Hilary Mantel Archives - Evanston Public Library

Rosie Roche's Best Reads of 2014

December 31, 2014

rosie My name is Rosie Roche. I have lived in Evanston for 8 years and have worked for the city and NU as an educator and teaching artist. I have 2 young boys who love the library and ask to visit at least once a week. I have never seen such an impressive public library and consider it a gem in Evanston’s crown in terms of inviting space, helpfulness of staff and breadth of collection.

1) The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel (2014)

Her mastery is to write short stories that are intriguing and compelling to read and – in a way that is hard to pinpoint – leave the reader unsettled and disturbed. I see images from the stories at the most unexpected times, many months after reading them. She is so cutting in her condemnation that I wince and laugh to read them.

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Hilary Mantel – Author, Award Winner, Artist's Model

February 13, 2014

On February 24, a portrait of Booker prize-winning author Hilary Mantel by Nick Lord will be on display at the British Library – making it the first painting of a living author to be displayed there. Although she had complained in the past that women are depicted in portraits as the “passive recipients of an artist’s gaze or a camera’s gaze,” she said she is “thrilled” with the Mr. Lord’s work. The 25-year-old artist won the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition and received 10,000 pounds to paint Ms. Mantel’s portrait. Read more in the NYT and Telegraph articles. And check the EPL catalog for books by the acclaimed author.

Laura

Mantel's Books Go From Page to Stage to Screen

January 7, 2014

Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize winning novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies are being adapted for the stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Adapting the 500 page books into two-and-a-half-hour plays has been challenging but the producers are determined to retain as much of Ms. Mantel’s prose as possible, as well as to prove that “theater can bring the books to memorable life.” The plays are in preview now, although most seats are already sold out. The BBC is also planning to film a mini-series of the novels this year. Read more about the production in this NYT article.

Laura

NPR Interview with Hilary Mantel

November 27, 2012

Having recently won her second Booker prize, Hilary Mantel appeared on Terry Gross‘ show to discuss her latest book, Bring Up the Bodies. This work is a sequel to Wolf Hall, which also won the prestigious award. When asked about her focus on Cromwell and Tudor England, Mantel responded that historians have always realized how central he was to Henry VIII’s time, but popular audiences tend to think of other figures as being more important. Enlightening talk from both a historical and a literary perspective.

Shira S.

Mantel Makes History with 2nd Booker Prize

October 18, 2012

Hilary Mantel was awarded the Booker Prize yesterday for Bring up the Bodies. She won her first prize in 2009 for Wolf Hall and this is the first time an author has been recognized for a sequel. She also is the only author to win twice in a such a short period. The novels are historical fiction based on the life of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister.

Shira S.

Short List for 2012 Man Booker Prize

September 13, 2012

The six finalists for the Man Booker Prize (limited to English language books and authors from the Commonwealth, Ireland, or Zimbabwe) were announced this week. Hilary Mantel won three years ago and there’s been some speculation that she’s favored to win again for “Bring up the Bodies”. The rest of the list:
Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists
Deborah Levy, Swimming Home (And Other Stories)
Alison Moore, The Lighthouse

Will Self, Umbrella
Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis -Shira S.