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Will Hilary Mantel win the Man Booker Prize again
October 16, 2012
5:57 pm
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Claire
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Do you reckon Hilary Mantel will win the 2012 Man Booker prize for Bring Up the Bodies? The winner will be announced at a ceremony tonight.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 16, 2012
10:11 pm
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Anyanka
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Looks like she has

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ente…..s-19965004

Hilary Mantel has won the £50,000 Man Booker Prize for her novel Bring up the Bodies, the sequel to Wolf Hall, which won the prize in 2009.

Mantel, who had been the bookmakers’ favourite, is the first woman and the first British author to win the prestigious literary prize twice.

“This double accolade is uniquely deserved,” said Sir Peter Stothard, chairman of the judges.

“Hilary Mantel has rewritten the rules for historical fiction.”

It's always bunnies.

October 17, 2012
1:08 am
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Olga
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I’ve already had a Hilary-Mantel-Wins-Man-Booker-Prize related outburst today I think I am going to have to stay off Facebook for a day or two lest I get lynched.

October 17, 2012
2:57 am
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Bill1978
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I just read she won, and I admit I am disppointed. Don’t really no why cause I haven’t read any of the short listed books. Maybe cause it’s a sequel, or maybe I feel it might be a lazy choice. Let’s just give it to the sequel to the book that we previously awarded.

The positive that I saw in the article I read was the numerous references to the awrd going to a book of fiction. It is a pity the award has gone to a book that goes against what historians now agree happened and paints the whole Boelyn fall as being justified, setting back the years of work of clearing the names of wrong doing.

Or maybe I’m disapointed because of the bias from the author. When the book was released, I contemplated reading Wolf Hall and then the new book, but after watching one video of her talking about the historical events of the book, it became clear to me that this woman believes that Anne (and by association the men) were guilty of all charges. And it was evident that her crush on Thomas Cromwell, meant that he could never be painted in a bad light. So I crossed the books off my list.

And then throw in that recent hypocritical comment from her, in which she says historical fiction writers need to be truthful, and she fell from her mantle down to gregory level of arrogance and self delusion.

I guess the 3rd book might be interesting to see how she twists the facts to make Cromwell’s execution totally unjustified. I can only imagine what Jane Boelyn may have said to Henry to get Cromwell killed. Or maybe the sexual deviant Anne Of Cleves, lied about everything because Cromwell rejected her invitation to share her bed. With Jane Boleyn.

October 17, 2012
3:33 am
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Bella44
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Ok, I’m probably going to get my head chewed off here…. but, good on her! The first woman to win it twice! I think that’s a fantastic achievement.

* scurries back to the corner now *

October 17, 2012
6:10 am
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Bill1978
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Don’t scurry Bella. I agree I think it is a wonderful achievement to be the first woman to win it twice and the first British writer to achieve the prize. I’m just disappointed that it was awarded to a book with historical inaccuriacies that are being presented by the author as truths. I have no idea what the other books are like either, but if they have mistruths being presented as facts it would bug me as well them winning a prestigious awards.

October 17, 2012
6:54 am
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Claire
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I think it’s a brilliant achievement and good on her, however, I don’t think it was that good. Putting the history aspect to one side, because this is a literary prize anyway, I felt her characterisation was lacking, they were very 2 dimensional, but that’s just my opinion.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 17, 2012
7:30 am
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Louise
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I think this is a tragedy to the world of history. That a woman with so little integrity, and with a book which is a travesty, should be awarded any prize. I don’t think ‘good on her’ for winning it twice because I think it just goes to show that cheats do prosper. It’s a joke.

October 17, 2012
7:51 am
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Bill1978
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I think my main concern is by winning a big award, the general public will think that ,even though it is for fiction, the events, characterisations and motivations are all true. It’s kinda like a fall back to argument. ‘But it won a presitigious award, so it must be true.’

October 17, 2012
9:42 am
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Louise
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Bill1978 said

I think my main concern is by winning a big award, the general public will think that ,even though it is for fiction, the events, characterisations and motivations are all true. It’s kinda like a fall back to argument. ‘But it won a presitigious award, so it must be true.’

Exactly, Bill. It’s a vindication of historical inaccuracies and dross. It’s also a complete kick in the teeth for everyone who has ever worked hard to dispell the myths surrounding Anne Boleyn. One step forward and two steps back. This win is incredibly damaging to Tudor history.

October 17, 2012
10:13 am
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Olga
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Claire brought this article to my attention a while ago. I was just getting over my post-BUTB rage and this set me off again

“Anne’s supporters hate anyone who says so, but it is possible that she did have affairs. The allegations seem wildly implausible to us, but clearly did not seem so at the time. It is said that the details of the indictments do not stand up to scrutiny, that Anne could not have been where she was alleged to be on this date or that. But this misses the point. If Anne was not where everybody thought she was, that did not count in her favour. If she had risen from childbed to meet a lover, that showed her a monster of lust. It is the incest allegation that seems lurid overkill. But the 16th century did not invest incest with especial loathing. It was one of a range of sinful sexual choices. In the days when brothers and sisters seldom grew up together, genetic attraction no doubt occurred more frequently than it does in the nuclear family . If the allegations were true Anne’s conduct was, contemporaries agreed, abominable. But they did not assume her innocence. Led by love or lust, people will do anything. Look what Henry had done.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/book…..nne-boleyn

She is clearly still pushing her weird agenda, and I don’t think it’s just to do with selling her books.

October 17, 2012
11:21 am
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Claire
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I know that various Cromwell ‘fans’ enjoyed Mantel’s books because they felt that it was going against the usual “Cromwell was evil” way of thinking, but I think it did him a disservice too, he was more “fleshed out” in Schofield’s biography.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 17, 2012
11:24 am
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Louise
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Anne’s Lament

I met a King who loved me;
He could not resist my smile.
But if you believe the rumours,
He would surely run a mile.

He pursued me round the country,
And refused to let me be.
But if you believe the rumours,
He was chased around by me.

Though I come from noble families,
And my parents are quite rich;
If you believe the rumours,
I was brought up in a ditch.

I have always been religious,
And love God without a glitch.
But if you believe the rumours,
Then I’m actually a witch.

My hands are blessed with fingers;
The standard number doesn’t shock.
But if you believe the rumours,
I’ve got more digits than a clock.

My teeth are where they should be;
With the front ones white as stars.
But if you believe the rumours,
They could be used to open jars.

My neck is smooth and flawless,
And there is in sight no wen.
But if you believe the rumours,
I’ve got a neck just like a hen.

I know I’m loud and fiesty,
And I’m very fond of fun.
But if you believe the rumours,
Then I’d happily slay a nun.

I’ve got a lovely brother,
Who is really quite a hunk.
But if you believe the rumours,
He would gladly mount a skunk.

I love my brother deeply,
And our love is pure and sinless.
But if you believe the rumours,
We would bonk each other senseless.

So before you’re quick to judge me,
And be first to throw the book.
If you believe the rumours,
You’re more stupid than you look!

October 17, 2012
11:24 am
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Claire
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“But the 16th century did not invest incest with especial loathing. It was one of a range of sinful sexual choices.”

Where on earth did she get that idea from? That’s a very odd thing to say.

Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn

October 17, 2012
11:27 am
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Louise
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In reality I don’t blame Cromwell for Anne’s fall, and I actually admire him. This book made me loath him.
And yes, Claire, incest was seen as especially deviant in the sixteenth century, hence the reason the charge was brought in the first place.

October 17, 2012
2:35 pm
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Olga
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I don’t know Claire, Norah Lofts maybe? It sounds like something from her book on Anne. I certainly didn’t see a shred of influence from any of the historians she mentioned that inspired her.

Nice poem Louise. I am getting suspicious about you. very suspicious.

October 17, 2012
3:15 pm
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Louise
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Olga said

I don’t know Claire, Norah Lofts maybe? It sounds like something from her book on Anne. I certainly didn’t see a shred of influence from any of the historians she mentioned that inspired her.

Nice poem Louise. I am getting suspicious about you. very suspicious.

Honestly, Olga, I’m not a ringer for the Dead Poets Society.Laugh

October 17, 2012
7:26 pm
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Sharon
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Bill1978 said

I just read she won, and I admit I am disppointed. Don’t really no why cause I haven’t read any of the short listed books. Maybe cause it’s a sequel, or maybe I feel it might be a lazy choice. Let’s just give it to the sequel to the book that we previously awarded.

The positive that I saw in the article I read was the numerous references to the awrd going to a book of fiction. It is a pity the award has gone to a book that goes against what historians now agree happened and paints the whole Boelyn fall as being justified, setting back the years of work of clearing the names of wrong doing.

Or maybe I’m disapointed because of the bias from the author. When the book was released, I contemplated reading Wolf Hall and then the new book, but after watching one video of her talking about the historical events of the book, it became clear to me that this woman believes that Anne (and by association the men) were guilty of all charges. And it was evident that her crush on Thomas Cromwell, meant that he could never be painted in a bad light. So I crossed the books off my list.

And then throw in that recent hypocritical comment from her, in which she says historical fiction writers need to be truthful, and she fell from her mantle down to gregory level of arrogance and self delusion.

I guess the 3rd book might be interesting to see how she twists the facts to make Cromwell’s execution totally unjustified. I can only imagine what Jane Boelyn may have said to Henry to get Cromwell killed. Or maybe the sexual deviant Anne Of Cleves, lied about everything because Cromwell rejected her invitation to share her bed. With Jane Boleyn.

Bill you have said it all! But I don’t think Cromwell came out smelling like a rose in her second book. He was kind of creepy. Cry

Louise, I love the poem. Smile

October 17, 2012
10:00 pm
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Anyanka
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Claire said

I know that various Cromwell ‘fans’ enjoyed Mantel’s books because they felt that it was going against the usual “Cromwell was evil” way of thinking, but I think it did him a disservice too, he was more “fleshed out” in Schofield’s biography.

As an Cromwell-lady…it was nice not to have the un-educated thug that is some-times seen and more human Cromwwell in WH. I haven’t yet read BUTB nor the biography but both are on my list .

It's always bunnies.

October 17, 2012
11:06 pm
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Olga
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Louise said

Honestly, Olga, I’m not a ringer for the Dead Poets Society.Laugh

Laugh

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