This is not the cover for the version that I own… this is the British/Australian version and it is much more attractive than the American version!
A few days ago, I finished The Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel, the third book in her trilogy about Thomas Cromwell in Tudor England. Long story short: I loved this book as much as the first two.
Disclaimer: Except for a few readings from Martin Luther in college, I know little about the Protestant Reformation and even less about this time in history. I haven’t even read other books or watched movies about this period. So I am coming at this topic with very fresh eyes.
In most other books, movies, etc., I’ve heard that Thomas Cromwell is portrayed as a conniving, power-hungry, cynical man… borderline evil, in a cartoonish sort of way. In contrast, Hilary Mantel portrays Cromwell as a complex human being. Ambitious - of course - conniving and power-hungry - maybe - but also a man who is incredibly smart, humane, and loyal to his friends and family. As the series (and this book in particular) progresses, you see the fine line between the kinds of ambition that create good in the world and the kinds of ambition that harms and destroys others. Dramatically oversimplifying the plot of this nuanced book, Cromwell does some remarkable things for the country - rebuilding fortifications, stabilizing finances, and rebuilding political alliances - but he also does some horrible things - more political executions than I can remember.
What stood out to me in particular while reading The Mirror and The Light - which was particularly resonant during this moment of pandemic and social upheaval - was the overriding sense of the world changing in a violent, unknowable way, more like a crack, a fracture, or a shattering than an imperceptible drift. Set in the 1530s, England is caught in the winds of the protestant revolution. The bible is being translated into English (and other common languages) for the first time. While the church in Rome tries to consolidate its power, England begins the inexorable process of breaking off - accommodating Henry VIII’s whims to marry over and over again. Cromwell, our protagonist, is in the middle of this storm, constantly trying to steer the country (and the world) with his politicking, bribes, wars, alliances, and more. And what is he steering towards? It’s not always clear… and that’s the fun part!
This feeling of being unmoored is how I feel most days of quarantine. If this book were to propose a model of how to proceed through a period of chaos - a model after Cromwell - it might be a dictate to take life as a game: learning the rules, learning the strategy, considering the other players, practicing extensively, and, of course, playing the game to the best of your ability. In some ways, this is an exciting way to think about life because it turns every piece of information out in the world into something to be studied and considered, turns everyday choices into carefully strategized decisions, and raises the stakes of work and personal relationships. If life is a game then there must be ways to win and lose it. And the ultimate challenge is to do so with grace. While perhaps I can integrate some more strategic thinking into my life and my decisions, I promise I won’t model my life from that of Thomas Cromwell!!!
If you have the stamina for 3 long (exciting) books about medieval politics, I highly recommend this book!! PBS also made a television series based on the first two books in the series. It is excellent. Mark Rylance as Cromwell and Claire Foy as Ann Boleyn give exceptional performances and the clothing and sets are gorgeous. As a bonus, I hear rumors that The Mirror and The Light will be adapted into a second season…. catch up before it comes out!