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Bring Up the Bodies

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Bring Up the Bodies

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

Costa Book of the Year, 2012

UK Author of the Year - Specsavers National Book Awards, 2012

Man Booker Prize, Fiction, 2012

By 1535 Thomas Cromwell, the blacksmith's son, is far from his humble origins. Chief Minister to Henry VIII, his fortunes have risen with those of Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife, for whose sake Henry has broken with Rome and created his own church.

In Bring Up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel explores one of the most mystifying and frightening episodes in English history: the destruction of Anne Boleyn. This new novel is an audacious vision of Tudor England that sheds its light on the modern world.

©2012 Tertius Enterprises (P)2012 Macmillan Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction World Literature Tudor England Middle Ages
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A story of great historical note beautifully told and wonderfully performed. Not for those disinterested by 16th century history.

Historical fiction

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Fabulous story telling - and interesting, engaging characters.
- And it is set in a very intriguing time in English history.

Fabulous story telling

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I thoroughly enjoyed this second instalment in the trilogy. The narration is perfect and you can almost feel the fear of certain players as you become engrossed in the story. I am looking forward to the next book immensely

Tudor times

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My feeble words cannot do justice to this epic novel, and Simon Vance's narration is flawless and superb.

Epic

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A wonderful sequel to Wolf Hall. The characters are authentic and the story is gripping - history alive. Thanks

Outstanding!!

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You need to love the intrigue of politics to most enjoy this book. You need to enjoy good writing, with which this is full. You need to have read Wolf Hall first for full chronology, better plot and better writing.

Good, not great

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History comes alive in the most engaging way.
Love, loyalty, revenge, survival, self interest & human depravity unfold exquisitely.
Beautifully written, perfectly narrated.

I cant rate this book too highly

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This is exquisite. Perhaps not as good as Wolf Hall, yet still sparkling in the triumph. I personally did not like the narration as much as Wolf Hall, but it is still great. Mantel can really write!

A triumph

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Very satisfying sequel to Wolf Hall. Masterful recreation of the politics and intrigue around the fall of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell’s role.

Deserved the second Booker!

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A fictionalised work based on historical events, Thomas Cromwell is realised as as the chief bureaucrat to Henry VIII, successful at law, commerce and influencing many. An intriguing man feared publicly but loved by family and friends, and never forgetting his humble origins or personal grief. Written in third person but using quotations and thoughts for dialogue this is jus brilliant writing by Mantel. Where in Wolf Hall the scenes and characters of the time were established, Bring Up the Bodies finishes the drama surrounding the controversial period of Anne Boleyn as Queen Consort in the early 16th Century. An endearing interpretation of English history and full of quotable one-liners, this is a must read (or listen of course.

A masterwork of English literature

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