Wolf Hall

The ‘Wolf Hall’ is a much acclaimed and absorbingly readable book, laced with historical nuances. Thomas Cromwell served as chief minister to Henry VIII who oversaw the break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries. For much of his lifetime, he was despised but surprisingly he makes a fictional hero.

Although criticized several times, in Wolf Hall the author has, very persuasively depicted his ‘pen –pusher ‘and ‘go-getter’ approach as one of the most appealing aspects. The book makes you believe that his mannerisms had, in a way, enlightened the characters of his epoch. The author has attacked the problems from several angles and the best part of the book is that it doesn’t begin from nowhere. It starts with surfeit of information about the period. Yet another striking feature is that dialogue takes precedence over description.

This book, despite being predominantly historical, adopts a contemporary literary approach. It is lyrically written, yet is so coherent that a fresh reader will easily comprehend the content. I have enjoyed reading the book to the hilt and have recommended the masterpiece to a few of my friends. They have loved the book too and all I can say is, this rich and absorbing book is surely a must read.

Wolf Hall (2009 Booker Prize Winner) Review   |   Login to rate this review.