Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

[miketroll]

This 650-page brick won the 2009 Man Booker prize for Hilary Mantel. Wolf Hall was conceived as the opener to a historical trilogy (I never say an historical!) about Henry VIII's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell. The novel covers Henry's first and second marriages (to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn), ending with the execution of Thomas More -

Comments

[miketroll]

Oh dear, Jenny! I think there's a fair chance you'll doze off!

For me, "Booker winner" is often a flag to warn me against reading it. Whitbread/Costa on the other hand...

[miketroll]

English Passengers was indeed a Whitbread winner! I love it! Not sure exactly when it morphed into Costa.

Kate Atkinson won a Whitbread in 1995 for Behind the Scenes at the Museum. It was her first book, her most 'literary' novel, also IMO her best if not her funniest. I'm surprised it was as late as '95; I thought she had been around much longer!

[scatz1]

We are a very select band of non-worshippers!

[miketroll]

You think we really are swimming against the tide? I've seen quite a lot of negative comment. Most of the praise I've seen comes from Booker panellists or their friends.

[scatz1]

Yes I think readers are hugely influenced by pretentious reviewers, prize nominations etc and appear unable to state true views.

[miketroll]

Yes, the Booker in particular attracts arty pretence. I recall the time when Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy wasn't even shortlisted! The reason was clear: it was an instant hit, already hugely popular (as well as huge!) and the Booker wouldn't want to endorse something popular, would it?

[emperor_fool]

The reader is fed crumbs, through the gossip and whispers of servants, courtiers and rivals.

Dear lord, what is this? A second-rate Edwardian play?

[miketroll]

Second-rate, certainly. What is the adjective pertaining to Henry? Henrovian? Henwegian?