Hilary Mantel RIP

[Sue]

Well that's a shock. I loved her books, especially the Wolf Hall trilogy and A Place of Greater Safety. And only 70 too.

Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel dies aged 70

Dame Hilary Mantel, author of the best-selling Wolf Hall trilogy, has died aged 70, her publisher says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[bluescreen]

Her memoir, Giving up the Ghost, is a must-read. Upsetting to think how much longer she would have lived (and in so much less pain) had she received proper medical treatment as a young woman.

 

[A380]

That's so sad.

The Cromwell/Henry the VIII books were fantastic. She seemed a decent person too.

 

[quimcunx]

RIP

I loved the Cromwell books.

 

[weltweit]

RIP

 

[Plumdaff]

A great writer, loved her memoir and the Cromwell trilogy. Enjoyed reading her in the LRB when I used to be able to afford a sub too. RIP.

 

[JimW]

Sad to hear though think I had read she had health problems. As well as Cromwell books enjoyed Place of Greater Safety. Great talent and great mind.

 

[izz]

She was never shy of an unpopular opinion, which she'd express in precision prose. She thought about everything in such depth that's pretty rare nowadays. Oy vey, I'm sorry she's gone and hope her passing was easy.

 

[ElizabethofYork]

Such a wonderful writer and seemed like a decent person too. RIP Hilary Mantel

 

[RD2003]

Don't enjoy historical fiction much, so I'm unfamiliar with the stuff that made her a literary superstar, but her early stuff is excellent, particularly 'Every Day is Mother's Day', and the follow-up 'Vacant Possession.'

 

[izz]

Don't enjoy historical fiction much, so I'm unfamiliar with the stuff that made her a literary superstar, but her early stuff is excellent, particularly 'Every Day is Mother's Day', and the follow-up 'Vacant Possession.'

I would argue that the Wolf Hall books can be read as just fiction rather than historical fiction, I find them quite wonderfully immersive but as ever, each to their own. Have you tried Beyond Black ?

 

[RD2003]

I would argue that the Wolf Hall books can be read as just fiction rather than historical fiction, I find them quite wonderfully immersive but as ever, each to their own. Have you tried Beyond Black ?

No, but I might while I have her in mind. As it happens, I finished that fairly recent short story collection (the one with the Thatcher assassination story in it) only a month or two ago.

 

[Dystopiary]

RIP, she seemed a really cool person.

 

[Cloo]

She was one of my favourite authors, I can actually be all pretentious and say I was very into her before Wolf Hall as well

But I'm glad so many people found here through that series, which is a towering achievement. Also a big fan of Giving up the Ghost, which my mum says is one of the greatest descriptions she's ever read of having a chronic illness (my mum has ME, not the same as Mantel's condition but still totally relates).

A Place of Greater Safety is also one of my favorites, i recommend that to fans of Wolf Hall.

Very sad to hear she is gone too soon.

 

[weltweit]

All this makes me want to read Wolf Hall. So far I only read her book of short stories including the assassination of Margaret Thatcher. I recall enjoying them. If I had known then what Wolf Hall was about I might have jumped right in.