Hilary Mantel, 1952-2022

                                                                         (Photo credit: Ellie Smith for the New York Times)

It was sad to read about Mantel's death this week: She really was a genius at making history feel like it was happening right now. 

An example of how she closes that gap can be seen in this essay, Royal Bodies, that she wrote for a conference, it seems, and which was published in the London Review of Books. You can also listen to Mantel read it from this link, which I recommend. She draws some comparisons between today's royals and those of Henry VIII's time: "We don't cut off the heads of royal ladies these days, but we do sacrifice them," she says, referring to Diana. And: "We are happy to allow monarchy to be an entertainment, in the same way that we license strip joints and lap-dancing clubs."

We read two of her books (or more!): "Wolf Hall" and "Eight Months on Ghazzah Street." I'm sorry she won't be writing more. See you all Oct. 6! 

~Carroll