Wolf Hall - Season 2 - The Mirror & the Light

Sadly Bernard Hill has died.

I have all HMantel's books. I think that the Thomas Cromwell trilogy was a work of genius. HM lost way too soon.
Thought the Wolf Hall tv adaptation also genius . Rylance , Hill , Pryce, Foy , Lewis -all outstanding as was the whole cast. I thought one of the most successful adaptations of a novel that I have ever seen.
Loved the music.
Delighted that "Mirror and the Light" is on its way.....
Agree Timothy Spall has big shoes to fill but he's normally very, very good so hopeful.

I agree with everything that Labradora said. Mark Rylance in particular is perfectly cast as Cromwell.
I’m really looking forward to The Mirror and the Light.

Funny isn't it that so many people complain about the BBC (there's never anything to watch etc etc) and yet we have had the wonderful Wolf Hall and many other good tv series, such as Happy Valley.

Mark Rylance is a brilliant actor and very versatile I think.

People who enjoyed reading Hilary Mantels trilogy should look ito C J Sanson's 'Shardlake' books. First two include Cromwell, although different interpretation of him,.

Franbern

People who enjoyed reading Hilary Mantels trilogy should look ito C J Sanson's 'Shardlake' books. First two include Cromwell, although different interpretation of him,.

Thanks, Franbern.
Useful and interesting to know.

I loved the Shardlake books, but I watched the first episode of the tv series and was deeply disappointed.

I think Hilary Mantel rehabilitated Tom Cromwell in Wolf Hall, he was customarily cast as the arch-villain but there's much historical evidence of his social reforms & concern for ordinary men & women. Mark Rylance is wonderful at this, you can't help but sympathise with his Cromwell in all his complexity. Didn't know "The Mirror & the light" was coming, thank you Gransnet.

Greyduster

I loved the Shardlake books, but I watched the first episode of the tv series and was deeply disappointed.

Yes, I was very lukewarm about the TV version. I'd watch another series to give it a fair chance, but if it didn't improve I'd easily give up.

Can’t wait. Love HM and her way of writing. Looking forward to ‘The Mirror and the Light’.

I’ve just been watching a programme on iPlayer - Peter Kominsky Remembers Wolf Hall. He was the director and also directed the latest series due to be televised soon. He gives wonderful insights into the production and the actors, and Hilary Mantel’s relationship with the project. Worth a watch.

New series starts on Sunday 10 November.

Can't wait!

And thanks Greyduster for mentioning that programme. I'll definitely take a look.

Thanks for the reminder. I'll also rewatch Wolf Hall.

I read them all until I got to the Mirror and the Light. Read half but just lost interest. Was reading so much about people I wasn’t interested in.

Can't wait! Just a reminder that Mantel was writing fiction- no one really knows the shadowy figure of Thomas Cromwell who caused a great deal of anguish and suffering in order to serve his deranged King. For me the novel is about real politick and contains so many messages relevant to the times we now live in.

Yes, we lost a great writer in Mantel but her work lives on.
Mark Rylance is also a great actor.
I can feel sympathy for the fictional Cromwell, but not much for the real one.

I am looking forward to this, although disappointed that the BBC has apparently decided to introduce more modern lighting. I thought that the candlelight and semi darkness was wonderfully atmospheric in the first series (and this from someone who is always complaining about the poor lighting in TV dramas) It's my least favourite of the books, I think because there's more talk than action and we know what the end will be, but I'm sure it will be worth watching.

Deedaa I thought that the candlelight and semi darkness was wonderfully atmospheric in the first series

I agree. It helped me realise how easy it was for people to lurk in the shadows unseen (often this was Cromwell himself!)

I am so looking forward to this new series.

Many of us were influenced by Robert Bolt's play and film A Man for All Seasons portraying the conflict between Henry V111 and the saintly Thomas More. Hilary Mantel portrays a rather less saintly More, and a much less villainous Cromwell.

So looking forward to The Mirror and The Light.

On this Sunday, I can’t wait! I love anything Tudor and anything with the wonderful Mark Rylance. I was lucky enough to see him several times in Shakespeare plays at the Globe, he was mesmerising!

I loved everything written by HM. It was an education hearing her speak about her books and her work with such clarity, without any of the 'ums', 'ems', 'ahm' and so on that are so often heard in other interviews.
I'm really looking forward to watching the last of the trilogy on Sunday too.

eazybee

Many of us were influenced by Robert Bolt's play and film A Man for All Seasons portraying the conflict between Henry V111 and the saintly Thomas More. Hilary Mantel portrays a rather less saintly More, and a much less villainous Cromwell.

So looking forward to ^The Mirror and The Light.^

Totally agree!
I can’t wait for the new 3 parter, starting this Sunday night on BBC1.

Juniewoonie

On this Sunday, I can’t wait! I love anything Tudor and anything with the wonderful Mark Rylance. I was lucky enough to see him several times in Shakespeare plays at the Globe, he was mesmerising!

Of course we have the amazing Holbein portrait to inspire us. Brooding, pugilistic Cromwell. Rose to high office from the most awful start in life.

“Get up, get up”
That first sentence in Wolf Hall, depicts Cromwell’s father shouting at the young lad having decked him (again).

HM said those words just came to her and she was off and running. Wonderful writer. Sadly missed (same year born as me 1954).

'Wolf Hall', Hilary Mantel (2009)

'"So now get up." Felled, dazed, silent, he has fallen; knocked full length on the cobbles of the yard. His head turns sideways; his eyes are turned toward the gate, as if someone might arrive to help him out. One blow, properly placed, could kill him now.