PBS will start broadcasting Wolf Hall on Easter Sunday. To get up to speed, I’m rereading the Booker Prize winners, Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012) which chronicle the life of Thomas Cromwell in treacherous Tudor England. Cromwell has to deal with the duplicitous King Henry VIII. This six-part mini-series covers the events in both Wolf Hall (Cromwell’s early life) and Bring Up the Bodies with the murderous consequences of King Henry’s rule. I enjoyed both books the first time I read them, but there are scenes of gruesome violence. The machinations of the Royal Court are wicked. Hilary Mantel delivers the Real Deal of Thomas Cromwell’s life without any sugar coating. Do not expect a Barbara Cartland England in these books. You can find Wolf Hall April 5-May 10, 2015 at 10pm ET on MASTERPIECE on PBS. Check your local listings for broadcast times where you reside.
We are looking forward to the PBS series even though I haven’t read the books yet. You can’t go far wrong with Mark Rylance as Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry. By (semi-)coincidence, a two part WOLF HALL is also coming to Broadway. We could get TDF (Theatre Development Fund) tickets for both parts (shown either as a matinee and evening performance the same day, or two successive evenings) for a bargain $78, but our “two a day” days are over – no way Jackie could sit that long – and we’ll wait and see for now.
Looks like I’m going to have to get the book(s).
Jeff, you’re right about WOLF HALL having a Broadway version. The PBS mini-series is already available on Blu-ray and DVD!
Just checked – the bargain tickets are no longer available.
Jeff, if I was in NYC, I would have bought those tickets!
If you’re interested, just thought I’d mention that the stage adaptation by Mark Poulton for the Royal Shakespeare Company is in print too. My library has copies. I may start with that, presumably much shorter, version.
Jeff, I had no idea Mike Poulton’s adaptation was available. Now, I want to read that, too!
Oops, sorry. It is Mike Poulton, not Mark.
For the most part, the TV version has been a big hit here in the UK, with fans of the book and even those who haven’t read it – it’s the presence of Rylance as Cromwell that seems to have divided even those who liked it.
Sergio, I’m curious to see how Rylance does in the role.