Reading Hilary Mantel’s Bring up the Bodies at the moment, not least to see if my my somewhat jaundiced take on Wolf Hall was skewed by the hype, but I have to say that reading the new one reinforces rather than refutes my earlier impression.

You can see why people rave about her, and them, and there’s no denying she’s a brilliant writer, but there’s something not quite right about them, for me at least. Something to do with showing off, and being a bit too pleased with herself. I’m on record, for just one example, as a staunch defender of the semi colon, but most writers – even good writers – use them sparingly. Mantel applies ’em by the bucketload, and it can get a bit wearisome. The erudition is all a tad relentless for my liking, and she does wear her research on her sleeve rather too much.  

The art, they say, lies in concealing the art. I’m not sure Hilary Mantel really manages that – or even aspires to it. It feels as though she wants people to notice – and appreciate – how clever she is.

Having said all of which, boy, the woman can write! She drops in little turns of phrase that just stop you in your tracks – a dejected character looking ‘cold as a doorstep orphan‘. And how about this for the dying days of the middle ages: ‘But chivalry’s day is over. One day soon moss will grow in the tilt yard. The days of the moneylender have arrived, and the days of the swaggering privateer; banker sits down with banker, and kings are their waiting boys.’