Damian Lewis fans line up for Wolf Hall tonight

[Travelledtheworld]

Wednesday 21st January BBC2 Channel 4

lush costumes.

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11358197/Damian-Lewiss-inspiration-for-Wolf-Halls-Henry-VIII-Wills-and-Harry.html

Caught up. Riveting stuff but it's going at quite a pace!

Just caught up too. Yes, I thought Rylance lacked menace in this episode. He had some great lines, they almost did all the work for him.

Agree with Muddha, Ecclestone would've been perfect.

I am convinced when he makes threats

The threats are not of his fists, but of his connections

It is many years since he has needed his fists to back up his threats

Because he is clever, and good at making the right connections

And I am convinced of this

That's because he has a magic ring. He uses it to control the King and he's bewitched you too. #trufact.

I think TC has all the menace he needs. I hugged myself with glee when he delivered that 'you'll regret threatening me' line.

I'm loving it so much. Even DH called it 'our programme' this week. I thought it was The Jump

I am mostly turning a blind eye to comments as I'm halfway through the last episode. But, someone I know wrote a blog about Wolf Hall (and my claim to fame here is I was one of the people who jumped up and down asking him to write it), and Hilary Mantel is commenting on it. He's an academic who is generally brilliant, so he knows his stuff.

I thought you might be interested in it. bonaelitterae.wordpress.com/2015/01/25/cromwell-on-the-box/

I love this series and would like to read the books. However the reviews are very mixes and a lot about how they are difficult to read and follow. Would I be better to read something like Phillipa Gregory's Tudor series first?

I didn't find them difficult to read. The language is very accessible and once you get going they are quite gripping.

I started BUTB, got sidetracked by another book and then went back to it, then spent a marvellous week drinking wine and reading and neglecting my husband and son on holiday last year.

Nooo, don't waste time reading Philippa Gregory first! Not that they're bad (though historically dubious in places, ahem) but they're very long and not really the same sort of book. Wolf Hall is confusing because she does weird things with pronouns and everyone is called Thomas, and also it takes a long time to get going, but if you stick it out it's worth it. If you can't stick it out, go straight to Bring Up The Bodies, which is faster and less confusing because she says 'he, Cromwell' instead of just 'he', so you know who she's talking about.

The audio version is far more accessible IMO. Don't get me wrong, I love both books in their written format but there is something about lights out, candles on and listening to the stories that appeals to me more.

That is why I gave up on Wolf Hall. Found all that he business pretentious confusing.

Good grief, I would never have coped with Eccleston as TC. He is my ultimate heart throb.

The aren't remotely difficult to read!

I found it took me a chapter it 2 to get into HM's writing style but after that the books just flow.

Chapter OR 2...

Who narrates them Kate ?

Ecclestone who? Christopher?

Maybe i've watched too many Dr Whos, I just end up with this image of him grinning maniacally and exclaiming 'Fantastic!' a lot.

Actually Jeanne, I found your Wolf Hall blog more interesting - the comments are great too: Women Mired In Catholic Illiteracy

'I would never have coped with Eccleston as TC. He is my ultimate heart throb.'

I went off him after he starred in that Lord Lucan drama last year, he was awful. Soz Chris.

I didn't see that. So I am still in his thrall.

I think they could have shoe horned a bit of David Morrissey into Wolf Hall. That would have pleased me greatly.

Christopher Eccleston as TC would be terrible. I'd have it on constant play 24/7, the DC would be unfed, unwashed and finally taken away by social services and I wouldn't care one jot.

Join the queue Just.

I'm first.

Ecclestone queue.

The Ecclestone would definitely have worked as TC. Not much to look at but charisma and menace by the knickerful.

I have heard lots of people complain the WH was too inaccessible to read. I don't understand this at all. I think Mantel's use of pronouns really helps to draw you into the plot and make you feel that you are right there in the scene alongside TC.

Gregory's Tudor series books are a good read but have a tendency to go a bit too Mills & Boon for my liking.

I prefer my history a bit rough and caustic.