Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I really enjoyed the Masterpiece Theatre production on PBS last year, so tried the novel.  Mantel immerses the reader in the court of Henry VIII with all its subterfuge and jockeying for power, but from the viewpoint of Thomas Cromwell, a person of low birth who becomes his chief advisor.  Cromwell is a master at the game of personal manipulation, but he is also quite the jack of all trades, skilled as a merchant, financier, and master of several languages. While much of the story covers the king's pursuit of a divorce from his first wife in order to marry Anne Boleyn, Mantel also makes clear how much general turmoil was going on not only in England but throughout Europe as Protestants, scientists and free thinkers began to question the dogma of the Catholic Church and its pope.  Excellent scene setting and character portrayal make this a stimulating read, although a bit long.  This book ends with the execution of Thomas More, while the sequel will continue the story of the royal court and Anne Boleyn's fateful demise.  532 pages.