Reviews

I was something of a latecomer to the brilliant writing of Hilary Mantel - but how wonderful it was to have lived in the same world as her, and getting to read The Mirror and The Light when it came out. I was crushed when she died in 2022, so when I saw this posthumous book, I needed it. This is a collection of Mantel’s essays, speeches, and articles as chosen by her book editor of the last twenty years of her career. What results is a funny, sharp, introspective collection of work that made me feel like I understood Mantel and her work that much better.

shellydennison's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

The texts of Mantel's 2017 Reith Lectures on writing historical fiction make this volume worth the price of admission by themselves but the whole collection is thoroughly absorbing. Mantel is incapable of writing a dull sentence so even reviews of films or books I wouldn't choose to watch are engaging.

bobthebookerer's review

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5.0

After her passing, it was beautiful to see so many people celebrating the power of her words, and her incredible ability to write passionately about almost any topic.

This selection of writings ranges everything from travel and history to her personal meditations on health and who she is. And within these pieces, we see how well-read and travelled she was, often bringing together stories from all corners of the world and historical tales from different centuries to make a point about something else entirely. Her writing is a gift, and it was great to hear her voice again.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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