Hilary Mantel’s historical novel Wolf Hall, about the brilliant and wily Thomas Cromwell, won the prestigious Man Booker Prize, the National Book Critics Award and currently holds the number 3 position on the New York Times list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. When adapted as a BBC miniseries and shown over PBS it won the Peabody Award and the Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series. When adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company for the stage it was nominated for 5 Olivier Awards including Best Play and upon transferring to Broadway it garnered 11 Tony Nominations including Best Play. This clearly shows that this is a highly compelling tale both savored, respected and enjoyed by all.

Wolf Hall is a sympathetic fictionalized biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell from a teenager fleeing an abusive father to the accomplished fixer / power broker to Cardinal Woolsey and ultimately to King Henry VIII. It is a vivid and masterly told tale of the complex machinations and back room dealings of a complex man, who must serve Church, King and Country while dealing with deadly political intrigue and Henry VIII’s obsession with protecting the Tudor dynasty with a male heir. Add to this a tempestuous relationship with Anne Boleyn and the religious upheavals of the Protestant reformation and you have a thrilling gallop through early 15th Century England that will keep you mesmerized from beginning to end.

We will cap off our SDG with a viewing and discussion of the film A Man for all Seasons. This film was the winner of 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Screenplay and presents a somewhat alternative portrait of the Thomas Cromwell of Ms. Mantel's novel.

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