The Mirror and the Light

The long-awaited and bestselling conclusion to Hilary Mantel’s Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light, brings the faltering reign of Henry VIII to life with vivid and immersive detail. Picking up where Bring Up the Bodies left off, this tome begins in May 1536, immediately following the swift and brutal execution of Anne Boleyn. Thomas Cromwell, once a blacksmith's son from Putney, now firmly entrenched as Henry’s chief minister, faces the deadly intrigues and power struggles of the Tudor court.

With his ingenuity and strategic acumen as his only defences, Cromwell navigates a world overshadowed by rebellion at home, conspiracies from abroad, and the ever-present threat of invasion. Henry VIII, temporarily sated with his third queen, Jane Seymour, constantly tests the loyalty and resilience of those nearest to him. Yet, amid the relentless grind of political manoeuvring, Cromwell envisions a future where England sheds its medieval past and emerges as a modern nation. But even as he crafts alliances and outwits enemies, he is haunted by the question: what will happen when the king’s favour turns, as it inevitably does?

In The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantel masterfully traces the twilight of Cromwell’s meteoric rise and the intricacies of his character. Her portrayal of Cromwell offers a compelling exploration of power, loyalty, and betrayal, set against the backdrop of a transformative period in English history. The novel is not only a gripping historical drama but also a profound meditation on the nature of power and ambition. Mantel’s prose conjures the atmosphere of the court, replete with its opulence, danger, and dark allure, creating a narrative that is as cerebral as it is heart-pounding.

Acclaim for The Mirror and the Light has been widespread:

The Sunday Times bestseller

Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction

Longlisted for the Booker Prize

"It is a book not read, but lived." — The Telegraph

"Her Cromwell novels are, for my money, the greatest English novels of this century." — The Observer

Praised as a monumental achievement, this final instalment of the trilogy stands as a testament to Mantel’s exceptional storytelling and meticulous historical research. The Mirror and the Light captivates and challenges the reader, offering a compelling conclusion to the story of Thomas Cromwell, a man who shaped the course of history through conflict, passion, and unyielding courage.

A Guardian Book of the Year • A Times Book of the Year • A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year • A Sunday Times Book of the Year • A New Statesman Book of the Year • A Spectator Book of the Year

The Mirror and the Light became a Sunday Times Bestseller on 8th March 2020, demonstrating its immediate and sustained impact on readers and critics alike.