I read New Yorker’s profile of Hilary Mantel in 2012 after she became the first female writer to win two Man Booker Prize. I was very intrigued by Mantel then, and put “Wolf Hall” on my to-read list. But never got around to do so.
BBC’s 6 episode “Wolf Hall” mini TV series got lots of praise. It is said that the screenwriter adapted Mantel’s work very nicely and captured the essence of the book.
I fell in love with it after watching Episode one.
The custom, setting, lighting were so well done, every frame looked like a painting. The acting was marvelous as well. Even though most of them were not familiar to the US audience. But supposedly all of the main characters were seasoned stage actors in England, and it showed.
See the album link below for some interesting comparison between the actors in the TV series and their actual portrait from the 16th century. Mostly by Hans Holbein the Younger, who was the official painter for the court of Henry VIII.
http://www.douban.com/photos/album/155586258/
Apparently the soundtrack of the TV series was also a hit in Britain. Too early to tell how it will fair in the US. I myself really loved the music.
http://music.163.com/#/album?id=3111229
The Guardian had episode by episode explanation of the story line, it was very helpful for people who is not familiar with the Tudor history (such as myself), which was pretty complicated.
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