One Sentence Summary
Bring Up The Bodies is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Thomas Cromwell and his mission to bring down Anne Boleyn in Henry VIII’s court.
Book Genre
Bring Up The Bodies is a historical fiction novel.
Main Topic of the Book
Bring Up The Bodies tells the story of Thomas Cromwell and his mission to bring down Anne Boleyn in Henry VIII’s court. The book is set during the Protestant Reformation of the 1530’s, and explores the struggle between the Catholic and Protestant faiths in England.
Key Ideas
- Power: The novel explores the tremendous power wielded by powerful characters like Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.
- Politics: It delves into issues of politics, religious upheaval, and court intrigue.
- Religion: The struggle between Protestant and Catholic faiths in England is central to the plot.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part One: The Wolf Hall: Part one follows the events leading up to the downfall of Anne Boleyn. Thomas Cromwell, a distant relative of King Henry’s court, is tasked with finding evidence of Anne’s infidelity and treason. In the process, Henry begins to move away from his Catholic roots and towards Protestantism, creating a power struggle between the two faiths. Cromwell succeeds in his mission, and Anne is soon arrested and executed.
- Part Two: The Devil’s Militia: Part two follows the aftermath of Cromwell’s success in bringing down Anne Boleyn. Henry has taken a new wife, Jane Seymour, and Cromwell must put together a divorce case against her. He continues to use the tactics he learned in Anne’s trial, and soon the court is in complete disarray as the religious tensions rise to a boiling point.
- Part Three: The Marriage of the King: Part three begins with the marriage of King Henry and Anne of Cleves. Cromwell’s opponents soon rise up against him and Henry is forced to make a difficult decision. In the end, Cromwell is convicted and executed, and the court is returned to its former Catholic roots.
Key Takeaways
- Bring Up The Bodies explores the tremendous power wielded by powerful characters like Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII.
- The novel delves into issues of politics, religious upheaval, and court intrigue.
- The struggle between Protestant and Catholic faiths in England is central to the plot.
- Thomas Cromwell is successful in his mission to bring down Anne Boleyn, and is ultimately executed for his troubles.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Hilary Mantel is an English novelist and short story writer. She has won the Booker Prize twice for Harvey and Wolf Hall, both parts of her award-winning Thomas Cromwell trilogy. Mantel has also written several ghost stories, memoirs, and non-fiction books.
Target Audience
Bring Up The Bodies is suitable for adult readers, particularly those interested in historical fiction and the Reformation of the 1530s.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Bring Up The Bodies was first published in 2012 by Macmillan.