Questions About The Mirror & the Light (Thomas Cromwell, #3)

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Answered Questions (35)

I'm content in waiting to become immersed in her glorious writing. People have lost the ability to be patient for good things. Who agrees?

Judith Or maybe, like me, people are old and are afraid they will never find out whether Thomas Cromwell dies at the end. JOKING!!
Just realized I stopped re…moreOr maybe, like me, people are old and are afraid they will never find out whether Thomas Cromwell dies at the end. JOKING!!
Just realized I stopped reading about 3/4 in about two weeks ago because I want to believe there is a different ending than in real history.(less)

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When is it coming?

Beth Just pre-ordered it on Amazon. Due out March 2020.

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I have not read the first two books. Is this book independent from the others or do I need to read the other books first?

Annie In addition to the excellent points made by Janette and Linda Rae, I'd like to add that you would be robbing yourself of incredible writing by skippin…moreIn addition to the excellent points made by Janette and Linda Rae, I'd like to add that you would be robbing yourself of incredible writing by skipping Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. (less)

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Pg 83, Mantel tells history of the Pole and Tudor families: "And what was left of the old regime, after the battle was won, after Richard Plantagenet was dropped naked into his grave? Old King Edward's sons vanished into the Tower and never came out." It's my understanding that it was a fact that Richard was the one who put them in the tower for their safety. Is Mantel saying that Richard didn't even put them there?

Annie The official line was that Richard put the two princes into the Tower for their protection, but it's widely believed that he actually put them there t…moreThe official line was that Richard put the two princes into the Tower for their protection, but it's widely believed that he actually put them there to disappear them. There are several theories about who actually killed them, or if they were even killed, one or both maybe escaped. The next sentence talks about none of Edward's sons, only daughters left - no one to carry on the Plantagenet name. All that to say, I don't think the author is saying the Richard didn't put them there. More like - Richard is dead and the princes are vanished, and none of the major Plantagenets are left. (less)

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On page 249 we see a reference to "days of the scorpion", linked to the Wars of the Roses. What does it mean?

Janette Richard III was the scorpion. John Rous wrote in the 1480s:
Richard was born at Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire, retained within his mother’s womb for…moreRichard III was the scorpion. John Rous wrote in the 1480s:
Richard was born at Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire, retained within his mother’s womb for two years and emerging with teeth and hair to his shoulders. … At his nativity Scorpio was in the ascendant, which is the sign of the house of Mars. And like a scorpion he combined a smooth front with a stinging tail. (less)

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