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fredicia 's review for:
Bring Up the Bodies
by Hilary Mantel
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one is my favourite in the series. Big fan of slow burn political machinations the way it is written here. The intrigue, the maneuverings; it really should be boring to read, but my god, the way Mantel write is so fucking delicious.
I find the Seymour family dynamic interesting bc they all seem to like each other? Or as much as their roles allow, but they're all amusing each other, and plotting together, and being a really tight knit group. Like Cromwell and his family, sort of. The Boleyns weren't like that.
Also, Cromwell is fairly progressive in the book. He cares about the poor - often at times he believes better living standards equates to less crime, that if people are prosperous, then they will be generous. I suppose that makes sense if he was interested in upending the Catholic church, which reflects real life, but I was kind of under the impression that was by necessity to curry Henry's favour.
That scene where Henry falls off his horse and is presumed dead is one of the most memorable. Bc up until that point, as the reader, I'm like would it really be that bad if Mary took the throne? But then the scene unfolds and everyone is losing their heads, plotting when Henry hasn't been dead for an hour and Norfolk is going around screaming he's going to be the regent. There is a teenage (?) girl, an infant girl, a bastard in the line of succession and one can absolutely see how the realm is fucked at this point if Henry dies.
Hilary Mantel has written Jane as clever and I think that's a very interesting take to read about. Jane Seymour presents herself as the opposite to opinionated Anne, simple, humble and subservient, but she knows not to give in to Henry and how to keep his attention. Her kissing the letter is a good demonstration of that. And there's this one scene where her brothers are trying to confirm whether she's a virgin and how to conduct herself (Cromwell is there too lol) and she's like "I don't know what you're talking about" but it's like she's trolling them by making them extremely uncomfortable. It's funny. Cromwell says, and I can still remember it bc I think it's a perfect reflection of Henry and Jane's relationship, that Henry thinks her stupid, and he finds it restful. And then Jane shows a startling piece of insight and you know she's not stupid at all.
With the exception of Lady Rochford, I don't think any of Anne's ladies in waiting meant her any serious harm; as they said, it was all just gossip. And Mark Smeaton's confession was just so fucking funny, because Cromwell thought he had to use the entirety of his wit and this fool just confesses it. I honestly don't think any of them knew how serious Cromwell's questions were bc of course Cromwell wants to know everything that happens with everyone and "oh look I can curry favour with him" But then the treason charge lands in Parliament and everyone is like oh shit.
And Cromwell's trying his best to convince himself he's doing this for revenge but he knows he's a hypocrite. That's why Wolsey's ghost visits him. And he's only powerful bc he took Wolsey's place by Henry's side. Cromwell knows that the men are not as guilty as charged, which means that he knows Anne is innocent, but he needs her gone from Henry forever. So he exaggerates charges and has her killed. And here we can see how this system of law he put in place would eventually play in his demise as well.
I find the Seymour family dynamic interesting bc they all seem to like each other? Or as much as their roles allow, but they're all amusing each other, and plotting together, and being a really tight knit group. Like Cromwell and his family, sort of. The Boleyns weren't like that.
Also, Cromwell is fairly progressive in the book. He cares about the poor - often at times he believes better living standards equates to less crime, that if people are prosperous, then they will be generous. I suppose that makes sense if he was interested in upending the Catholic church, which reflects real life, but I was kind of under the impression that was by necessity to curry Henry's favour.
That scene where Henry falls off his horse and is presumed dead is one of the most memorable. Bc up until that point, as the reader, I'm like would it really be that bad if Mary took the throne? But then the scene unfolds and everyone is losing their heads, plotting when Henry hasn't been dead for an hour and Norfolk is going around screaming he's going to be the regent. There is a teenage (?) girl, an infant girl, a bastard in the line of succession and one can absolutely see how the realm is fucked at this point if Henry dies.
Hilary Mantel has written Jane as clever and I think that's a very interesting take to read about. Jane Seymour presents herself as the opposite to opinionated Anne, simple, humble and subservient, but she knows not to give in to Henry and how to keep his attention. Her kissing the letter is a good demonstration of that. And there's this one scene where her brothers are trying to confirm whether she's a virgin and how to conduct herself (Cromwell is there too lol) and she's like "I don't know what you're talking about" but it's like she's trolling them by making them extremely uncomfortable. It's funny. Cromwell says, and I can still remember it bc I think it's a perfect reflection of Henry and Jane's relationship, that Henry thinks her stupid, and he finds it restful. And then Jane shows a startling piece of insight and you know she's not stupid at all.
With the exception of Lady Rochford, I don't think any of Anne's ladies in waiting meant her any serious harm; as they said, it was all just gossip. And Mark Smeaton's confession was just so fucking funny, because Cromwell thought he had to use the entirety of his wit and this fool just confesses it. I honestly don't think any of them knew how serious Cromwell's questions were bc of course Cromwell wants to know everything that happens with everyone and "oh look I can curry favour with him" But then the treason charge lands in Parliament and everyone is like oh shit.
And Cromwell's trying his best to convince himself he's doing this for revenge but he knows he's a hypocrite. That's why Wolsey's ghost visits him. And he's only powerful bc he took Wolsey's place by Henry's side. Cromwell knows that the men are not as guilty as charged, which means that he knows Anne is innocent, but he needs her gone from Henry forever. So he exaggerates charges and has her killed. And here we can see how this system of law he put in place would eventually play in his demise as well.