Hilary Mantel, the Booker Prize-winning author of the Wolf Hall novels, has praised the BBC's television adaptation of her books, saying it exceeded her high expectations. Earlier this year, Mantel had warned the BBC not to dumb down history for the sake of good television, but after a preview screening, she expressed her approval.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, Mantel had cautioned against sacrificing historical accuracy for entertainment. However, after seeing the first episode, she commended the adaptation for its 'concision and coherence of storytelling' and its break from romantic clichés. She noted that the characters felt authentic, as if Holbein himself would recognise them.
The six-part series, set to air on BBC2 early next year, follows Thomas Cromwell's rise to power in Henry VIII's court. Mark Rylance plays Cromwell, with Damian Lewis as Henry VIII and Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn. The production filmed in National Trust houses, using candlelight for night scenes to maintain realism.
Director Peter Kosminsky described the project as daunting but liberating, following Mantel's advice that the characters do not know they are part of history. Scriptwriter Peter Straughan condensed over 1,000 pages into six episodes, staying faithful to the novels. Rylance found the role challenging due to Cromwell's reserved nature, but his only complaint was that the codpieces were too small.
