Historical · Literary
Wolf Hall
Thomas Cromwell, a blacksmith's son, rises through the court of Henry VIII as the king tries to put aside one wife for another. The story is told in a close present tense, from inside Cromwell's watchful head.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2009
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 559
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in Thomas Cromwell
Read this if you like dense, intelligent historical fiction where power moves quietly across a table.
Skip this if you want clear pronouns and a fast plot; it asks you to keep up with a large cast.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Wolf Hall
- What is Wolf Hall about?
- Thomas Cromwell, a blacksmith's son, rises through the court of Henry VIII as the king tries to put aside one wife for another. The story is told in a close present tense, from inside Cromwell's watchful head.
- Who should read Wolf Hall?
- Read it if you like dense, intelligent historical fiction where power moves quietly across a table. Skip it if you want clear pronouns and a fast plot; it asks you to keep up with a large cast.
- How long and how fast is Wolf Hall?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 559 pages, first published in 2009.
- Does Wolf Hall have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death.
- Can I borrow Wolf Hall for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Wolf Hall; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Wolf Hall?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Other Boleyn Girl, The Pillars of the Earth, The Name of the Rose.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Wolf Hall
-
The Other Boleyn Girl
Tells much the same court story from the Boleyn sisters' side, in a more romantic and fast-paced style.
-
The Pillars of the Earth A big, absorbing historical novel about ambition and the powerful, set in an earlier England.
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The Name of the Rose
Another intellectual historical novel that mixes politics, religion and puzzles.
Historical
