Lecture: Hilary Mantel: “I Met a Man Who Wasn’t There”
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
- Tudor statesman Thomas Cromwell was described by an eminent historian as “not biographable.” Faced with an intractable puzzle, can a novelist do better? Hilary Mantel, two-time Booker Prize-winning author of “Wolf Hall” and its sequel “Bring Up the Bodies,” describes her ten-year effort to pin her compelling and elusive subject to the page. Mantel is currently working on the third book in the trilogy. Her papers are archived at The Huntington. This talk is part of the Ridge Lecture Series at The Huntington.
Recorded May 11, 2017. 
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I wish I believed in an afterlife. Nothing would give me greater pleasure then the idea of Dame Hilary sitting down with Cromwell and having an in-depth chat about his life. Thank you Dame Hilary for all of your wonderful work. You will be missed.
Mighty writer, and a very kind and great lady.
Utterly brilliant and engrossing lecture by a genius writer and wonderful person.
Excellent lecture.
Mantell is a jewel of a writer. "Wolf Hall", for me, was a revelation and Thomas Cromwell lives and breathes on every page.
"Bring Up the Bodies" is equally good and was devoured in one gulp. Her writing makes demands on the modern reader and repays the effort mightily.
"The Mirror and the Light" has a myriad of characters vying so much for Cromwell's attention and generally cluttering up the scenery (so many noble folk!) that I wish some of them were less present. Events also seem less compelling than in the first two novels AND YET I continue to be amazed by her literary genius and grateful for to have this wonderful book to read (and reread) during the lock in.
I am a huge fan I read A place of greater safety years ago and was hooked. I am still reading the Mirror and the light and savouring every word. This woman is genius at character creation.
You are right! Savouring every word!
What I find interesting about the books is the texture and detail of the world she writes about, the ephemeral and corporeal, she has a compound eye that's almost kaleidoscopic. It's like immersing yourself in a huge work of art or painting and forgetting the present to be drawn into the past. It's also brutal, dark and horrific as much as there are moments of beauty. Brilliant writer.
Brilliant comment.
What a great lecture. What a talented woman.. thank you.
I just finished the final Cromwell book. what an amazing series of books, utterly engrossing.
She's a genius. Can't wait for the next book!
She is as interesting to listen to as she is a joy to read.
loved hearing how she worked. I am currently reading the 3 books for the 3rd time. So much to absorb...
She is a genius! I also read "A place of greater safety" and I can highly recommend it. The novel like her remained with me for a very long time.
I love his company as well. Can’t wait for #3. Hilary you are truly one of my favorite authors! 💗💗
I'm still waiting impatiently for "the Mirror and the Light" and the waiting is driving me nuts. Please drop whatever else you are doing, Ms. Mantel, and settle to it. There are only so many years some of us have...
March 2020 the wait will be over
I am so very moved by this. Wonderful.
Can't wait for him, Cromwell to come back in the next book.
confirmed March 2020.. the long awaited 3 rd book
Wolf Hall was one of the most interesting novels I've ever read. I found her Cromwell complex and sympathetic and totally engrossing.
Hilary Mantel's style of writing is unique to read and I was truly sorry when I reached the last page of her book; wishing for MORE!
I suggest you read it again. Look for the instances in which Cromwell shapes society (even ours) through sheer brilliance and the creation of structures that took on their own life and developed their own power. Cromwell is portrayed as fascinated with the memory library of Camillo. It is a fascinating image of the hidden power of Cromwell. The King and Lords of England tried to shape events through brute force, Cromwell was always building structures that did far more than satisfy their immediate demands and far outlived any of the major actors of the day..
wisedupearly: I enjoyed reading your particular insights and I WILL no doubt , be re-reading Wolf Hall again, and keeping your observations in mind.
How are you getting along with the reread?
Far too soon as yet, for a re-read.
Check out A Place of Greater Safety. Just extraordinary.
Just started her A place of Greater Safety, and this confident guide to her art and motivations is helping as soon as heard her here
Superb! Thank you Hilary Mantel!
love your work Hilary ! You are an inspiration to all writers and creative minds ! :D
Brilliant talk! I am waiting on my toes for the last book in the trilogy!
How the world will miss her.
Today, two days from the publication of ‘The Mirror and the Light’, the entire reading population of this ancient nation is rejoicing in the name Hilary Mantel. And for once, you feel, it is only right that we do. Because she has produced in her trilogy unquestionably this era’s singular masterpiece of Western Literature. And how fortunate we should count ourselves that we are around at the same time to witness it. - 7th March. 2020. [You can blame Cromwell for my pompous tone: it’s highly contagious lalala]
John J S Haha! I was insufferable after I read Boswell’s Life of Johnson...
Wonderful insight in to her abilities.
Greatest writer of the 21st century so far “20th too if you ask me”
Brilliant.
How interesting, Lovely to hear about how to write.
I listen to the Trilogy on Audiobook.
What research she must have done, huge respect.. i'd love to able to have a great talk/chat with her, interrogate her agenda and challenge (failing terribly i'm sure) her line.. 🙂
Yes, we write to find out ...
Question 3 but what about the inventory for Wolf Hall within Cromwells life time?
16:05 Кромвель был трикстером!
Банкир-трикстер?
29:04 слушатели не рассмеялись упоминанию России!
39:45 она ругает историков, но именно так завершилась 6 серия сериала!
I would like to find the poem of Michael Triton? (have I spelled correctly the name?) about Thomas Cromwell But I can't find it on Google, any idea where can I look it up?
Pity no one can find her better microphones! Tried Reith Lecture on R4 today, same problem, gave up!
Surely you can live through less than perfect sound in order to hear what she has to say?
I persevered because what she has to say is worth the effort
Huge fan of beyond black
she makes me BEAM ☺️
Henry's Eichmann
Hilary Mantel I've never heard of you my one comment to you is who are you to criticize the late Princess Diana always a Queen in my heart a true English Rose 🌹 Henry Kissinger a great admirer of her's awarded her an award for her humanitarian work a fashion icon and the most photographed woman of the modern age a legend in her own life and beloved mother to her beloved boy's William and Harry may she rest in peace beautiful Princess Diana a true English Rose 🌹🌹🌹💓🌹🌹💓🌹 The whole world loved her and still do are you sure you are not related to Meghan Markle will the world love and remember you twenty or thirty years after your death I doubt it very much as for Oliver Cromwell read it ten years ago I don't need you to educate me on the matter