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Wolf Hall

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Simon Slater
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Publisher's summary

In the ruthless arena of King Henry VIII's court, only one man dares to gamble his life to win the king's favor and ascend to the heights of political powerEngland in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years, and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. The quest for the king's freedom destroys his adviser, the brilliant Cardinal Wolsey, and leaves a power vacuum. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people and a demon of energy: he is also a consummate politician, hardened by his personal losses, implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph? In inimitable style, Hilary Mantel presents a picture of a half-made society on the cusp of change, where individuals fight or embrace their fate with passion and courage.

With a vast array of characters, overflowing with incident, the novel re-creates an era when the personal and political are separated by a hairbreadth, where success brings unlimited power but a single failure means death.

©2009 Hilary Mantel (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

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What listeners say about Wolf Hall

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  • Overall
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The perfect audio book

Beautifully read by Simon Slater, this is not only Hilary Mantel at her very best, this is as good as it gets on Audible.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A timeless story

This is a story we all know about Henry, Catherine, Ann, Thomas More and Wolsey. But now we see it through different eyes - those of Thomas Cromwell, a man with a hard scrabble youth who becomes counselor to a king. In a bygone world we often see in black-and-white there seem to be a lot of grays in this telling.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A difficult read.

Narrator did excellent but the story was all over the place. not my favorite book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent

This is one of those books that is great to read... and even better when performed by Slater.
The story includes many characters and Slater manages to give them each a unique voice which really helps to not get lost in this saga of King Henry.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but...

Although enjoyable, it was difficult to follow.: overuse of pronouns caused confusion as to who was really speaking; no breaks between scenes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Many listens. Always astounded

That’s it. That’s all I have to say. I’ve listened many times and I’m never ceased to be amazed. Marvelous

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Subtle, yet insidious intrigue.

A manipulative self grandizing Cardinal, a King haunted by his unapologetic entitled royalty, a “proper” heir, and his own inadequacies. A principled mayrter, and a common blood genius above the fray, and at the center.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb book, superbly read

This may be the best audio book I've ever listened to--in 30 years, first as a commuter, now as a walker. "Historical fiction," but really--intrigue in the highest places, brilliant dialogue, a revisionist's admiring portrait of a powerful man usually viewed as cruel and manipulative. The reader is unparalleled: if you are going to paint a dark portrait of a revered man, Thomas More, what a brilliant stroke to give him a piercing, slightly nasal voice for his cruel repartee.

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59 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

I couldn't stop listening to this book. Cromwell is one of the most finely drawn 'historical" characters I have ever experienced. The whole fascinating world of Henry VIII, Thomas Moore, etc. comes alive and is amazingly fresh. Mantel is an accomplished writer. The reader is up to the task.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Listen

After reading some of the reviews regarding the difficulty of following this audiobook, I debated the purchase, but I am glad I did purchase the item. I did not find the book hard to follow and very entertaining. It was an interesting perspective of Cromwell that we usually don't see. I will say a basic knowledge of Tudor History is helpful. I also loved the portrayal of Ann Boleyn.

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3 people found this helpful