Fact and fiction: the history behind Wolf Hall

City Lit

Course

In London

£ 49 VAT inc.

The best History courses

See all

See all

Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Location

    London

  • Start date

    Different dates available

Compare and contrast the portrayal of historical characters and events in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies with what is known from contemporary sources.

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
Keeley Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 4BA

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

• Describe the factual history of the period 1527-1536• Compare Hilary Mantel’s depiction of Thomas Cromwell and other leading characters to the known historical facts and so form your own conclusions as to whether her portrayals are realistic or not.• Use the knowledge gained on this course to inform your reading of Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light.

There are no extra costs apart from your own note-taking materials. If you want to refer to specific sections in Wolf Hall and/or Bring Up the Bodies, you may wish to bring a copy with you to class.

PowerPoint will be used to illustrate key points and we will read and discuss original sources of the period that illustrate the personalities and events described in Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Who would you like to address this question to?

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

Course programme

The first two books of Hilary Mantel’s planned trilogy on the life of Thomas Cromwell focus on the years 1527-1536 and the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn. This is a time that sees England’s break with Rome as Henry VIII strove to rid himself of an ageing wife who had failed to give him a son. We will look at the leading characters of the day and how they are portrayed by Mantel. As we await her final book, The Mirror and the Light, we can appreciate the difficulties that Mantel envisages as we chart Cromwell’s fall from grace.

Additional information


You may be interested in Tudor London (HLW89) beginning in September 2017, on Thursday mornings. Options will be discussed in class. Other courses and their details can be found at online at information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 19:00.
See the course guide for term dates and further details

See related categories

Fact and fiction: the history behind Wolf Hall

£ 49 VAT inc.

The best History courses

See all

See all