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  • Wolf Hall

  • The Wolf Hall Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: Hilary Mantel
  • Narrated by: Ben Miles
  • Length: 25 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (75 ratings)

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Wolf Hall

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Ben Miles
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Publisher's Summary

Listen to the exciting new rendition of Wolf Hall, read by Ben Miles, who was personally cast by the author and played Thomas Cromwell in the Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. The winner of the Man Booker Prize and captivating first book in the Thomas Cromwell trilogy.  

Winner of the Man Booker Prize.  

Shortlisted for the Orange Prize.   

Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award.  

England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey's clerk and later his successor.

Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events.

Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as 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.  

From one of our finest living writers, Wolf Hall is that very rare thing: a truly great English novel, one that explores the intersection of individual psychology and wider politics. 

With a vast array of character and richly overflowing with incident, it peels back history to show us Tudor England as a half-made society, moulding itself with great passion and suffering and courage.

Shortlisted for the Golden Man Booker Prize.

©2009 Hilary Mantel (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Dizzyingly, dazzlingly good." (Daily Mail

"Our most brilliant English writer." (Guardian)  

What listeners say about Wolf Hall

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Totally engrossing

Performed beautifully
I was engaged from the start and absolutely recommend this, a different perspective on Cromwell

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

The writing. The narrator. The craft. The journey. I have this Mantel series read by Ben Miles on constant repeat.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bloody good

So well written, so well read - thoroughly enjoyed this telling of such an interesting time in our history

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Awful

I did not like this book, would not recommend to anyone,even peoplepeople who like the subject of the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

"page turner"

I got this to listen on my way to work. Ben was such a great narrator I kept listening in the house. a. excellent book by Hilary Mantel, well worthy of the praise the work has received.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good read about this historical figure

A well written and spoken imagining of a fascinating character from England's Tudor history. Very enjoyable

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Awseome

Great Narrator of a well written historical novel. Highly recommend for lovers of history.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Dreary, long,meandering, lacks interesting content

DITTO THIS-
After around 20 odd hours of listening I feel like I have no idea what actually happened in this book, most of the characters I only vaguely know and much of this left me bored. I felt like I was having to do a lot of mental gymnastics to keep up and to stay focused enough on the story to understand the context of half the character interactions.

I personally don't particularly see the appeal to this book that has attracted so many others. I had to listen to everything on 2.3 speed just so I could finish it and get it over with.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

History brought to life

The detail and characterisation in Mantel’s writing gives a vivid picture of the politics and personalities during Henry VIII’s reign. Ben Miles’ narration is absolutely marvellous and enhances her writing. His diction and expression brings the book to life, with suitable accents for different characters, and emphasis in just the right spots to make the whole story flow in a fluent and engaging way.

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