by When I first picked up Bring Up The Bodies, I didn’t expect a historical novel to feel so alive, so cinematic, and yet so intimate. As someone who’s spent years reading and reviewing historical fiction, I can confidently say Hilary Mantel redefined the genre with this book. This sequel to Wolf Hall takes us deeper into Thomas Cromwell’s world — a man both feared and fascinating — and shows just how fragile power can be in the Tudor court.
Content
Background and Context
Published in 2012, Bring Up The Bodies is the second installment in Mantel’s acclaimed Thomas Cromwell trilogy. It follows Wolf Hall and precedes The Mirror and the Light. The novel earned Mantel her second Booker Prize, a rare achievement that cemented her place among modern literary legends.
The story continues Cromwell’s journey as he serves Henry VIII during one of England’s most turbulent chapters — the downfall of Queen Anne Boleyn. While Wolf Hall chronicled Cromwell’s rise, Bring Up The Bodies captures the delicate dance between loyalty and survival. For readers new to Mantel’s work, it’s a book that stands on its own yet deepens the emotional resonance of the series.
Bring Up The Bodies Book Summary
At its core, Bring Up The Bodies is a tale of ambition, betrayal, and shifting power. The novel begins with Henry VIII growing weary of Anne Boleyn. Her failure to produce a male heir — and his growing affection for Jane Seymour — ignite the spark of political upheaval.
Thomas Cromwell, ever the strategist, becomes the king’s instrument in removing Anne from power. Through calculated alliances, legal maneuvering, and manipulation of witnesses, Cromwell orchestrates Anne’s trial and eventual execution.
What’s remarkable is how Mantel portrays Cromwell — not as a villain, but as a deeply human figure shaped by loss, intellect, and the brutal world he inhabits. This isn’t just a retelling of history; it’s a vivid reimagining of one of England’s most dramatic episodes.
Themes in Bring Up The Bodies
Hilary Mantel explores timeless themes that resonate even today:
- Power and Corruption: Every move in Cromwell’s world is a calculation. Mantel shows how ambition can both build and destroy lives.
- Loyalty and Betrayal: Loyalty in the Tudor court is as fragile as a whisper. Cromwell’s allegiance to Henry VIII often forces him to betray those he once served beside.
- Gender and Authority: Anne Boleyn’s fall highlights the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society obsessed with legacy and bloodlines.
- Morality and Justice: Mantel makes us question — is Cromwell serving justice, or simply power?
These themes in Bring Up The Bodies give the book its emotional weight, turning history into a mirror that reflects human nature across centuries.
Character Analysis: Thomas Cromwell and Anne Boleyn
Thomas Cromwell stands at the heart of the novel — pragmatic, intelligent, and ruthlessly effective. Mantel writes him as both the architect and prisoner of power. His thoughts reveal a man haunted by his past yet determined to control his future.
Anne Boleyn, on the other hand, is drawn with striking complexity. She’s proud, sharp, and tragic — a woman whose brilliance could not save her from political destruction. Their relationship becomes a psychological duel of wit and willpower, one that defines the novel’s emotional rhythm.
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Historical Context and Accuracy
Mantel’s meticulous research gives Bring Up The Bodies a texture few historical novels achieve. From the political structure of Tudor England to the smallest domestic details, every scene feels authentic.
What sets Mantel apart is how she transforms history into story. She doesn’t just recount events — she reconstructs the emotional and psychological landscapes behind them. The book’s portrayal of Anne Boleyn’s trial, for example, captures the terrifying blend of spectacle and injustice that marked Tudor executions.
For readers fascinated by historical accuracy in Bring Up The Bodies, Mantel’s work stands as a masterclass in blending fact with literary artistry.
Hilary Mantel’s Writing Style in Bring Up The Bodies
Mantel’s writing style is immersive, lyrical, and precise. She uses a close third-person perspective — often blurring the line between narrator and Cromwell’s own thoughts — to draw us directly into the moment.
Her sentences are crisp but layered, and her dialogue captures both wit and menace. Mantel’s prose has a cinematic rhythm, balancing introspection with tension. You can see the flicker of candlelight, the rustle of silk, and the sharp turn of a phrase that seals a fate.
As a book lover, I found myself rereading passages just to savor the craft. Mantel’s writing feels like time travel — not just to Tudor England, but into the minds of those who shaped it.
A Real-Life Case Study: When History Shapes Literature
A few years ago, I met a university student who decided to write her thesis on the representation of power and gender in Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy. She told me how reading Bring Up The Bodies changed her view of history — it made the past feel personal, not distant.
Instead of memorizing dates and monarchs, she analyzed how Mantel humanized political figures, showing that ambition and fear are universal emotions. That student later pursued a career in publishing, inspired by Mantel’s ability to bring empathy into historical storytelling.
Her story reminded me how literature can bridge centuries — turning academic history into something emotionally real.
Why Bring Up The Bodies Still Matters
Beyond its historical brilliance, Bring Up The Bodies speaks to the modern reader. In an age where politics and power still shape our daily lives, Cromwell’s world feels strikingly familiar. Mantel’s insight into human ambition, loyalty, and the price of power remains timeless.
For anyone seeking the pinnacle of historical fiction, this novel delivers more than just a story — it offers perspective. It’s about how ordinary people navigate extraordinary times, and how history is always, at its core, about humanity.
Conclusion
Bring Up The Bodies is more than a historical novel; it’s a living, breathing study of human ambition and consequence. Hilary Mantel doesn’t just retell the past — she makes us feel it.
Whether you’re a lover of Tudor history or simply appreciate deeply written characters, this book deserves a permanent place on your shelf. Like Thomas Cromwell himself, you’ll find that the deeper you go, the more there is to uncover.
If you enjoyed exploring Tudor intrigue, you’ll love Kingdom of Lies — a story that dives deep into deception, ambition, and hidden truths.
FAQs
What does Bring Up the Bodies mean?
It refers to exhuming or presenting the dead—symbolizing the downfall and execution of Anne Boleyn in Tudor England.
Do you need to read Wolf Hall before Bring Up the Bodies?
No, it can stand alone, but reading Wolf Hall first helps you understand Cromwell’s rise and relationships better.
What was Hilary Mantel suffering from?
Hilary Mantel lived with endometriosis, a chronic condition that influenced her empathy and introspective writing style.
What is the plot of Bring Up the Bodies?
Thomas Cromwell helps Henry VIII remove Anne Boleyn, leading to her trial and execution amid power and betrayal at court.
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