Wolf Hall on BBC/PBS

According to a recent episode, I think Cromwell saw Jane at court prior to the visit to the Seymour home. 

Yes, she was a lady-waiting to Anne Boleyn. She was also from Wolf Hall.

Wolf Hall was her family home. And yes, you are correct in thinking that Cromwell's success lay in anticipating Henry's desires and helping him to fulfill them. Cromwell's real historic downfall came when he chose the wrong bride for Henry in the form of Ann of Cleves. Henry took an instant dislike to her, and reportedly never even attempted to sleep with her. He had that marriage annulled, but his opinion of Cromwell took a dive and never recovered. Henry was extremely volatile and was notoriously difficult to please long-term. I don't think anyone held his favor for very long. Even those he was said to feel real affection for could fall from grace and end up on the scaffold or at the block. I've always thought he had a few screws lose.

PeggyC said:

Wolf Hall was her family home. And yes, you are correct in thinking that Cromwell's success lay in anticipating Henry's desires and helping him to fulfill them. Cromwell's real historic downfall came when he chose the wrong bride for Henry in the form of Ann of Cleves. Henry took an instant dislike to her, and reportedly never even attempted to sleep with her. He had that marriage annulled, but his opinion of Cromwell took a dive and never recovered. Henry was extremely volatile and was notoriously difficult to please long-term. I don't think anyone held his favor for very long. Even those he was said to feel real affection for could fall from grace and end up on the scaffold or at the block. I've always thought he had a few screws lose.

I think he had an entire toolbox of loose screws!

LOL! I have to agree with that, LisaT.

Anyone watch the finale last night?  Fine acting. Very well done.  

(I was glad they did not show the gory details regarding the fates of Anne's supposed lovers).

Yes, the production values and director's decisions were quite impressive last night.  The book is rather sprawling and took a long time working through the fall and death of Anne Boleyn.  The compression in the television show was very well done and created quite a sense of drama.

I do miss the internal machinations of Cromwell's mind that you get from the book.  On the small screen, you do not get the same feel for the depth of character as portrayed in the books.  Yet for all that the television series works quite well in handling very intricate court dances and the insane Henry.

On the pbs website, Wolf Hall is described as Series 1 (aka Season 1) - episodes 1-6.  So I hope there is a Series/Season 2 since there is more to be covered in the life of Cromwell.

The fate of series 2 probably hangs on the success of series 1. I hope it got good ratings. I'd love to see it continue. Fortunately, PBS is not so slavishly dependent on ratings as the major networks or cable channels.

It did bang-up in England, so I am confident they will be making Season 2--Bring Up The Bodies. If they make it, PBS will run it.

I encourage all who liked it to read the books, if you have not already.  She is a marvelous writer.

I might just do that. ..read the book. 

Me, too. But it will have to get in line behind the "Outlander" series, and that's going to take awhile.

If anyone is interested in seeing the Royal Shakespeare Company's Wolf Hall: Part 1 on Broadway tomorrow at 2:00PM, send me a message.

I have two excellent seats but I am coughing my head off and do not want to be disruptive :-(

http://wolfhallbroadway.com/

I loved the scene when Cromwell went to Henry after Anne's beheading and the look of sheer terror in his eyes as Henry hugged him. According to actual history, Henry went hunting that day and cannons were shot off to announce that she was dead.

tabby said:
I loved the scene when Cromwell went to Henry after Anne's beheading and the look of sheer terror in his eyes as Henry hugged him. According to actual history, Henry went hunting that day and cannons were shot off to announce that she was dead.

I imagine her death was wildly popular and widely celebrated. She was hated by the public, who still loved Queen Catherine and were aghast that she was put aside and the country's whole religion changed... all for Anne Boleyn. The general public, who were mostly beyond Henry's reach, would have been elated. But those closest to Henry must have been terrified, knowing what a tightrope they ALL walked. I would not have been part of his court for any amount of money. They must have lived every day with their hearts in their throats, wondering what would happen next and whether they would survive it.