Friday, April 17, 2015
Wolf Hall: Cromwell as David the Renaissance Superman
No spoilers in the text below, and I urge those who haven't read the book to continue reading the post because the aim is to pique your interest. Wolf Hall's a great read and it's not just me- Booker Prize 2009 and among the 10 best historical novels ever (Observer); it gives you a sweeping panorama of Europe during this inflection point (16th century). For some more conviction, read on.
1. Protestant protests. The Lutheran protestant movement was afoot in Europe, with the commoner protesting against the choking yoke of the Catholic church. The repercussions were clearly felt in England. Lutheran works were banned in England, and the book talks at length about the black market for these books, and the horrendous punishments meted out to "heretics" (public burning)
2. King v Pope: Who among them is the supreme leader of England? The questions was being pondered in the bars, on the unruly streets, and in the House of Commons, and Cromwell led the dialogue. Further, England was the first European country to stage this debate, and the results would inform this dialogue firstly across Europe- in their relationship with the Pope, and secondly across the entire world in the tricky balance between the powers of the state and religion.
3. Feudalism feuds and rise of the Commons. Feudalism had endured through the middle ages, and now some of the assumptions were being questioned. Cromwell the blacksmith layman's "rise and rise" (phrase on the blurb) would likely serve as an inspiration for many to break free from the shackles of the occupational hierarchy of feudalism - the journey from blacksmith's son, beaten by drunk father, to a lawyer, traveler, and the most powerful man in England.
4. Renaissance@England: Thomas Cromwell as England's David. Yes, Tom Crom plays football and his free kicks are legendary. Ha, am talking not of the David of World Cup fame but the David of New Testament fame- the Goliath slayer. The Renaissance was well underway in Florence by this time, while England was still in the throes of the dark ages. The Medici are forever hovering in the background in the text. Medici were the main financiers of the Renaissance - bankrolling Leanardo and Michelangelo and Raphael and Donatello. Yes sir, no Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles if not for the generosity of the Medici! So, Cromwell, having spent his formative years in Florence, brings the renaissance to England. Copernicus was propounding his theories at the time, which Cromwell and friends discuss one fine evening. This angle was especially interesting to me because I was in Florence a few months back and was quite affected by the spirit of the renaissance. David- Michaelangelo's famous sculpture seen today in Florence (see picture below), epitomises the Renaissance. David is the Renaissance man and the church is the Goliath, and see below how David - rebellious yet slightly afraid - looks his gigantic opponent in the eye while holding in his left hand his deadly slingshot. Cromwell seems to be David the Renaissance man for England as one reads about him taking on the Church's authority. He is forward looking, breaks through the feudal barriers, and is besotted by ideas. Here's a quote:
"He can draft a contract, train a flacon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury. He will quote you a nice point in the old authors, from Plato to Plautus and back again. He knows new poetry, and can say it in Italian. He works all hours, first up and last to bed. He makes money and he spends it. He will take a bet on anything"
5. A game of Kat-An, and Feminism is the winner. The debate between the two pretenders to the queen's throne- Katherine and Anne- takes the centerstage in public debate- women at the centre of the public eye. Cromwell, in his own household, is a champion for women going beyond narrow traditionally defined boundaries.
Tom Crom: An awe-inspiring superman
1. Brings Renaissance home: Steeped in the modern practices of the times- Protestantism, arts and sciences, he is the bridge between Florence and England.
2. Business Analyst par excellence. Everyone comes to Cromwell to sort out their books.
3. Munificent mentor. Generously imparts knowledge.
4. Lawyer par excellence. Drafts complex laws and wields magic with words
5. Well-traveled. In his youth, after he's run away early in the book and traveled to Florence and Antwerp and god knows where. There's this poignant moment when Tom's in Cyprus with a Moslem woman. He's wondering whether to turn back home or continue eastward - towards Turkey and beyond. He throws a dice, and the number is low, and based on that number, he heads home. Now while the story is surely apocryphal, it tells us a lot about the man.
6. Resilient. Can't talk more - avoiding spoilers.
7. Enigmatic. There are only brief snatches of his times before his return, and there seems to be enough meat in those brief snatches that there can be set on this period in spicy little novels - nice cash cow, Mantel has created here. Travels through Belgium, Italy, Cyprus; learning trading, law and accounting; learning multiple languages; murders; women- a splendid romp!
1500s: tumultuous times- Tom Crom and the book at the heart of it all
Here's why the times were such, and how Tom Cromwell and the book sits in the dead centre of the events:1. Protestant protests. The Lutheran protestant movement was afoot in Europe, with the commoner protesting against the choking yoke of the Catholic church. The repercussions were clearly felt in England. Lutheran works were banned in England, and the book talks at length about the black market for these books, and the horrendous punishments meted out to "heretics" (public burning)
2. King v Pope: Who among them is the supreme leader of England? The questions was being pondered in the bars, on the unruly streets, and in the House of Commons, and Cromwell led the dialogue. Further, England was the first European country to stage this debate, and the results would inform this dialogue firstly across Europe- in their relationship with the Pope, and secondly across the entire world in the tricky balance between the powers of the state and religion.
3. Feudalism feuds and rise of the Commons. Feudalism had endured through the middle ages, and now some of the assumptions were being questioned. Cromwell the blacksmith layman's "rise and rise" (phrase on the blurb) would likely serve as an inspiration for many to break free from the shackles of the occupational hierarchy of feudalism - the journey from blacksmith's son, beaten by drunk father, to a lawyer, traveler, and the most powerful man in England.
4. Renaissance@England: Thomas Cromwell as England's David. Yes, Tom Crom plays football and his free kicks are legendary. Ha, am talking not of the David of World Cup fame but the David of New Testament fame- the Goliath slayer. The Renaissance was well underway in Florence by this time, while England was still in the throes of the dark ages. The Medici are forever hovering in the background in the text. Medici were the main financiers of the Renaissance - bankrolling Leanardo and Michelangelo and Raphael and Donatello. Yes sir, no Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles if not for the generosity of the Medici! So, Cromwell, having spent his formative years in Florence, brings the renaissance to England. Copernicus was propounding his theories at the time, which Cromwell and friends discuss one fine evening. This angle was especially interesting to me because I was in Florence a few months back and was quite affected by the spirit of the renaissance. David- Michaelangelo's famous sculpture seen today in Florence (see picture below), epitomises the Renaissance. David is the Renaissance man and the church is the Goliath, and see below how David - rebellious yet slightly afraid - looks his gigantic opponent in the eye while holding in his left hand his deadly slingshot. Cromwell seems to be David the Renaissance man for England as one reads about him taking on the Church's authority. He is forward looking, breaks through the feudal barriers, and is besotted by ideas. Here's a quote:
"He can draft a contract, train a flacon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury. He will quote you a nice point in the old authors, from Plato to Plautus and back again. He knows new poetry, and can say it in Italian. He works all hours, first up and last to bed. He makes money and he spends it. He will take a bet on anything"
As I said, I was quite swayed in Florence by David and the spirit of Renaissance: I try to be David here. See how David lines up the wall and the 'keeper and is in the middle of that momentary pause before kicking the ball- sending it swerving and dipping into the top right corner
5. A game of Kat-An, and Feminism is the winner. The debate between the two pretenders to the queen's throne- Katherine and Anne- takes the centerstage in public debate- women at the centre of the public eye. Cromwell, in his own household, is a champion for women going beyond narrow traditionally defined boundaries.
Tom Crom: An awe-inspiring superman
Tom Crom was the man who saw England through these tumultuous times. The title of another book on Cromwell, in fact the more famous one on the subject, is called "The man for all seasons" -an apt title I'd say. The NYT review calls Cromwell "..the picaresque hero of the novel- tolerant, passionate, intellectually inquisitive, humane". Picaresque reminds me of Reading Fiction class from UG; wiki says this is "a genre of prose fiction which depicts the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society". Along the way, Tom Crom takes up many apprentices and grooms them to be stars- A rising Cromwellian tide lifted all the boats of Austin Friars (his home), and Cromwell takes under his banner many such boats which were previously adrift in the seas. Some remarkable qualities/acts of the man:
1. Brings Renaissance home: Steeped in the modern practices of the times- Protestantism, arts and sciences, he is the bridge between Florence and England.
2. Business Analyst par excellence. Everyone comes to Cromwell to sort out their books.
3. Munificent mentor. Generously imparts knowledge.
4. Lawyer par excellence. Drafts complex laws and wields magic with words
5. Well-traveled. In his youth, after he's run away early in the book and traveled to Florence and Antwerp and god knows where. There's this poignant moment when Tom's in Cyprus with a Moslem woman. He's wondering whether to turn back home or continue eastward - towards Turkey and beyond. He throws a dice, and the number is low, and based on that number, he heads home. Now while the story is surely apocryphal, it tells us a lot about the man.
6. Resilient. Can't talk more - avoiding spoilers.
7. Enigmatic. There are only brief snatches of his times before his return, and there seems to be enough meat in those brief snatches that there can be set on this period in spicy little novels - nice cash cow, Mantel has created here. Travels through Belgium, Italy, Cyprus; learning trading, law and accounting; learning multiple languages; murders; women- a splendid romp!
Attractive writing: language of the 1500s, witty, good imagery
It's not Shakesperean - language is quite easy to read. Vocabulary and figures of speech are good. Some of the imagery is striking. I plan to go back to the book time and again, to smile at some of the jokes (many of them bawdy), and marvel at some of the imagery. Here are some examples, with some background; quote in italics:
1. IMAGERY: The cardinal owns a woolen carpet which has King Solomon and Queen Sheeba embroidered. As the carpet is rolled up; "They are brought together, the woolen monarchs, Solomon and Sheeba; as they are brought into coiled proximity, their eyes are filled by each other, and their tiny lungs breathe in the fiber of bellies and thighs"
2. IMAGERY: "The flames of the wax candle bow civilly to the Cardinal, and stand straight again"
3. SCENE DESCRIPTION: "Down come the Cardinal's hunting scenes (they are taking down a painting), the scenes of secular pleasure: the sportive peasants splashing in the ponds, the stags at bay, the hounds in cry the spaniels held on leashes of silk and the mastiffs with their collards of spikes: the huntsmen with their studded belts and knives, the ladies on horseback with jaunty caps, the rush-fringed pond, the mild sheep at pasture, and the bluish feathered treetops, running away into a long plumed distance, to a scene of chalky bluffs and a white sailing sky"
4. FIGURE OF SPEECH- ALLITERATION: "Now the cardinal begins to play with words:"Would a bishop abash you? A parish clerk panic you? A deacon disconcert?""
5. HUMOUR: "You're sweeter to look at than the Cardinal", he says
"That's the smallest compliment a woman has ever received"
6. BAWDY HUMOUR: Talking about how the Protestants/Lutherans/Germans are heretics: Hans shrugs, "The Chancellor says the Lutherans fornicate in church"
7. BAWDY HUMOUR: The Cardinal is describing Queen Katharine's dance in the king's court: "I will never forget that turn of her head, that moment when her beautiful red hair slid over one shoulder...There was no man who saw it who didn't imagine - though the dance was in fact very sedate...Ah dear. She was sixteen"
Caveat: Will the real Tom Cromwell please stand up?
Before Wolf Hall, the most famous work and on Cromwell written in 1954 was "The Man for all seasons", in which "Cromwell plays the villain and represents all that is evil and bad". He is also depicted as "unscrupulous and ambitious" (as per a book review, link below). This character is at sharp odds with the Cromwell of Wolf Hall. Now, which author is correct, Hillary Mantel or Robert Bolt (the author of Man for...). Tom Cromwell, to generations of readers of the decades between 1954 and 2015; was an evil guy. He's a superman to all post Wolf Hall readers (such as me). So who is he, really? Feel free to invent! This brings up the post modern literature theory of authors arm-twisting history to suit the purpose of the work. Think Inglorious Basterds, where Hitler and his acolytes are roasted alive in the theater. Or think of the disappointment of ardent fans of "It's not about the bike"
Sources
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