Book Review of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

This book review of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is part of my World History Reading Quest.

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I really wanted to like Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Everyone I know who’s read it has said it’s a masterpiece. The book won multiple awards, including the Man Booker Prize, and it’s often considered one of the best historical novels of the 21st century. But despite all that praise, I really struggled with it. In fact, I couldn’t even finish it. I had to put it down, and I’m really disappointed. It’s not that Wolf Hall is terrible—there are moments of brilliance in there, and I can see why people love it—but for me, it just didn’t work. The writing is gorgeous at times, but there are some choices Mantel made that completely distracted me from what could have been an incredible story. So here’s my take on it, flaws and all.

Historical Context

First, some context. Wolf Hall is set in 16th-century England, during the reign of King Henry VIII. This was a time of major political and religious upheaval. Henry’s desire for a male heir led to his break with the Catholic Church, the creation of the Church of England, and a series of marriages that became the stuff of legend. The story primarily follows Thomas Cromwell, a lawyer and key advisor to Henry, who played a huge role in these events. Cromwell’s life is fascinating, but the book doesn’t just focus on his personal rise and fall—it’s also about the larger political world around him, the intrigue of the court, and the shifting alliances of the time.

It’s a pretty rich period to set a story in, and I understand why Mantel chose to write about it. The historical backdrop has all the drama, betrayal, and power struggles that make for an exciting read. But that’s also where my first issue comes in: Mantel’s style. The world she builds is dense and, at times, difficult to navigate, especially for readers unfamiliar with this period of history.

Plot Summary

At its core, Wolf Hall is the story of Thomas Cromwell’s rise to power in the court of Henry VIII. It covers a lot of ground, from Cromwell’s early life in the streets of London to his eventual role as the king’s most trusted advisor. Along the way, we see the political maneuvering, betrayals, and backstabbing that defined the era.

The novel explores Cromwell’s relationships with various historical figures—Henry VIII, his wives, Thomas More, and others—and gives us a peek into his personal thoughts and struggles. But the plot isn’t as straightforward as a typical historical novel. The story moves in a kind of slow, almost dreamlike way, with long stretches of political intrigue and internal conflict. For those who enjoy rich character development and deep dives into historical moments, this may be appealing. For me, though, the pacing was a real problem. I couldn’t get into the plot because it felt like I was always waiting for something to happen.

My Review

Strengths

Let’s talk about what Wolf Hall does well. First of all, the writing. Hilary Mantel is a beautiful writer, no doubt about it. There are passages in this book that absolutely floored me with their elegance and insight. For example, when Mantel writes about the mood at court or the tension between Cromwell and other figures, it’s just so immersive. The descriptions of the settings, the emotions, the power dynamics—they’re vivid and atmospheric. She has a real gift for language.

Another strength is her exploration of Thomas Cromwell himself. He’s a fascinating character, and Mantel gives him depth and complexity. She doesn’t shy away from showing his darker side, but she also portrays him as a man who’s driven by a desire for power, family, and survival. He’s not a typical “villain,” but he’s also not a traditional hero. It’s a nuanced portrayal that adds layers to the story. And if I wasn’t so distracted by the writing style, I would have absolutely loved this – I wanted to get so much more of this.

Weaknesses

That said, Wolf Hall has some major weaknesses that really held it back for me. The biggest issue I had was the narrative style. The book is written in third person, but it’s not always clear whose perspective we’re seeing things from. The way Mantel shifts between characters and thoughts makes it confusing at times. There were several moments when I had to go back and reread a section because I couldn’t tell if the voice was Cromwell’s or someone else’s. This technique made the whole reading experience feel disjointed, distracting, and very annoying. It didn’t help that the book doesn’t always give clear transitions between scenes, so I was often left wondering where I was and who was speaking. I get that disorientation might be intentional, to make the reader feel submerged in Cromwell’s complex world. But it just didn’t work for me, it was too complicated for my feeble brain to grapple with.

The other thing that really bothered me was the pacing. For such an intense historical period, the book feels like it’s in no rush to get anywhere. There are long stretches where not much seems to happen. Maybe that’s a stylistic choice on Mantel’s part—to show the slow, grinding nature of politics—but it just didn’t work for me. It made the book feel like it was dragging, and I found myself zoning out. I kept waiting for the plot to pick up, but it never did in a way that kept me hooked.

And let’s not even talk about the dialogue. Some of it is sharp and insightful, but a lot of it feels so forced. At times, it’s as if Mantel is trying too hard to make her characters sound “witty” or “intellectual,” which just doesn’t always land. It feels like the book is trying to be clever for the sake of being clever, which can be exhausting after a while.

Rating Breakdown

Who Should Read This Book?

If you’re a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly the Tudor period, you might enjoy Wolf Hall. It’s a dense, layered narrative with plenty of historical detail and political intrigue. If you love deep character studies and are patient enough to wade through some slow parts, you could find this book rewarding. Fans of authors like Thomas More or Philippa Gregory might appreciate the book’s ambitious attempt to dig into a lesser-known figure in the Tudor court.

But if you’re someone who prefers fast-paced action or clear, linear storytelling, this is probably not for you. The book demands a lot of attention, and if you’re not already familiar with the historical context, you might find it hard to keep up. It’s definitely not the kind of book you can breeze through.

DNF – Reasons I Might Try This Again

Sometimes, when I DNF a book, it’s an obvious choice – chuck the book, forget about it, dust off my hands and move on. In other instances, it’s a really hard decision to make. This is one of those instances. For one, I love this period of time and I’m left feeling like I abandoned something that’s really interesting to me. Second, this is the beginning of a trilogy, and while I have read no reviews or other thoughts on the next two books, I always wonder in the back of my mind if I should just give this a try in order to get to the second book, which could always connect differently. With that said, here’s some reasons I might end up either trying to finish this book later or do a complete re-read:

1. I might watch the TV adaptation of this and then give it a second try.
2. I might read some other works focused on Cromwell to get some better specific context to his story.
3. I might read something else by Hilary Mantel and become more comfortable with her writing style.

But it might be a while, for sure, until I come back to this. Life’s too short to suffer too much with a book. This is, after all, a hobby, not a job! 🙂 

Parting Thoughts

So… yeah. I really wanted to love Wolf Hall. I was hoping it would be an engaging, immersive dive into one of the most fascinating periods of history. But, in the end, it just wasn’t the book for me. While Hilary Mantel’s writing can be beautiful, I felt like her choice of third-person narration and the slow pacing really held the story back. I wanted more focus, more clarity, and more connection to the characters. Instead, it felt like the book was trying too hard to be different and clever, and that ended up distracting from the powerful historical story at its core.

Ultimately, I gave Wolf Hall two stars because I can see the potential in it. There’s a great story here, and there are parts of the book that are truly brilliant. But I just couldn’t get past the parts that didn’t work for me. Maybe it’s the kind of book you need to be in the right mood for. For me, though, it felt like a missed opportunity. I’ll be curious to see if I give the next book in the series, Bring Up the Bodies, a try—but I’m not in any rush.

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Other Books You Might Enjoy

• Book Review of As You Like It by Shakespeare
• Book Review of the Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George

About the Author

Hilary Mantel was an English author best known for her historical fiction. She was born on July 6, 1952, in England, and became one of the most respected writers of her time. Mantel’s most famous works are Wolf Hall (2009) and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies (2012), both of which won the Man Booker Prize. Her writing often focuses on historical figures and events, and she is known for her rich storytelling and complex characters. In addition to the Booker Prizes, Mantel has received many other awards, including the Costa Book Award and the Royal Society of Literature Award. She has also written essays, short stories, and plays, and her work has been widely praised for its depth and detail. Mantel passed away in 2022, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of literature.