Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The novel is a historical fiction set in the 1500s, during the reign of King Henry VIII. The story is told from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell, a man of humble beginnings who rises to become the King's chief minister. The narrative explores the political and religious upheavals of the time, including King Henry's break with the Catholic Church and his controversial marriage to Anne Boleyn. The protagonist's cunning, ambition, and survival instincts are central to the plot as he navigates the treacherous waters of the Tudor court.
The 397th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 872
This book was first published in 2009
36 Lists
- score: 93 -- 100 Best Books of the 21st Century - 2024 (Weight: 173)
- score: 80 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time In English - 2026 (Weight: 160)
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- score: 69 -- The 50 best books of the past 100 years - 2022 (Weight: 167)
- score: 66 -- A Premature Attempt at the 21st Century Canon - 2018 (Weight: 160)
- score: 60 -- The 30 best fiction books of the last 30 years - 2025 (Weight: 130)
- score: 54 -- The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 49 -- The 100 Greatest British Novels - 2015 (Weight: 160)
- score: 49 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 110)
- score: 48 -- The Top 21: The Best Novels of the 21st Century - 2020 (Weight: 130)
- score: 45 -- Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century - 2024 (Weight: 89)
- score: 44 -- The Top 100 Book Series of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 96)
- score: 39 -- The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years - 2016 (Weight: 118)
- score: 23 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 100)
- score: 13 -- Current’s 100 Books of the 21st Century - 2024 (Weight: 30)
- score: 10 -- The Golden Man Booker - 2018 (Weight: 31)
- score: 10 -- Books of the Decade - 2009 (Weight: 48)
- score: 7 -- 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors - 2021 (Weight: 16)
- score: 5 -- Readers’ Top 100 Novels Of All Time - 2026 (Weight: 10)
- score: 3 -- The Books of Our Time - 2016 (Weight: 11)
- score: 1 -- Booker Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 7)
- score: 1 -- Best Fiction Books of the 21st Century (So Far) - 2025 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 25 Books to Read Before you Die: 21st Century - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 125 Books We Love for Adults - 2020 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Barack Obama's Reading Lists - 2025 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Australia’s Radio National top 100 books of the 21st century - 2025 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Books to Love - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top Books Recommended on Cambridge Reading Lists - 2025 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Big Jubilee Read - 2022 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 25 Novels to Understand Our Reality from 2000 to The Present - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 best books of the 21st century - 2019 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Books You've Always Meant to Read - 2020 (Weight: 1)