Wolf Hall on PBS premiers April 5
I wish I could say I’ve read Hilary Mantel’s books Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. I want to say that…I really do. But I’ve been knee-deep in readings about the Plantagenets lately. I’ll get to Mantel’s books soon, I know I will.
In the meantime I just found out about PBS’ upcoming series Wolf Hall, the first episode airing April 5. I wanted to pass this on in case anyone is like I am on usually finding out about events at the last moment. Finally…a little lead time! The fact that I know so few of the actors in the series (Jonathan Pryce and Mark Rylance exempted) says more about me than their achievements and reputation.
The trailer looks like it will be fun, and Hilary Mantel has commented that she liked the adaptation.
On a sidetone: if they really wanted to dominate the ratings, it’s not too late to add my visionary adaptation of “I’m Henery the Eighth, I Am” with a Bollywood approach. Have your people contact my people…
Jonathan Chant
I can't recommend Wolf Hall enough. Beautifully understated performance from Mark Rylance. Chilling, superb.
Dwight
Ah, good to know. I'm looking forward to it. (Bollywood or no Bollywood)
Unknown
Dwight, thank you for noting the upcoming series. I tend to avoid film/TV versions of books, but given my lukewarm reading of Wolf Hall, I am willing to make an exception in hopes of having a better experience via the screen. My fascination with history demands that I at least give it a chance.
Unknown
And seeing St. Thomas More without a halo is fascinating as well. Both he and Cromwell are two-dimensional figures in Bolt's play. They are living and breathing men in this work.
I was very impressed with the first installment.
Dwight
I was, too. I like the humanizing of Cromwell, although it may very well be the case that Mantel swings the pendulum too far in the opposite direction from Bolt. Not in adding extra dimensions but in completely misrepresenting what the historical evidence shows.
I'm not worried about liberties taken in a fictional work. But I do take to heart Simon Schama's criticism of Mantel, where she ignores evidence that Cromwell was probably much closer to the usual monstrous caricature than she likes.
Ah well, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it for now.