News Releases
MARCH 16, 2020
The Mirror & The Light Reading Guide
BY JAMES BENNETT
James Bennett are excited to bring you the below Bookclub Questions for The Mirror & The Light.
BOOKCLUB QUESTIONS
• Thomas Cromwell is now in his fi fties, ‘the same small quick eyes, the same thickset imperturbable body; the same schedules.’ But to what extent is he a different man to the one we know from Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies? How has his character developed?
• Discuss Hilary Mantel’s use of the present tense in The Mirror & the Light. She allows us to follow her characters in real time as they make decisions the consequences of which they cannot be sure. Does this change how we think of history?
• What echoes are there in The Mirror & the Light of contemporary politics and Britain’s relationship with Europe? To what extent is Thomas Cromwell a thoroughly European character?
• ‘The burden of kingship,’ Henry says, ‘no man can imagine it. All my life, to be a prince: to be observed to be a prince; all eyes to be set on me; to be an exemplar of virtue … to unmake myself as a man in order to make myself as a king.’ What picture does Hilary Mantel paint of Henry VIII, as a man and as a king? Consider the trajectory of his relationship with Thomas Cromwell.
• Consider Cromwell as a father and as a son. And the paternal relationships he develops.
• The Mirror & the Light’s cast of characters includes those who have died in the course of the previous two novels. Consider the role of ghosts in the novel.
• Discuss the relationship of men and women. Do the female characters have power? How familiar are the gender inequalities to the world we live in now?
• From the descriptions of Henry’s leg wound, to the river Thames which fl ows through the story, The Mirror & the Light is carefully and vividly drawn. Consider the use of texture and physicality in the novel. How successfully does Hilary Mantel paint a picture of 1540s London?
• Is Thomas Cromwell’s downfall inevitable? When and how does he become conscious of the fate that awaits him? How does Cromwell react to his own demise?
For the full Reading Guide, please email: marketing@bennett.com.au
Recent News Releases
New Stories from Story Box Library
April 8, 2024
At Story Box Library, we’ve got three new stories that reflect and celebrate the diversity of our communities and experiences. There’s a Bull Ant in The Bedroom, a hilarious tale written and read by Adam Wallace and illustrated by Shane McGowan, involves an unlikely cast of characters, a fierce Bull Ant and...
Read more
Introducing Edda and Peter to the James Bennett team!
March 20, 2024
James Bennett is very lucky to welcome two new staff members, Peter Wallace and Edda Eckhardt! We asked them 5 questions in 5 minutes to get to know them a little better. Joining our Sales Team is Peter Wallace. Peter started working in libraries at the age of 17 as a shelver. He...
Read more
Preserving Indigenous languages: Libraries have a role to play
March 19, 2024
Here's an alarming statistic: a 2021 study by researchers at Australian National University warned that, of the approximately 7,000 that are currently spoken around the world, some 1,500 of the world's languages are in danger of no longer being spoken by the end of this century.The study, titled "Global predictors...
Read more
Four factors to consider when choosing tech tools for libraries in 2024!
February 21, 2024
The technological evolution of the public library — already a long-standing trend — continues in 2024, with no signs of slowing down. From conversational search tools that rely on natural language processing to artificial intelligence and virtual reality, emerging technologies are propelling library services into the future, which means that...
Read more
Stand By: Technical Difficulties
February 19, 2024
Our phones are currently experiencing technical difficulties.Please email client services for any urgent matters at csrs@bennett.com.au or contact your account manager.We apologise for the inconvenience caused and are working to repair this ASAP.
Read more
Encouraging Independence in School-Age Children
February 18, 2024
Getting kids to be more independent is super important for their growth. We can use research-backed strategies to guide us, helping kids become responsible and self-sufficient. In this blog post, we’ll explore simple and effective ways to nurture independence in school-age children.Why Independence Matters:Researchers tell us that letting kids make...
Read more