The Library

[ginny]

Barbara, on this:  Ginny have you had a chance yet to open your copy of Cromwell by MacCulloch - my take is there is almost as much information about the monster size drop of Cromwell's papers as the story of Cromwell.

I actually, I blush to admit this, read a great portion of the book when it came out. Now ask me what I remember of it. Obviously not much, I'm going to have to add it, but 200 pages of Mantel's Mirror and the Light kind of dominated  yesterday. hahaa

There IS something about that avalanche of papers, though, I do recall, is not what it seems. The letters go one way only? Or something like that. I could be, and often am, totally wrong, but there is something about all those letters that were found.

And I thought this was very interesting:

I can't help wonder is he lamenting that he did not go to Wolsey - or - that Dorothea has beliefs he knows he cannot convince her to refute - or - that he blew it as to how it looks and made an enemy of Dorothea which could mean others share her viewpoint and he lost some supporters - or - did he blew it and now has no way to refute the rumors about his dalliance with a women at court that will reach Henry's ears if it has not already and he has no way to protect himself on top of learning from Dorothea his reputation may be in tatters if others share her viewpoint.

Now I took it as he is truly in grief because he thought, he truly thought he was going to help his mentor and friend Wolsey, and here he's being told by Wolsey 's daughter that he can't take pride in his efforts, he didn't help, he should have stayed with Wolsey,  and that Wolsey knew it, and went to his death knowing it and that MAYBE as the book hints at but it IS fiction, that it caused, that disappointment, Wolsey's death. I simply can't see him crying over her not wanting to marry him.

But he  can't bear it if he let Wolsey down.   I think that's possible, given the hints about Wolsey giving up. Different from the first movie.Possibly different from the second, Wolsey hasn't said yet, but his presence  as a ghost in Mirror the Movie shows how important he IS to Cromwell here. One of the few people in Cromwell's life to champion Cromwell, really. In the movie.

That's what I've got for thought today. I'll pull out the MacCulough (can't spell it) and look first chance I get, though.

[PatH]

It's good to see you back, Tomereader.  I have computer. issues too, and also time issues--just living, and keeping fed and clothed and clean seems to take a long time, and also I'm n Pacific Time.. half the time I'm posting, it's night, and I'm curled up in a ball under the coves, with my laptop screen lit, breathing good air trough my CPAP sleep machine, with its tubing getting in my way.

And it's hard to keep going fast enough for a coherent conversation.

Reading in bed has been my bad habit ever since I could read, but now it's time to get  up and make breakfast. it's 9;27  AM here, and I'm hungry.

[bellamarie]

Good afternoon, all!  Goodness all this talk of Cromwell had my interest piqued so I did a bit of googling and for some reason I feel as if I just finished a book back in the fall that was on Ann Boyle.  I'll have to go back and look, anyway this Wolf Hall Trilogy is new to me as is the PBS series The Mirror and the Light.  Here is a link for beginners such as myself for reading the trilogy. 

https://www.readings.com.au/news/a-beginners-guide-to-hilary-mantels-wolf-hall-trilogy

Here are a couple of nice interviews with Hilary Mantel and Claire Foy

https://youtu.be/LsZrYQ2Ud_c?si=_VZLt5JdWnRgimq5

https://youtu.be/5CiVns3nIfU?si=cJcVUzyPD-SezSQp

Frybabe, I too have gotten involved in watching tv and less reading, although I am staying with Secret Service by William G. Hyland Jr. I just finished watching the series called Suits which is about a young man who faked his way into getting hired into a high-powered law firm pretending he was a Harvard grad. There are 9 seasons with typically 16 episodes in each season.  After finishing this my granddaughter got me into watching The Traitors on Peacock and I am now binge watching the 3 seasons.  I can't seem to tear myself away from this show and see there are other episodes in the UK and Australia. The treachery and trickery these people play to succeed not being banished or murdered from the game is just so fascinating.  I appears some of the people feel honesty should be the ultimate goal while others feel winning the money at all costs is their sole purpose.  I love watching how some people are willing to place their trust in others with nothing more than relying on their own instincts which at times ultimately prove to be completely wrong. This all takes place in a castle in Scotland, so the scenery is spectacular.  I keep thinking of the quote from Sir Walter Scott, " ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive,’

Ironically, this quote falls into the all the mentioning of Henry VIII. 

The quote is from Scott’s epic poem, Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field.  It’s an historical romance in verse, published in 1808. It tells the tale of how one of Henry VIII’s courtiers, Lord Marmion, pursues his lust for a rich woman, Clara Clare. He and his mistress, a delinquent nun, Constance De Beverley, devise a scheme to implicate Clara’s fiancé in treason. It becomes chaotic and although Marmion appears to have won, by defeating Clara’s fiancé in a duel, Clara retires to a convent rather than endure his attentions.

‘Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive’ means that when you lie or act dishonestly you are initiating problems and a domino structure of complications which eventually run out of control.

PatH. I have never been able to do much reading in bed, but I am a night owl so I can be lying on my couch til the wee hours of the night reading or watching tv.  Computer issues and all the rest you must deal with is understandable and yet you continue to remain a very integral part of our group and share such insightful posts.

Tomereader, good to hear from you.  Yes, you were mentioned over in Senior & Friends.  I'm so sorry you are having computer issues.  Laptops have come so far down in prices that maybe a new one is something to consider if it falls into your budget.  It's always nice to hear from you.

Ciao for now~

[BarbStAubrey]

hmm interesting frybabe - those of us who enjoy reading are following in the footsteps it seems that was alive and well in ancient times - and yes - I can't count the times I said enough buying till finding this cartoon like bit of wisdom a few years ago allowed me to laugh at myself instead of feeling like I blew it again...

Wow full house today - yes, Ginny trying to figure out the meaning of that tearful scene that seems to have dominated the second episode has me all over the place - I never was good at or enjoyed enough board games growing up and found every excuse not to participate as an adult and all these machinations trying to figure out whose up and whose down and who will be in Henry's crosshairs is beginning to get to me in the same way as attempting to play chess - not so much monopoly since that was more by chance requiring little brain power or maybe that is it - everyone thinks they can out think Henry without realizing he is probably not thinking himself but simply reacting - and yes, the explanation for the collection of letters from Cromwell - and I forgot - need to go back and read again - but I think it was those he sent that are missing.

Haha Pat your image of reading in bed tangled in the tubes from your CPAP machine present quite a picture - my good friend Charlotte used a CPAP and I was always driving her down to have it adjusted or cleaned - I think many of those visits were the result of being annoyed using the machine  - Charlotte did  only use it when she was going to sleep however, it sounds like you put yours on earlier - I bet in case you fall asleep reading... I'm finding myself falling asleep more frequently watching TV and have been weighing if I want to put my second TV in my bedroom - never have used my bedroom for anything other  then getting dressed and sleeping but falling asleep on the sofa and then waking up and heading for bed all groggy is probably no longer safe. 

Nice links bellamarie - If you have Amazon Prime they do have the first Wolf Hall that was originally shown on PBS available to watch on TV - Amazon Prime is already showing this final series from Mantel - Mark Rylance is the actor that I think does a fabulous job - he is so different looking than the picture I've always had of Cromwell but my oh my that man can act and without some fake English accent... Never did finish watching all of Suits - my grandson, who did graduate UPenn with a duel Law Degree and a Masters in City Planning was all into watching and told me about Suits Now he is living his own version of Suits as member of the staff for a Philadelphia City Councilmen - who would have guessed

Well the Astros play in just a few minutes and so that will take my mind away from all this 'chess' playing among people who lived centuries in the past...

[BarbStAubrey]