By Kaylie Seed
Hilary Mantel’s trilogy depicting the life of Thomas Cromwell, minister to King Henry VIII, comes to an end with its much-anticipated final instalment, The Mirror & the Light. The first two books in this Tudor trilogy, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, set the stage for the epic conclusion to this tale. Eleven years after the release of Wolf Hall, fans of Mantel’s beloved series can now read about the last four years of Cromwell’s life. While what happened to Cromwell is well documented, Mantel does an excellent job of recreating the scene while using her creative freedom to write an epic of historical fiction.
The Mirror & the Light takes place in England in May of 1536, just after the beheading of Anne Boleyn. The story then follows Thomas Cromwell for the next four years, until his death. Mantel seems to have somehow travelled to 1536, and writes with convincing historical accuracy. At the same time she adds a depth to these real-life figures that is bound to engage readers. In staying true to the Tudor time period, Mantel includes language of the era. This can make the novel slightly difficult for readers, but with a little focus The Mirror & the Light is an entertaining read.
Mantel tells of Thomas Cromwell’s untimely fate in a way that will keep readers on the edge of their seat until the very end. While Thomas Cromwell is a historical figure that anyone can read up on, Mantel has woven in elements of fiction to add a richness to the story of this man’s life. Throughout its 800 pages, Mantel manages to keep The Mirror & the Light relevant and compelling, making this novel one that will capture the reader’s attention the entire time.
Mantel has a way with words that is effortless and allows for a comfortable reading experience. It will be exciting to see what she does next!
*Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy of this e-book!