingitselfwithgreatpassion,sufferingandcourage.