A Wolf Hall Junkie’s (that’s me!) FUN Wolf Hall Journey

Henry VIII is a monster, but he’s our monster. We’re perversely proud of Henry. -Hilary Mantel

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Tell me… what are the odds your favorite actor plays your favorite historical monster in a mini-series based on your favorite book? I know 🙂 And, not just that, but the mini-series had its world premiere on BBC2 on January 21 — literally as my birthday gift! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

I have had this amazing journey with Wolf Hall. It started on a sunny and cold Saturday afternoon in New York City at the Belasco Theater in January 2014 and is now coming full circle at Prime Time Emmy Awards on September 20 with me getting glued to TV rooting for Wolf Hall and in particular Damian Lewis for them to turn those well-deserved 8 nominations into beautiful little statuettes 🙂 Continue reading “A Wolf Hall Junkie’s (that’s me!) FUN Wolf Hall Journey”

From Wolf Hall the Book to Wolf Hall the TV Drama

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Radio Times reported some exciting news that BBC is poised to commission Wolf Hall series two when the third book The Mirror and the Light is out.

“Executive producer Colin Callender tells Radio Times that the production team and actors Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis are “eager” to film the last book in the trilogy, The Mirror and the Light.

Author Hilary Mantel is currently writing the final installment in the series, which will take us up to Thomas Cromwell’s demise on the chopping block.

“We are waiting for Hilary to deliver it, but everybody involved felt they were making something of substance,” Callender said. “Subject to everybody’s schedule I think they will want to come back.”

Continue reading “From Wolf Hall the Book to Wolf Hall the TV Drama”

The Most Delightful Deleted Scene in Wolf Hall

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

I told you earlier that I always assign actors to characters when I read. I don’t necessarily know why I do that, maybe to create some familiarity, but I do it. And, it’s not a secret that I dreamed of Damian Lewis as Henry VIII while I was reading Wolf Hall. Damian Lewis being cast as Henry was a dream coming true for me.

Anyhow, as I dreamed about Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, I had a few favorite scenes from the books that I really wanted to see in the mini-series. And most of them have made it to the series, but my MOST favorite scene that I talked about earlier here didn’t. I mean, I know every single scene cannot make it into the series, and my favorite scene is not really central to the story, but I was still disappointed a little.

But then… My partner-in-crime Bookworm gave me the good news! The Wolf Hall DVD had that particular scene as a “deleted scene.” Continue reading “The Most Delightful Deleted Scene in Wolf Hall”

Wolf Hall is TIMELESS

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

I have constantly been writing about Wolf Hall for several weeks now — about all aspects of it that have fascinated me… And, I have kept one that TOPS it all for me until now…

That is the TIMELESSNESS of Wolf Hall.

Hilary Mantel’s writing and Peter Straughan’s wonderfully condensed script open a beautiful window to the intrigue and manipulation in the court of Henry VIII in the 16th century. Wolf Hall is such a dark, political animal that it is inevitable to chew on a little bit about its politics. Besides, both the book and the drama help us understand history through a contemporary perspective, and does it through its politics and in particular, through the contemporary conversations its characters have all the time.  Continue reading “Wolf Hall is TIMELESS”

From Wolf Hall the Book to Wolf Hall the TV Drama: What does Hilary Mantel think?

source: farfarawaysite.com
source: farfarawaysite.com

Radio Times reported some exciting news that BBC is poised to commission Wolf Hall series two when the third book the Mirror and the Light is out.

“Executive producer Colin Callender tells RadioTimes.com that the production team and actors Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis are “eager” to film the last book in the trilogy, The Mirror and the Light.

Author Hilary Mantel is currently writing the final installment in the series, which will take us up to Thomas Cromwell’s demise on the chopping block.

“We are waiting for Hilary to deliver it, but everybody involved felt they were making something of substance,” Callender said. “Subject to everybody’s schedule I think they will want to come back.”

Continue reading “From Wolf Hall the Book to Wolf Hall the TV Drama: What does Hilary Mantel think?”