Hilary Mantel talks about Thomas Cromwell 

I agree. It’s one thing to know what happens, but to feel you know someone’s reactions, how it all felt, that’s another level entirely.

Agree. He's a largely sympathetic character, unlike that SOB uncle of his Ollie...

@@bluegtturbo Uncle? 😉

Yes read wolf hall and bring up the bodies, amazing literature!

She can write?

Oh do read it, brilliant books makes you look at Cromwell in a whole new light

Oliver's Army!

I am inclined to agree. Life was short then, if they really had faith in God, read their New Testament and feared damnation; why would they murder by execution, innocent people? I am glad you mentioned the innocent men, murdered along with Queen Ann, we tend only to remember the victims if they were female and queens.

Wasn’t she trying to destroy him also?

When the charge was treason, they were hanged, drawn, and quartered, a ghastly horrific death.

I agree. When I saw Wolf Hall on PBS, I was mesmerized by Cromwell. But then as I read more and more about him, I wondered what I was thinking!

? Was he good/bad?

True!! Cromwell may have started out a good man despite the fact that he was what the king considered a heretic and he managed to hide it from everybody on the privy Council and the King because he wouldn't take communion. The higher he rose & he was of low birth, but loyal Servant of the king. Cromwell became greedy and too full of pride. It got so bad when the King was sick that he had to appoint Charles Brandon as the head of the privy Council in case he was gone or sick because he had a leg injury. Cromwell turned into a dirty guy!!

Actually I did not think she made him "good", she made him a human being. She made him a rich character, we see his traumas, his beliefs, his shadow, his light. Her trilogy was amazingly written. Did you read the books? There's definitely a cunning, vengeful streak to the character. As well as a benevolent side.

@@christiane5439 totally agree. She shines a light on him warts & all. But he was only human & in the Tudor period he no worse (or better) than the rest of them. Except he wasn’t old school aristocracy & had no shield when he lost favor with the king. He’s the only person Henry viii spoke openly about regretting his execution. Cromwell was guilty of a lot even though most of it was more like activities that came with the position, that were both excepted & accepted by the king.