Some of These Things are True and Some of Them Lies. But They are All Good Stories: Reading Hilary Mantel

From an indelible author of timeless fiction comes a personal narrative that retains her addictive voice but turns the spotlight on herself. Ripe with insights into the life and milestones that made Hilary Mantel the indispensable literary force she became, this is a memoir for fans and newcomers alike.  

A novelized account of the feats of Thomas Cromwell and life under King Henry VIII, Hilary Mantel piles on the narrative tension to make this historical fiction a true literary marvel. It’s history made alive, the past becoming the present. 

The sequel to Wolf Hall, Mantel continues to make history a delicious read unlike anyone else. Tension reaches its tipping point with Anne Boleyn, Henry and the court, forcing Cromwell to think on his feet. 

The grand conclusion to the Wolf Hall trilogy sees Cromwell reach the peak of his powers following the sheer evisceration of any who challenged him. A resounding success of both story arc, and the personal arc of an infinitely fascinating character. 

Hilary Mantel’s unflinching ability to bring history to life is on prominent display in A Place of Greater Safety. The French Revolution was dotted with curious characters and abounding in tension and Mantel has captured all of that and more in the story of three people at the heart of it. 

A compelling and imaginative tale that tells the story of Fludd, a truly unique character who carries the narrative of his own volition. A reincarnated alchemist who toes the line between benevolence and unease, Fludd himself is unforgettable, leading to a novel that is clever, unique and endlessly entertaining. 

Darkly humorous, with the kind of precise and exacting prose that makes Hilary Mantel a literary masterclass, Beyond Black is a subversive and strange work of literary genius that lives in the gray area between life and death, conscious and unconscious. Deeply atmospheric and effectively haunting, it’s a story that lingers in the best ways.  

The story of Hilary Mantel becoming the indelible literary presence she now forever will be, Giving up the Ghost is her own exploration of her childhood and growth in the same exacting voice that she applies to her fiction. It’s an ode to her creative genius, in case any further proof was needed. 

A collection of Hilary Mantel’s critical essays from her time with the London Review of Books, this is a different lens into the creative genius of Mantel and the deeply engaging prose she was capable of.