Hilary Mantel, after winning two Booker prizes for her novels about the savage politics of the Tudor court, will be turning her attention to Baroness Thatcher for a new book
Hilary Mantel's books Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies have been adapted for the stage Photo: David Rose
The Telegraph - 16 Jan 2014
Hilary Mantel's two books about Thomas Cromwell and the court of Henry VIII, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, are some of the most successful historical novels in recent years.
But now Mantel is confirmed to be writing about a more recent political landscape – the government of Margaret Thatcher. Her next book will be a collection of short stories called The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, published in September.
Mantel's publishers have not confirmed plotlines, but have said that the book features the late former prime minister as a character in 10 stories with "contemporary settings".
Nicholas Pearson, publishing director at 4th Estate, said: "A new book from Hilary Mantel is a treat. Where her last two novels explore how modern England was forged, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher shows us the country we have become. These stories are Mantel at her observant best."
Mantel has attracted criticism for speaking out about modern Britain in the past, after giving a speech in which she claimed that the press coverage of the Duchess of Cambridge portrayed her as a "shop-window mannequin" whose only purpose is to breed.
Her comments were widely considered to be critical of the Duchess herself, but Mantel said her lecture "was actually supportive of the Royal Family and when I used those words about the Duchess of Cambridge, I was describing the perception of her which has been set up in the tabloid press.
"My speech ended with a plea to the press and to the media in general. I said 'back off and don't be brutes; don't do to this young woman what you did to Diana'."
Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies have been adapted for theatre, and are currently being staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company. A TV adaptation is also planned.
While over at The Guardian:
Margaret Thatcher Elbows Out Thomas Cromwell on Hilary Mantel’s Desk
Email/share this The Guardian
Her comments were widely considered to be critical of the Duchess herself, but Mantel said her lecture "was actually supportive of the Royal Family and when I used those words about the Duchess of Cambridge, I was describing the perception of her which has been set up in the tabloid press.
"My speech ended with a plea to the press and to the media in general. I said 'back off and don't be brutes; don't do to this young woman what you did to Diana'."
Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies have been adapted for theatre, and are currently being staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company. A TV adaptation is also planned.
While over at The Guardian:
Margaret Thatcher Elbows Out Thomas Cromwell on Hilary Mantel’s Desk
Email/share this The Guardian
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