If you loved
Bring Up the Bodies
Hilary Mantel · Book · 2012
What hooked you in Bring Up the Bodies was the way high-stakes political maneuvering reveals the dangerous vulnerability of those closest to power.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Wolf Hall
Peter Straughan · Series · 2015
Films on the same thread
The Other Boleyn Girl
Film · 2008
Explores: Royal Intrigue, Sibling Rivalry, Political Ambition.
If you were drawn to the volatile atmosphere of the Tudor court in Bring Up the Bodies, you will appreciate this exploration of the Boleyn family's cutthroat political ambition.
Bring Her Back
Film · 2025
Explores: Grief, Foster Care, Family Secrets.
If Bring Up the Bodies hit, Bring Her Back shares the thread.
The Book Thief
Brian Percival · Film · 2013
Explores: The Power of Words, Resilience in the Face of Adversity, Innocence Lost.
If Bring Up the Bodies hit, The Book Thief shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
Wolf Hall
Peter Straughan · Series · 2015
Explores: Royal Court Intrigue, Power Struggles, Ambition.
Since you loved the masterful political chess played by Thomas Cromwell in Bring Up the Bodies, this series provides the essential context for his rise and the King's dangerous obsession.
Podcasts on the same thread
Bag Man
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2023
Explores: corruption, political scandal, accountability.
The Machiavellian schemes that define Bring Up the Bodies find a modern parallel here, exposing how systemic corruption and private scandals can destabilize the highest offices of national leadership.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If Bring Up the Bodies hit, 1619 shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Bring Up the Bodies the first book in the series?
No, Bring Up the Bodies is the sequel to Wolf Hall. Both books were written by Hilary Mantel and focus on the life of Thomas Cromwell within the Tudor court.
What order should I read the books in?
You should read Wolf Hall before reading Bring Up the Bodies. Wolf Hall introduces the story of Thomas Cromwell, which continues into the events depicted in Bring Up the Bodies.
Is there a TV adaptation of Bring Up the Bodies?
Yes, the television series Wolf Hall, which aired on BBC and PBS Masterpiece, covers the narrative arc involving Thomas Cromwell. Mark Rylance stars as Cromwell in this adaptation of the source material.
What historical event does Bring Up the Bodies cover?
Bring Up the Bodies focuses on the downfall of Anne Boleyn. It explores the political maneuvering of Thomas Cromwell as he navigates the complex and dangerous environment of King Henry VIII's Tudor court.