Suddenly it’s summer – the buttercups have grown high in the field of cows, the tulips I planted last October are fading and the grass on our newly seeded lawn is just showing through.
With temperatures in the high 20s and the day being Sunday what better excuse for idling the day away with a glass of cold Sauvignon Blanc and a copy of Hilary Mantel’s dazzling epic – Wolf Hall. Exquisitely and bravely written it compels us to feed on the dark meat of HenryTudor’s England; the blood and guts, the political intrigue, the King’s lust, the continent’s despair, and through it all the rise of Cromwell, the most powerful of Henry’s courtiers – spin doctor to beat all spin doctors, (Peter Mandleson eat your heart out ) – the enforcer – as much a man of our time as his own, a rich and complex character, both villain and hero.
‘Lock Cromwell in a deep dungeon in the morning,’ says Thomas More, ‘and when you come back that night he’ll be sitting on a plush cushion eating larks’ tongues, and all the gaolers will owe him money.’
The novelist, says Mantel, ‘lives inside the consciouness of her characters…’ and ‘…agrees just to move forward with her characters walking into the dark.’
I recommend walking into the dark with Hilary Mantel – so much to enjoy- Wolf Hall is unputdownable and so much to learn about wriitng fiction.
I love the new-look website Avril, smashing.
Cromwell and Mandy, just about hanging together in the same sentence, now there’s a thought. I wonder now what would happen if those two found themselves in a cell togther.
Sheer animalistic brutality, versus sly, wily cunning?
In the end, I reckon the gaoler would open the cell to find Cromwell tamed, on a lead at Mandy’s heels barking like a guard dog. Ruff ruff ruff- new labour- new labour ruff ruff!!!
Keep up the good work, I enjoy your thoughts, wisdom and musings.
W.
Warren this really made me laugh out loud! I think you could be right about the outcome of a Cromwell/ Mandy cell share – tho I don’t know, Mandy may win but Cromwell on a lead – never!
A xx
Wendy you really made me smile as always – yes, definitely a book for France. I think you’ll love it
A xx
The combination of the intimate shot of your Queen of the Night Tulip and the sparkling dark worlds evoked by H Mantel go well together. A good stout book for France, I think, to read, reflect and record upon.
w
Lovely post Avril – Wolf Hall is waiting for me when I get home. Like the new blog site too – very original!