review by Maggie Perkovic live on show 28th June 2012
Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantell is the continuing story of Thomas Cromwell's rise to power. Here the old Queen is dead and Anne Boleyn should be able to reign supreme, if only she could give birth to a living son. Due to her uncle the Dule of Norfolk letting her think the king was dead after a jousting accident she miscarried her last hope of keeping her place in the King's favour. Now the king wanted her out for good, and it was all up to Cromwell. Divorce was out, and a precontract with Harry Percy her first love also out, so Cromwell had to set out to prove she was guilty of the most heinous crime, adultery and incest with her brother. To do this he used gossip, rumour and finally the young musician Mark Smeaton was leaned on and bullied, possibly tortured to make him say what was needed. The young courtiers all refused to admit their guilt right to the end, the accusation of incest made up by her jealous sister-in-law was the final nail in Anne's coffin. This is well written by a skilled author, I hope we follow this Thomas Cromwell right to his final days when he loses the King's favour. it will be a good read.
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