"What survives from this year past? Rafe's garden at midsummer, the lusty cries of the child Thomas issuing from an open window; Helen's tender face. The ambassador in his tower at Canonbury, fading into twilight. Night falling on the rock of Windsor Castle, as on a mountain slope."
"The ignorant and fantastical people of the north say Henry is the Mouldwarp, the king that was and the king to come. He is a thousand years old, a rough and scaly man, chill like a brute from the sea... When you think of him, fear touches you in the pit of the stomach; it is an old fear, a dragon fear; it is from childhood."
Another immersive round up of this week's read. Thank you Simon. I just looked back to when I first read the Wolf Hall trilogy and it was 2020/2021. I finished The Mirror and the Light in Nov 2021. My friend recommended them to me and I remember her waiting in anticipation for The Mirror and Light to come out just as I had started getting into Wolf Hall. I was so glad I had two more to read following Wolf Hall, but thinking of that build up of excitement as you gather yourself to meet again with much loved writing and characters, I did feel a bit jealous of her joy in waiting. I knew as soon as I finished the last page of The Mirror and the Light that I would read them all again, I just wasn't sure when. And then I came across Substack and within Substack Footnotes and Tangents. When I saw there was a slow read of the Wolf Hall trilogy I was in and I have never looked back. I honestly did not believe I could enjoy these books more than I did the first time round, I have actually enjoyed them even more. The additional insights shared by yourself Simon and the discussions in the chat are a tonic to my week and have given me a lot more to think about in terms of Thomas Cromwell and Mantel's writing. I also love the rabbit holes that the reader can go down following some of the links in the weekly round ups. I now get to have that wee bit of joy in waiting when waiting to hear the posts each week and although I dread again having to get to the end of Cromwell's life, I know this time I am experiencing it at the same time as others are, and it can be a shared sadness. This slow read has helped give me some normality during a tumultuous year and upgrading to a paid subscription, as well as joining in with the War and Peace slow read has been a wee treat to myself. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is considering reading Wolf Hall and I myself am looking forward to next year's reads, including another re-read of a Mantel classic.
There is quite a contrast in this chapter between dusk gathering at three and the memory of a bowl of gooseberries in the summer. The winter has its effect on the rebels and the general mood. I thought of the John Lennon lyrics:
"So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun."
Simon, you capture the mood of this chapter well in your essay. i wonder what Mantel's mood was when she wrote this. As she does with every mood, she does melancholy so well.
I am assuming she made a pilgrimage to see those frescos for this chapter. And perhaps missed England's green and pleasant land while she was over there? I love how time and the movement of time is evoked in this chapter: looking back at a very long and crazy year. For the king, everything seems worse. But for Cromwell, he's now a lord and the Boleyns are gone. The king's hand can heal, so why does he not feel healed?
Thank you, Simon, for another beautifully written and slow read-enhancing post. The sadness I felt finishing the trilogy (I couldn’t resist and raced ahead) is mitigated by the knowledge that I still have your weekly posts to look forward to, along with everyone’s comments and all the rabbits holes I explore little by little. Thank you! 🙏😊
Two things struck me this chapter. First, the king inviting the rebels to Christmas and sending Cromwell away. Cromwell quietly being excused from the inner circle like that is huge.
Next, Cromwell tamping down his rising memory of the burning of the lollard. We see that even Cromwell will can use denial and that may affect his future.
I think it is never good when he's not in the room. There's a good reason here why Mr Vile Blood is keeping a low profile. But yes, generally, we should pay attention to when Cromwell is excluded from the situation.
Love the descriptions of the rituals in the royal chambers, so surreal and fascinating... not to justify Henry, but no wonder he became such a Narcissist🤦♀️
I this section I was struck by the echo between the following two fables, of lion and giant, particularly the shift in tone between them - perhaps Cromwell can't think of Henry as a monster, or himself as manipulative and self-interested, directly, but only by an analogy that is not made explicit?
"He thinks, the first time I came into Henry's presence, it was like the Fox and the Lion. I trembled at the sight. But the second time, I crept a bit nearer and had a good look. And what did I see? I saw his solitude. And like Fox to Lion, I stepped right up and parleyed with him, and never looked back."
"Giants are lonely; they don't know any other giants. Sometimes they want a boy like Jack to amuse them, to run errands and teach them songs. Conquer your awe then, grab your chance. If you know how to talk to a giant it works like a spell. The monster becomes your creature. He thinks you serve him, but in fact you serve yourself."
But this arrogant conclusion is belied by Cromwell's own ominous comment to Barnes about his precarious position with the king:
"He is angry that he has to defend me for my vile blood. But he cannot cast me off. Or it will seem that he has allowed rebels to dictate to him."
Yes, befriending a lion or a giant... Thomas More said you could not be friends with a king. And of course, More was right. Cromwell partly knows this, but he also has that hubristic sense that he has cheated fate and found a way to tame the beast. They often say, politicians never know when to quit: winning is a powerful drug.
I fell in love with the Wolf Hall trilogy when I first read it on my own several years ago. Even with favorites, however, I'm not one to reread books lightly. But having thoroughly enjoyed Simon's slow read of War and Peace, I knew it would be worth settling down with this trilogy again to have Simon's thoughtful, often exquisite commentary as the cherry on top of an already exquisite reading experience. Simon, a talented writer himself, puts so much craft and insight into his guides, and brings along a lovely, intelligent, enthusiastic community of readers. On this slow read of Wolf Hall I've been enriched by Simon's offerings of curated historical context, weaving together of character backstories, pointing out of sparkling gems, careful observations of themes and broader structure, and the obvious deep empathy for the characters and their author that wells up in his commentary. Exchanging comments and fellow feeling and moments of "Cromwelling"* with the other readers is such a treat and very motivating. Participating in this community is a gentle, steady highlight of my year. If you have any interest whatsoever in reading these books, do so with the Footnotes and Tangents crowd!
*Cromwelling is the name we've come up with for coming across protagonist Thomas Cromwell's historical path in the wild, plus all the other gems readers have offered up from their own research and projects related to Cromwell. It's quite a treasure trove!
"What survives from this year past? Rafe's garden at midsummer, the lusty cries of the child Thomas issuing from an open window; Helen's tender face. The ambassador in his tower at Canonbury, fading into twilight. Night falling on the rock of Windsor Castle, as on a mountain slope."
Those are days I hark back to.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouldwarp
"The ignorant and fantastical people of the north say Henry is the Mouldwarp, the king that was and the king to come. He is a thousand years old, a rough and scaly man, chill like a brute from the sea... When you think of him, fear touches you in the pit of the stomach; it is an old fear, a dragon fear; it is from childhood."
"Daily, daily, one must practise the courtier's art, and nightly, the act of governance: and never get it right."
Another immersive round up of this week's read. Thank you Simon. I just looked back to when I first read the Wolf Hall trilogy and it was 2020/2021. I finished The Mirror and the Light in Nov 2021. My friend recommended them to me and I remember her waiting in anticipation for The Mirror and Light to come out just as I had started getting into Wolf Hall. I was so glad I had two more to read following Wolf Hall, but thinking of that build up of excitement as you gather yourself to meet again with much loved writing and characters, I did feel a bit jealous of her joy in waiting. I knew as soon as I finished the last page of The Mirror and the Light that I would read them all again, I just wasn't sure when. And then I came across Substack and within Substack Footnotes and Tangents. When I saw there was a slow read of the Wolf Hall trilogy I was in and I have never looked back. I honestly did not believe I could enjoy these books more than I did the first time round, I have actually enjoyed them even more. The additional insights shared by yourself Simon and the discussions in the chat are a tonic to my week and have given me a lot more to think about in terms of Thomas Cromwell and Mantel's writing. I also love the rabbit holes that the reader can go down following some of the links in the weekly round ups. I now get to have that wee bit of joy in waiting when waiting to hear the posts each week and although I dread again having to get to the end of Cromwell's life, I know this time I am experiencing it at the same time as others are, and it can be a shared sadness. This slow read has helped give me some normality during a tumultuous year and upgrading to a paid subscription, as well as joining in with the War and Peace slow read has been a wee treat to myself. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is considering reading Wolf Hall and I myself am looking forward to next year's reads, including another re-read of a Mantel classic.
Thank you so much for this Claire! It makes me so happy!
You are very welcome Simon. It makes me happy being a part of this.
There is quite a contrast in this chapter between dusk gathering at three and the memory of a bowl of gooseberries in the summer. The winter has its effect on the rebels and the general mood. I thought of the John Lennon lyrics:
"So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun."
Simon, you capture the mood of this chapter well in your essay. i wonder what Mantel's mood was when she wrote this. As she does with every mood, she does melancholy so well.
I am assuming she made a pilgrimage to see those frescos for this chapter. And perhaps missed England's green and pleasant land while she was over there? I love how time and the movement of time is evoked in this chapter: looking back at a very long and crazy year. For the king, everything seems worse. But for Cromwell, he's now a lord and the Boleyns are gone. The king's hand can heal, so why does he not feel healed?
I also like his thoughts on what could have been. A life where Cromwell's life does not end as we know it will.
I love UK’s greenness, it’s so soothinh and refreshing, even if it comes at the pricw of quite a lot of rain!
Thank you, Simon, for another beautifully written and slow read-enhancing post. The sadness I felt finishing the trilogy (I couldn’t resist and raced ahead) is mitigated by the knowledge that I still have your weekly posts to look forward to, along with everyone’s comments and all the rabbits holes I explore little by little. Thank you! 🙏😊
Ah did you just finish! Amazing isn't it?
Two things struck me this chapter. First, the king inviting the rebels to Christmas and sending Cromwell away. Cromwell quietly being excused from the inner circle like that is huge.
Next, Cromwell tamping down his rising memory of the burning of the lollard. We see that even Cromwell will can use denial and that may affect his future.
The Lollard memory comes back to haunt him later!
I think it is never good when he's not in the room. There's a good reason here why Mr Vile Blood is keeping a low profile. But yes, generally, we should pay attention to when Cromwell is excluded from the situation.
Every time he is not present I tremble!🫣
Love the descriptions of the rituals in the royal chambers, so surreal and fascinating... not to justify Henry, but no wonder he became such a Narcissist🤦♀️
Still catching up...
I this section I was struck by the echo between the following two fables, of lion and giant, particularly the shift in tone between them - perhaps Cromwell can't think of Henry as a monster, or himself as manipulative and self-interested, directly, but only by an analogy that is not made explicit?
"He thinks, the first time I came into Henry's presence, it was like the Fox and the Lion. I trembled at the sight. But the second time, I crept a bit nearer and had a good look. And what did I see? I saw his solitude. And like Fox to Lion, I stepped right up and parleyed with him, and never looked back."
"Giants are lonely; they don't know any other giants. Sometimes they want a boy like Jack to amuse them, to run errands and teach them songs. Conquer your awe then, grab your chance. If you know how to talk to a giant it works like a spell. The monster becomes your creature. He thinks you serve him, but in fact you serve yourself."
But this arrogant conclusion is belied by Cromwell's own ominous comment to Barnes about his precarious position with the king:
"He is angry that he has to defend me for my vile blood. But he cannot cast me off. Or it will seem that he has allowed rebels to dictate to him."
Yes, befriending a lion or a giant... Thomas More said you could not be friends with a king. And of course, More was right. Cromwell partly knows this, but he also has that hubristic sense that he has cheated fate and found a way to tame the beast. They often say, politicians never know when to quit: winning is a powerful drug.
I finished it some weeks ago, and yes, it is amazing.
Thanks Simon! Here's my testimonial:
I fell in love with the Wolf Hall trilogy when I first read it on my own several years ago. Even with favorites, however, I'm not one to reread books lightly. But having thoroughly enjoyed Simon's slow read of War and Peace, I knew it would be worth settling down with this trilogy again to have Simon's thoughtful, often exquisite commentary as the cherry on top of an already exquisite reading experience. Simon, a talented writer himself, puts so much craft and insight into his guides, and brings along a lovely, intelligent, enthusiastic community of readers. On this slow read of Wolf Hall I've been enriched by Simon's offerings of curated historical context, weaving together of character backstories, pointing out of sparkling gems, careful observations of themes and broader structure, and the obvious deep empathy for the characters and their author that wells up in his commentary. Exchanging comments and fellow feeling and moments of "Cromwelling"* with the other readers is such a treat and very motivating. Participating in this community is a gentle, steady highlight of my year. If you have any interest whatsoever in reading these books, do so with the Footnotes and Tangents crowd!
*Cromwelling is the name we've come up with for coming across protagonist Thomas Cromwell's historical path in the wild, plus all the other gems readers have offered up from their own research and projects related to Cromwell. It's quite a treasure trove!