Bring Up the Bodies#Adaptations

Bring Up the Bodies follows closely upon the events of Wolf Hall. The King and Cromwell—now Master Secretary to the King's Privy Council—are guests of the Seymour family at Wolf Hall. Cromwell himself is attracted to the Seymours' daughter Jane.

The King spends time with Jane Seymour and begins to fall in love; his marriage to the new queen, Anne Boleyn, is sometimes loving but often descends into angry quarrels. "I cannot live as I have lived," Henry finally tells Cromwell in private. He has tired of Anne, who brings him neither peace nor a son, and wants his marriage ended. Cromwell vows to make this happen.

Cromwell tries to negotiate a separation through Anne's father, Wiltshire, and her brother, Rochford. Wiltshire is willing to negotiate; Rochford is not, and tells Cromwell that if Anne's marriage to the King endures he will "make short work of you."

Cromwell talks to those close to Anne, and hears a number of reports on her supposed unfaithfulness to the King. The musician, Mark Smeaton, and Anne's sister-in-law, Lady Rochford, pass on rumours to this effect. Cromwell begins to build his case. With proof enough to have her tried for treason, the King is willing to see Anne destroyed to serve his ends. Mindful that many of those closest to Anne helped ruin his mentor, Cardinal Wolsey, Cromwell relishes the opportunity to bring them down, despite being unsure that all of the evidence is true.

Anne and several of her circle, including her brother, are tried and put to death. The King moves to wed Jane Seymour and rewards Cromwell with a barony. Having engineered the King's new marriage, and with the new Queen's family as his firm allies, his position as Henry's chief adviser is now assured.

Bring Up the Bodies was published in May 2012 by HarperCollins in the United Kingdom and by Henry Holt and Co. in the United States to critical acclaim.

Bring Up the Bodies was generally well received upon release.{{Cite web |title=Bringing Up the Bodies|url=http://www.criticsandwriters.com/book/1898/Bringing-Up-The-Bodies|access-date=12 July 2024|website=Critics & Writers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804142207/http://www.criticsandwriters.com/book/1898/Bringing-Up-The-Bodies|archive-date=4 Aug 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies, by Hilary Mantel|url=http://www.booksandmedia.co.uk/press.asp|access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Books & Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616160741/http://www.booksandmedia.co.uk/press.asp|archive-date=16 Jun 2012}} On The Omnivore, an aggregator of British press, the book received an "omniscore" of four out of five.{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies |url=http://www.theomnivore.co.uk/Book/8276-Bring_Up_the_Bodies/default.aspx |access-date=12 July 2024|website=The Omnivore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606111254/http://www.theomnivore.co.uk/Book/8276-Bring_Up_the_Bodies/default.aspx |archive-date=6 Jun 2013}} The Bookseller reported on reviews from several publications with a rating scale for the novel out of "Top form", "Flawed but worth a read", and "Disappointing": Financial Times, Mail on Sunday, Observer, and Sunday Telegraph reviews under "Top form" and Independent on Sunday review under "Flawed but worth a read" and Sunday Times review under "Disappointing".{{cite news |title=Disgrace is fair of face|url=https://www.link.gale.com/apps/doc/A294507671/AONE?u=anon~a686b7c8&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=1d0cd7c7|access-date=19 July 2024|work=The Bookseller |date=18 May 2012|page=39}}{{cite news |title=Our man in the Sundays|url=https://www.link.gale.com/apps/doc/A294507747/AONE?u=anon~a686b7c8&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9b847b82|access-date=19 July 2024|work=The Bookseller |date=25 May 2012|page=39}} Culture Critic assessed critical response as an aggregated score of 83%.{{Cite web |title=Hilary Mantel - Bring up the Bodies |url=http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/books/hilary-mantel-bring-up-the-bodies/ |access-date=12 July 2024|website=Culture Critic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411210713/http://www.culturecritic.co.uk:80/books/hilary-mantel-bring-up-the-bodies/ |archive-date=11 Apr 2013}} The BookScore assessed it at an aggregated critic score of 9.1 out of 10 based on British and American press.{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel|url=http://thebookscore.net/review/78/bring-up-the-bodies-by-hilary-mantel |access-date=12 July 2024|website=The BookScore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109224200/http://thebookscore.net/review/78/bring-up-the-bodies-by-hilary-mantel |archive-date=9 Jan 2013}} According to Book Marks, the book received a "rave" consensus, based on sixteen critics: twelve "rave", two "positive", and two "mixed".{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies|url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/bring-up-the-bodies/|access-date=16 January 2024 |website=Book Marks}} Prosenotes gave it a "A+" (95%) based on critic reviews. The consensus says: "Reviewers were genuinely surprised Mantel could make this particular period of history fresh and engaging, with all the other media out there on it. The second book in her trilogy about Cromwell (Thomas, not Oliver), it will keep you hooked even though you already know the ending. It’s a Prosenotes Pick!"{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel|url=http://www.prosenotes.com/1507/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-book-review/fiction/2|access-date=12 July 2024|website=Prosenotes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728055228/http://www.prosenotes.com:80/1507/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-book-review/fiction/2|archive-date=28 Jul 2012}}{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel|url=http://www.prosenotes.com/category/aggregated-reviews |access-date=12 July 2024|website=Prosenotes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108194520/http://www.prosenotes.com/category/aggregated-reviews |archive-date=8 Nov 2012}} In the July/August 2012 issue of Bookmarks, the book was scored four out of five. The magazine's critical summary reads: "Bring Up the Bodies‚ profound, fierce, disturbing‚ is that rare work of historical fiction that builds a gripping world from start to end".{{Cite web |title=Bring Up the Bodies By Hilary Mantel|url=http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/bring-bodies/hilary-mantel|access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Bookmarks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905063021/http://www.bookmarksmagazine.com/book-review/bring-bodies/hilary-mantel|archive-date=5 Sep 2015}} On BookBrowse, the book was scored 5 out of 5 from "Critics' Consensus". For the media reviews on the rating scale out of five: Entertainment Weekly, People, The Huffington Post, The New York Times Book Review, and The Economist reviews under five and Publishers Weekly review under four.{{Cite news |title=Bring Up the Bodies|url=https://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm/book_number/2782/bring-up-the-bodies#media_reviews|access-date=2023-10-04 |website=BookBrowse |language=en}}

Janet Maslin reviewed the novel positively in The New York Times:

{{blockquote |[The book's] ironic ending will be no cliffhanger for anyone even remotely familiar with Henry VIII's trail of carnage. But in Bring Up the Bodies it works as one. The wonder of Ms. Mantel's retelling is that she makes these events fresh and terrifying all over again."}}

It was listed by The New York Times as #95 in its list of 100 Best Books of the 21st century.{{cite web |title=The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708070856/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html |date=July 8, 2024 |archive-date=July 8, 2024}}

In January 2014, the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) staged a two-part adaptation of both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies in its winter season, with a script by Mantel and Mike Poulton.{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/9820593/David-Tennant-to-play-Richard-II-at-the-RSC.html | title=David Tennant to play Richard II at the RSC | work=The Daily Telegraph| author= Bowie Sell, Daisy|date=23 January 2013 | access-date=21 March 2021}} Premiering at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, it transferred to the Aldwych Theatre, London, later that year.

A six-part BBC television series Wolf Hall, the adaptation of the books Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, starring Mark Rylance, Damian Lewis and Jonathan Pryce, was broadcast in the UK in January 2015{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19366061 | title=Wolf Hall adaptation planned for BBC Two | work=BBC News | date=24 August 2012 | access-date=28 March 2013}} and the United States in April 2015.

• 2012 Booker Prize, winner
• 2012 Specsavers National Book Awards "UK Author of the Year"{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/dec/05/el-james-national-books-award |title=EL James comes out on top at National Book awards |work=The Guardian |first=Alison |last=Flood |date=5 December 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012}}
• 2012 Costa Book Awards (Novel), winner{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20887309 |title=Hilary Mantel wins 2012 Costa novel prize |author=Staff writer |author-link=Staff writer |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013 |work=BBC News}}
• 2012 Costa Book Awards (Book of the Year), winner{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jan/29/hilary-mantel-middlebrow-triumph-costa |title=Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies: a middlebrow triumph |work=The Guardian |first=Robert |last=McCrum |date=29 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/9835561/Costa-Book-Award-who-would-dare-refuse-Hilary-Mantel-her-crown.html |title=Costa Book Award: who would dare refuse Hilary Mantel her crown? |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Sameer |last=Rahim |date=29 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21247046 |title=Hilary Mantel wins Costa Book Award |work=BBC News |author=Staff writer |author-link=Staff writer |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013}}
• 2012 Salon What To Read Awards{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2012/12/23/the_what_to_read_awards_top_10_books_of_2012/ |title=The What To Read Awards: Top 10 Books of 2012 |work=Salon |first=David |last=Daley |date=23 December 2012 |access-date=24 December 2012}}
• 2013 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, shortlist{{cite web |url=http://www.bordersbookfestival.org/walter-scott-prize/item/208-shortlist-2013-walter-scott-prize-announced |title=Shortlist for 2013 Walter Scott Prize Announced |publisher=Borders Book Festival |date=18 April 2013 |access-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607073644/http://www.bordersbookfestival.org/walter-scott-prize/item/208-shortlist-2013-walter-scott-prize-announced |archive-date=7 June 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bordersbookfestival.org/walter-scott-prize/item/249-tan-twan-eng-wins-walter-scott-prize |title=Tan Twan Eng wins The Walter Scott Prize |publisher=Borders Book Festival |date=14 June 2013 |access-date=15 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908015806/http://www.bordersbookfestival.org/walter-scott-prize/item/249-tan-twan-eng-wins-walter-scott-prize |archive-date=8 September 2013}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web

|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/books/bring-up-the-bodies-a-wolf-hall-sequel-by-hilary-mantel.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

|title=A Canny Henchman, Targeting the Queen | first =Janet | last = Maslin

|work= The New York Times |date= 1 May 2012 |access-date=5 May 2012}}

{{ cite web

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/04/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-review

|title=Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel | type = review | first = Margaret | last = Atwood|author-link = Margaret Atwood

|work=The Guardian |location=London |date= 4 May 2012 |access-date=4 May 2012}}

}}

• [http://hilary-mantel.com Hilary Mantel's official website]
• [https://www.facebook.com/HilaryMantelAuthor Hilary Mantel's Facebook fan page]
• {{Citation|url=http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/Titles/47965/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-9780007315093/ |publisher=HarperCollins |type=description of the book |title=Bring up the bodies |place=UK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504041541/http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/Titles/47965/bring-up-the-bodies-hilary-mantel-9780007315093 |archive-date= 4 May 2012}}.

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Category:Fiction set in the 1530s

Category:2012 British novels

Category:Booker Prize–winning works

Category:British historical novels

Category:Costa Book Award–winning works

Category:Cultural depictions of Anne Boleyn

Category:Cultural depictions of Henry VIII

Category:Fourth Estate books

Category:Henry Holt and Company books

Category:Novels about royalty

Category:Novels by Hilary Mantel

Category:Novels set in Tudor England

Category:Cultural depictions of Jane Seymour

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