The Light and the Mirror by Hilary Mantel.

If anyone doesn't want to tackle the reading and would like an abridged version it is available on BBC Sounds to listen to.

Enjoyed this book but I wish I hadn't known his fate beforehand.
This has been a really good trilogy as you would expect from Hilary Mantel. I hope they make a TV version of this one quickly to follow on from the other 2 that have just started screening on TV.
Difficult to decide what to read next after a book like this.

I’ve just finished it too, after reading very slowly towards the end, dreading what I knew would come.
It’s brilliant and I’ve enjoyed the whole long journey. Knowing that I would feel lost when I finished it, I started a new book when I was near the end so I had something to carry on.
I was grateful for the potted history at the end because I learned no history whatever at school and knew little about the Tudors.

I like Phillipa Gregories books. Enjoyed the tv adaptations, too. As for the latest Hilary Mantel book [I'm ashamed to say I haven't read any of them and would dearly love to read Wolf Hall at the moment] a writer [ditto a film maker; a classic example of that being Zero Dark Thirty] must be very good to write something that grips you even though you know what's going to happen at the end. I'm still listening to TMATL on catchup book at bedtime.

oldgimmer Can't help feeling sorry for old Crum

Yes, me too. He was of his time but clearly had a brilliant mind.

clawdy I found it much harder going than WH/BUTB too. I'm reading WH again at the moment and finding it much easier (and also rediscovering bits I didn't appreciate first time round).

On the whole I though MaL somewhat overlong and found the "dreamy" bits OTT.

And yes, there was a part somewhere in the middle where very little seemed to happen apart from Henry musing over whom to marry next.

Cromwell's downfall seemed to happen very suddenly and I'm struggling to find the point at which his fall from grace started.

I've also read the Tracy Norman biog of Cromwell and, apart from the obviously invented bits, Mantel seems to stick pretty much to the script.

Excellent book though - a masterpiece surely?

Can't help feeling sorry for old Crum.

"The Taming of the Queen" by Philippa Gregory is very good - she is an historian and thoroughly researches her subjects, although her writing is not on a par with Hilary Mantel's, but still good.

However, "The Taming of the Queen" really conjured up how terrifying (and revolting) it was in Tudor times to be picked by Henry VIII to become his next wife. This is the story of Katherine Parr, his final wife.

I've read all her books on the Tudors.

I am two hundred pages into this at the moment and trying to resist the urge to read it too quickly. It is an amazing, mesmerising read. I agree, if she doesn’t get a third Booker Prize for this it will be a travesty.

I finished it this morning and feel a bit lost now! It's been a wonderful book, the writing is just exquisite. Surely she will win a 3rd Man Booker Prize for this.

I have always remembered the hot summer when I read Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, sitting out in the garden under the umbrella. I couldn't put them down. And now The Mirror and The Light will always signify the year of Covid-19.

As you say, Clawdy, the ending was so moving and gripping. No idea what I can read now to follow on from such a book !

I've just finished it. It's a wonderful book in so many ways, with some beautiful writing and I was totally immersed in certain parts, but I did find the repetitive scenes of political meetings lost my attention, particularly in the middle sections. Not sure why, but Cromwell seemed different in this book. The ending was so moving and gripping, but I can't say I loved it as much as the previous two books.

Ooh I wouldn't. I imagine if I went back in time I would be there as a maidservant, and constantly watched, and asked, about the doings of my mistress. Everybody watching everybody else, and a permanent ice-cold draught on the back of my neck. Much safer to read about it from a long distance.

Thank you oldgimmer1 I am looking on my kindle for Alison Weir if I could go back in time I would love to be in Henry’s court listening to the gossip hopefully Alison Weir will be my time machine!

I'm learning how to access podcasts whilst we're incarcerated. This is motivated by my desire to hear Anton Lessing reading the Mirror and the Light. I love being read to. I shall try to get the first two parts of this trilogy from somewhere. Audible, maybe.

I adore Rylance both as an actor and his world view

I find his voice mesmerising.

I'm not sure what to make of Rylance as Cromwell, tbh. He doesn't resemble Cromwell at all physically.but still manages to convey a certain Cromwellian menace.

Totally agree Sparklefizz. ?

Mark Rylance would be riveting just standing in a room on his own!

Did anyone see the dramatised version of the first two they did at Stratford on Avon? Mark Rylance played Cromwell and Hilary Mantel was very involved in it I believe. Friend and I saw it propped in the Gods on perch seats but absolutely riveting. The scenery was largely rows of gas flames which sounds odd but worked really well.

Sparklefizz; I agree. I'd love to watch it again.

19829chad: have you read any of Alison Weir's fiction? She's got s series about Henry's wives out at the moment.

I wish they would put Wolf Hall on iPlayer. I would love to watch it again.

I loved wolf hall and bringing up the bodies and this latest in the trilogy is pure joy. I love anything set in the Tudor court what shall I read now? Any suggestions.

crafty cat I've just finished MATL so it's possible to do. It's hard work, though. I wouldn't call it unputdownable.

Lots happens towards the very end. Well, we know what happens, but it's very well done.

No more Crumb.

I'm reading Wolf Hall again.

I've started it on my Kindle so I can read if I wake up during the night without disturbing DH.
So far it hasn't grabbed me but I'm going to read it. Hopefully it will get a bit better as I get into it. I found the previous 2 in the series much easier to get into.
Of course we all know how it is going to end anyway.