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A review by sminismoni
The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel
5.0
The best in the trilogy in my opinion. Cromwell is older, maintaining hypervigilant control of his byzantine administration, subtly steering the mercurial Henry towards religious reform. His fall, when it comes, feels just as sudden in the flow of the novel as it must have been in real life. The precise reasons are equally obscured, following a circumstantial interrogation.
Mantel writes superbly. The consciousness of Cromwell is intimate, as always. Other characters are masterfully defined by subtle behavioural observations. The motif of mirror and light is sprinkled throughout, with layers of meaning. Metaphor and imagery are used liberally but not overwhelmingly. The prose is sheer mastery of language, and a delight. I regretted finishing this book -it was immersive- I WAS in Tudor England sitting on Cromwell's shoulder, and at the end, I was sorry to leave and return to the 21st century.
Mantel writes superbly. The consciousness of Cromwell is intimate, as always. Other characters are masterfully defined by subtle behavioural observations. The motif of mirror and light is sprinkled throughout, with layers of meaning. Metaphor and imagery are used liberally but not overwhelmingly. The prose is sheer mastery of language, and a delight. I regretted finishing this book -it was immersive- I WAS in Tudor England sitting on Cromwell's shoulder, and at the end, I was sorry to leave and return to the 21st century.