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Wolf Hall

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Wolf Hall

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Simon Slater
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About this listen

National Book Critics Circle, Fiction, 2010

Man Booker Prize, Fiction, 2009

Tudor England. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is charged with securing his divorce. Into this atmosphere of distrust comes Thomas Cromwell - a man as ruthlessly ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages.

©2009 Hilary Mantell (P)2009 WF Howes Ltd Historical Fiction Fiction Royalty Thought-Provoking Tudor England

Critic Reviews

"If the dance between king and mistress is expertly choreographed, it is Mantel's presentation of the common realm - the seething streets of Putney and Wimbledon, populated by drapers and boatmen - that gives this novel the force of revelation." ( The Guardian)

"...as soon as I opened the book I was gripped. I read it almost non-stop. When I did have to put it down, I was full of regret the story was over, a regret I still feel. This is a wonderful and intelligently imagined retelling of a familiar tale from an unfamiliar angle - one that makes the drama unfolding nearly five centuries ago look new again, and shocking again, too. " ( The Times)

"The reader, Simon Slater, skilfully adopts contrasting voices and the narrative has an immediacy close to a dramatisation... Provocative, rewarding listening." (The Times)
All stars
Most relevant  
One of the great books performed well. A delight. I enjoyed the audiobook version very much.

Brilliant

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Loved the narration, he made the book come alive. Didn’t want it to end. Loved it .

Amazing narration.

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After visiting Hampton Court earlier this year I was inspired to get into this book.

Simon Slater sold the story for me! Amazing reading particularly in the way he injected life into the characters.

The story is a little long winded but it all is worth it for many golden moments. It sometimes becomes bogged down within itself but when the story develops the climax is well worth the long haul.

Amazing performance but the story is a little long

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This is a very meaty book, and you'll need to chomp you're way through it...but its worth it. very detailed narrative.

Fascinating recount of historical events

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Man Booker prize winning novel Wolf Hall is the first of the trilogy that charts the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, lawyer, statesman and chief minister of Henry V111.

A masterclass in writing and in a round about way, the concise guide to Brexit. What do I mean by this? Mantel explores what it is that makes the English who they are. The dissolution of Catholicism in England is exactly the same sort of carry-on as Brexit. Wolf Hall is filled with pithy insight.

A Dissemination of The English Character.

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Took time to work into it...turned into a classic that I will read again. Awesome

Epic

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The writing is compelling, such a deep and thought provoking dive into a moment of history. Simon Slater's narration is simply brilliant.

Loved every moment.

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The other reviews seem to be confusing- this book possibly exists in different narrations? The one I purchased is overreacted to an unimaginable degree. Just awful and impossible to listen to. I understand this could be necessary to distinguish between the numerous characters but it’s very off putting. I would prefer a more “monotonous “ narration that others seem to complain about.

The narration is absolutely awful

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My favourite period of history! Well narrated account, not withstanding fictional. I will go on to listen to the whole trilogy.

Brilliant

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I found myself listening to this at any moment I could. The story is interesting and the performance captivating. I can understand why this title is so widely popular.

A Masterful Historical Drama

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