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A review by callum_mclaughlin
The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel
3.0
I must say, the way this final novel brought everything to a head (lol, pun) was very satisfying. It’s certainly the one that managed to elicit the strongest semblance of emotional investment. It’s a shame it took until this late in the day, but still impressive in its own way, considering I knew how everything was going to pan out.
I admit this is an odd criticism, given that the books are so heavily informed by real events, but I couldn’t help but find it a little clunky that each of the three novels essentially ends in the same way. Unavoidable given the facts, perhaps. Intended to reflect the cycle of violence that defines history, very possible. I do appreciate that Mantel had to adhere to certain details and divide the narrative according to natural moments of crescendo and climax. And yet, from the perspective of storytelling craft, something about it bothered me.
Her prose is at the height of its power, however, with some gorgeously evocative passages that continue to bring the past to life. Though once again, this has the side-effect of slowing down the pace and story progression to quite an extent at times.
Having now completed the trilogy, my presiding feeling towards it is one of respect rather than enjoyment. Mantel took on a series of complex events, populated by a cast of equally complex characters, and managed to consistently reflect both in a suitably intricate and nuanced way; breathing a kind of life into them that history textbooks never will.
I admit this is an odd criticism, given that the books are so heavily informed by real events, but I couldn’t help but find it a little clunky that each of the three novels essentially ends in the same way. Unavoidable given the facts, perhaps. Intended to reflect the cycle of violence that defines history, very possible. I do appreciate that Mantel had to adhere to certain details and divide the narrative according to natural moments of crescendo and climax. And yet, from the perspective of storytelling craft, something about it bothered me.
Her prose is at the height of its power, however, with some gorgeously evocative passages that continue to bring the past to life. Though once again, this has the side-effect of slowing down the pace and story progression to quite an extent at times.
Having now completed the trilogy, my presiding feeling towards it is one of respect rather than enjoyment. Mantel took on a series of complex events, populated by a cast of equally complex characters, and managed to consistently reflect both in a suitably intricate and nuanced way; breathing a kind of life into them that history textbooks never will.