In 1500, the teenage Thomas Cromwell runs away from home to flee his abusive father, and seeks his fortune in France as a soldier.
By 1527 the well-travelled Cromwell … See more

Born to a working-class family of no position or name, Cromwell rose to become the right-hand man of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, adviser to the King. He survived Wolsey's … See more

Mantel said she spent five years researching and writing the book, trying to match her fiction to the historical record. To avoid contradicting history she created a card catalogue, … See more

Wolf Hall includes a large cast of fictionalised historical persons. In addition to those already mentioned, prominent characters include: See more

The title comes from the name of the Seymour family seat at Wolfhall or Wulfhall in Wiltshire; the title's allusion to the old Latin saying Homo homini lupus ("Man is wolf to man") … See more

Critical reception
The book received generally positive reviews from critics. According to Bookmarks, the book received, based on American and … See more

• Winner – 2009 Booker Prize. James Naughtie, the chairman of the Booker Prize judges, said the decision to give Wolf Hall the award was "based on the sheer bigness of the book. The boldness of its narrative, its scene setting...The extraordinary way … See more