Bring Up the Bodies

As the acclaimed sequel to "Wolf Hall," Hilary Mantel's "Bring Up the Bodies" plunges into the treacherous court of King Henry VIII, chronicling the dramatic downfall of Anne Boleyn through the eyes of the ruthless and brilliant Thomas Cromwell. After seven tumultuous years, Henry's infatuation with Anne has soured; her failure to produce a male heir and her formidable will have alienated the English nobility and the King himself. With the convenient death of the discarded Katherine of Aragon, Anne's position becomes perilously exposed to a maelstrom of gossip and malice. At Henry's subtle command, Cromwell, ever the loyal servant, begins to weave a sinister web of conspiracy to bring down the Queen. Over three chilling weeks, Anne finds herself ensnared, as the demure Jane Seymour patiently awaits her ascent. Yet, Anne and her powerful family will not surrender without a brutal fight. Cromwell is forced to forge unlikely alliances with his traditional enemies, the papist aristocracy, to secure Anne's demise. Mantel masterfully explores the moral compromises and personal costs of power, as Cromwell navigates the perilous political landscape to deliver the King's desire, raising the question of what price he will ultimately pay for Anne's head.