Behind every great leader are far-cleverer aides.
New drama Wolf Hall focuses not on the wife-collecting monarch Henry VIII but on his powerful adviser, Thomas Cromwell (yes, he was distantly related to Oliver). The new series is an adaptation of the novels by Hilary Mantel, which pride themselves on having a solid basis in historical fact. The series hopes to portray Cromwell (played by Mark Rylance) and Henry (Damian Lewis) as complex, nuanced characters who might actually bear some resemblance to the historical figures with whom they share a name.
Thomas Cromwell, for those who don’t know, was Henry VIII’s adviser, a highly-capable man, and also the one who facilitated Henry’s split from Rome which allowed for his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to second wife, Anne Boleyn. Wolf Hall explores his modest beginnings as the son of a blacksmith and his rise to one of Henry VIII’s most-trusted statesmen.
Speaking about the Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall book last year, Mark Rylance said, “I love it when an author, such as Hilary Mantel, does her research and discovers an original understanding of a very familiar piece of history.”
Wolf Hall is a must for fans of the history of the monarchy. Tune in next Wednesday (January 23) at 9pm on BBC Two.