The Mirror and the Light: extract

[MaJoady]

I know lots of people are eagerly waiting for this! There's an extract of the first chapter in the Guardian this morning. Here:

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/22/the-mirror-and-the-light-hilary-mantel-extract?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Enjoy! It's good!

I have to admit that one reason I am so pleased to have gotten a library copy is that I can then buy the paperback when it comes out so it matches my previous books I was feeling very conflicted about wanting to get my hands on it and the subsequent effect on my bookshelf!

Although if I don't get on with it, I'm going to be having to give it back unfinished: the worst of both worlds! Tempted to book in a days holiday from work just in case, but that's ridiculous...

I'm about a third of the way through it. Loving it, but I am getting confused with all the noblemen 's names, and all the Thomases and Henrys!

It's great to hear so many people here enjoyed The Mirror and the Light. I have a question, perhaps I missed something, but is there any credibility in Cromwell's belief that he was used as a trade-off with the Emperor? I think he says he was " the price" Henry paid to get rid of Anne of Cleves. There's no further mention of this though.

It’s his belief, but as by that point he doesn’t have any way to find out otherwise, that’s all it is (imo). It does kind of make sense though.

Also, he should never have made Gardiner come back from France!

Finished it last night. Of course I knew how it ends but omg, the last hundred pages or so were incredible. I admit I was a bit teary at the very end!

Reminds me of a bit in one of the previous 2 books.
Cromwell, talking about his portrait said "I look like a murderer" and someone replied "Didn't you know?"
I'm just rereading Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies in anticipation of starting The Mirror and the Light, which is sitting now on top of my pile of books. Anyway, it's his son Gregory who says Didn't you know? I love the way their relationship is handled, so delicately and round the edges, never probed. I'm wondering how it will evolve in Book 3... (don't tell me!)

Mark Rylance didn't epitomise Cromwell for me.
now my vote would be for Idris Elba...

I’ve just finished it.

Stunning. That is a writer at the top of her game.

Isn’t it. I was blown away.

I’m lapsed Catholic and was never that keen on Cromwell, but you’re with him all the way. She has to get the Booker again.

Thanks for your replies. I think he knew all along that Henry would turn on him one day, maybe that's why he never remarried.

I have another thought to share. Again I may have missed something, but in Bring up the Bodies, Cromwell takes a woman, Helen Barre I think, to help Thomas More's very young wife give birth. I couldn't find any further mention of this - could Cromwell have had this baby swapped for Anne Boleyn's? Someone does accuse Cromwell later of having had the baby swapped, and he just says it would have been pointless to bring in a girl baby.

Interesting! In The Mirror and the Light it mentions Elizabeth as a toddler looks like Henry and there can be no doubt she’s his. Maybe that’s a callback to that?

Finished it this morning and cried. Cromwell's been living in my head for so many pages that I feel bereft! The last few pages were stunning, just stunning.

I finished it years and sobbed my heart out. It was as brilliant as the others although I have to say I found it a little bit more hard work. I’m sure in the other books she stuck to generally calling each character by the same name. I kept getting confused when one character could be Call-Me, Wriothesley, Thing of the Signet etc. and I’d keep having to go back a few paragraphs to see who it was. That could well be due to me being confined to a house with a two young children and having very little brain space left by the end of the day when I’d finally read it!

*yesterday not year

Yes I got confused too, but it was well enough written that I stuck with it.

Finished! The last part was just stunning. What a book!

I thought it was a bit overlong in parts and delved into the subconscious a bit too much for me. And the way it's written takes a bit of getting used to.

I'll miss him.

I think he knew the king would turn on him one day...and no-one would remain loyal to him even if they wanted to.

So his downfall was kind of inevitable, but knowing how it ends does not detract from the tension of the book.

I finished it yesterday. Took my myself upstairs for some peace and quiet to take in the last chapters. It was just fantastic, I was a bit teary too, such amazing writing. I will miss him, Cromwell 😉
I re-read WH and BUTB before reading it, might be able to fit them in again before the end of lock-down 😅. What to read next?? I've tried A Place of Greater Safety before, but just couldn't get into it, might give it another go.
Can't wait for the BBC version of TMATL, really hope Mark Rylance will reprise his role 🙏

Finished the book last week, and the last few pages are just the most extraordinary piece of writing. Just stunning. And those who like the inner dialogue of Crumb will enjoy it. Have this week listened to the R4 audiobook (15x 14 mins!) read by Anton Lesser again, also excellent (Tho cannot help but remember him as More!). Is very well edited. And I’m very excited that the beeb has finally decided to show Wolf Hall, 2 episodes each night on bbc4 from Sunday. Didn’t know whether to post this in here, radio or tv addicts

Ooh, thanks, am so pleased WH is being shown on the TV again! Will make sure to record/watch it. I listened to some of the R4 episodes of TMATL, but was a bit behind with the book, and didn't want to listen to the end before I'd read it. Anton Lesser has a sublime voice, and I love the tv WH association with his Thomas More.

Just finished it. Brilliant. Sad I have finished it though! Love books that are intelligent but still easy to read.

Did you all see the authors bbc programme? Was amazing, Hilary is fabulous