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Re-watching Wolf Hall

(16 Posts)
Sparklefizz Thu 29-Sep-22 11:38:13

Wolf Hall is on BBC iPlayer for a couple more weeks and I am re-visiting it.

It really is exquisite - wonderfully well acted and scripted, sumptuous costumes, great sets and background music - so realistic including the lighting. I'm loving it.

ExDancer Thu 29-Sep-22 11:41:54

I might give it another 'go' then. I only watched one episode and just couldn't seem to get into it.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Sep-22 13:32:16

I’ve just started the book again. I will give it a watch as well I think.

Germanshepherdsmum Thu 29-Sep-22 13:37:13

Thanks for the heads up.

Razzamatazz Thu 29-Sep-22 13:38:25

I rewatched it just after Hilary Mantel's death, fantastic. I'm looking forward to the announcement about Season 2.

Doodledog Thu 29-Sep-22 13:44:44

It is one of my favourite TV series of all time, but I could not get into the books.

If anyone else struggled with the style of the books, give the series a go - you may well find that you feel the same.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Sep-22 14:09:26

It helps reading the books if you place yourself behind Cromwell’s eyes -if that makes sense?

Doodledog Thu 29-Sep-22 14:14:51

It does, and I tried that, and also to stay in the present tense, but it was all so much effort that it stopped me from following the story grin. It's a shame, as I'd really like to enjoy the books, but try as I might, I just couldn't. I even got the Audible versions, to no avail.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 29-Sep-22 14:20:06

Doodledog

It does, and I tried that, and also to stay in the present tense, but it was all so much effort that it stopped me from following the story grin. It's a shame, as I'd really like to enjoy the books, but try as I might, I just couldn't. I even got the Audible versions, to no avail.

Horses for courses? .

There are books I wish I could get on with and can’t. It is so annoying, especially when others rave about them.

grumppa Thu 29-Sep-22 14:37:10

I'm with you, doodledog. And the sheer physical strain of picking up The Mirror and the Light could have been alleviated if the manuscript had been gone through by a publisher's editor who wasn't in awe of the Booker Prize winner.

AGAA4 Thu 29-Sep-22 14:38:01

I have read all the Thomas Cromwell books. He is an interesting character and I will rewatch the series.

Franbern Fri 30-Sep-22 09:07:23

I loved (love) tv series of Wolf Hall. Found the audible books reading of these absolutely brilliant. Was bereft when I finished them.
I have also been enjoying CH Sanson's series of 'Shardake' books ( seven of them), also set at that time, quite fascinating. The 'religious' differences, attitudes and extreme punishments of that period have resonance with political differences currently.

Sparklefizz Fri 30-Sep-22 09:14:46

The 'religious' differences, attitudes and extreme punishments of that period have resonance with political differences currently.

....but fortunately we don't put people on the rack nowadays smile

tickingbird Fri 30-Sep-22 09:30:32

Loved Wolf Hall, the tv series but anything circa Henry VIII always disturbs me as the punishments and tortures play on my mind. The realisation that people suffered such terrible ordeals, often for nothing, really gets to me.

Having said that, I read that Mark Rylance, has confirmed there is to be a second series so looking forward to it!

Franbern Fri 30-Sep-22 13:18:45

Sparklefizz

^The 'religious' differences, attitudes and extreme punishments of that period have resonance with political differences currently.^

....but fortunately we don't put people on the rack nowadays smile

Tell that to people like homosexuals in many parts of the world today, or to anti-war demonstrators in Russia at present, Not the rack, far more sophisticated methods of torture used.

Razzamatazz Fri 30-Sep-22 13:24:17

I've run out of things to watch, I might give Tudors another go but a few scenes were so brutal as tickingbird says. I took my aunt to Chillingham castle in Northumberland and they had a collection of torture instruments. I asked why the bellows were so very large - apparently to keep the fire at full blast so the instruments could be used.