Bring Up the Bodies

The Wolf Hall Trilogy, Book 2

By: Hilary Mantel

Narrated by: Ben Miles

Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

Listen to the exciting new rendition of Bring Up the Bodies, read by Ben Miles, who was personally cast by the author and played Thomas Cromwell in the Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies. With a historic win for Bring Up the Bodies, the second book in the gripping Thomas Cromwell Trilogy, Hilary Mantel becomes the first British author to be awarded two Man Booker Prizes.  

Winner of the Man Booker Prize. 

Winner of the Costa Book of the Year.  

By 1535 Thomas Cromwell is chief minister to Henry VIII, his fortunes having risen with those of Anne Boleyn, the king’s new wife. But Anne has failed to give the king an heir, and Cromwell watches as Henry falls for plain Jane Seymour. 

Cromwell must find a solution that will satisfy Henry, safeguard the nation and secure his own career. But neither minister nor king will emerge unscathed from the bloody theatre of Anne’s final days.

An astounding literary accomplishment, Bring Up the Bodies is the story of this most terrifying moment of history, by one of our greatest living novelists.  

©2012 Hilary Mantel (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Simply exceptional.... I envy anyone who hasn’t yet read it." (Daily Mail)

"A gripping story of tumbling fury and terror." (Independent on Sunday)  

Magnificent!

I have to confess Bring up the Bodies is one of my most favourite books in the world so I was disposed to like the audiobook. Ben Miles’s reading is so completely perfect I didn’t want it to end. Voice and pacing is spot on.

Loved It

Even though I loved Wolf Hall I found it hard to follow in places. Bring Up the Bodies, in my opinion, is more accessible. Again, written beautifully and strikingly. Ben Miles' performance is a joy to listen to.

Mesmerising

The best literary experience of my life to date, read or listened to. Extraordinary. I finished book 3 and went right back to the start of the trilogy

Ben Miles, the perfect reader

Having played Cromwell in the RSC productions of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, Ben Miles could be considered well placed to read the audio versions of the books.
He’s a lot more than that. He is the perfect narrator! His tone and the depth of understanding he brings to the text, are exceptional. So too, his ability to distinguish between all the characters and bring them to life.
I read all three books as soon as they were published and am a devotee, so I needed any audio version to be really good. I couldn’t have wished for more than Ben Miles’s version. Perfect!
Don’t settle for any other version.

excellent acting but..

too many mouth noises and loud swallowing for comfortable listening on an ear piece. I switched off to the story a few times and didn't feel totally engaged with the characters, probably add they were all guilty of machinations. not tempted to listen to more in the series.

very very very good

I don't usually read the kinds of dense books that English literature students read. I'm not the most attentive listener so those subtle books get lost in me. this did not though, it was a pleasure in every moment, and the imagery was so engrossing and vivid. will be thinking about this book for years to come.

a brilliant listen

a wonderful narrator who made Cromwell so real. I would thoroughly recommend this version

SO ENJOYABLE

Completely absorbing and engrossing. Top marks too for the narration. Looking forward to catching up with Wolf Hall as I originally missed it, plus the third in the trilogy The Mirror and the Light.

love the narrator

while I loved Wolf Hall I found the story a little less exciting, however I felt the way Ben Miles narrated the story was really brilliant, his accents and and dialects were superb.
I will listen to the next book in the series just because I like a conclusion.

First rate narration

Ben Miles brings Mantel's historical trilogy to life. You are with Cromwell throughout his rise and fall.

Complex and satisfying

Whilst I enjoyed Wolf Hall, (it was a different narrator) Ben Miles brings the words to life beautifully.

The machinations of Cromwell’s life and work are depicted with great colour and variety. As a character from history, he’s played as both subtle, persuasive and terribly ruthless in his pursuit of the King’s desires. Far more interesting than what goes on at court, the underlying subterfuge and espionage is better than many thrillers set in the modern age. Wonderful.