Hilary Mantel on The Mirror and the Light

Watch the late author talk about the concluding part of the Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light, and read its opening pages.

While the book concludes the trilogy, Mantel emphasizes that it stands as a self-contained narrative. It opens with the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, and navigates through the king's subsequent marriages to Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, and the brief appearance of Catherine Howard. Mantel also hints at a "little mystery" for astute readers regarding Catherine Parr, Henry's sixth wife.

She invites readers to ponder the forces driving Cromwell's relentless pursuit of power. What motivates him to elevate his son into the royal family? What is his ultimate goal? How does he navigate the complexities of governing under a volatile monarch like Henry VIII? And how does he confront the growing coalition of enemies plotting his downfall?

Hilary Mantel encourages readers to question established historical narratives and to "walk a mile in his shoes," experiencing the story through Cromwell's eyes.

Watch the video below…