Mirror and light

Hilary Mantel’s novel “The Mirror and the Light” triumphantly concludes a trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, a prominent statesman during the reign of King Henry VIII. The first two books of the trilogy — “Wolfhall” and “Carrying Bodies” — were awarded the most prestigious Booker Prize, and the writer’s new novel became the number one bestseller according to the New York Times within hours of its publication in 2020 and was reprinted in 65 countries in just a year.

So: the last months of greatness of the son of a blacksmith from the town of Putney, who made his ascent to the heights of power and wealth solely thanks to his sharp mind, insight and remarkable political intuition. Despite the rebellion at home, the plots of traitors abroad, and the threat of invasion that test the strength of Henry VIII's power, Cromwell sees England in the mirror of the future: the country is ripe for religious reform and decisive change. But in the fierce struggle between the present and the past, between the royal will, the nobility, and the common people, the question always remains: how long can the reformer, whose life depends entirely on the cruel and capricious will of the ruler, survive?

It is in such a struggle that a powerful nation is born: through conflicts, clashes of passions, incredible energy of faith, and boundless courage.