Bring Up the Bodies is the second novel in the Wolf Hall trilogy and resumes the plot that began in Wolf Hall. Wolf Hall tells the story of Thomas Cromwell’s childhood and rise to prominence, describing his working-class upbringing and his abuse at the hands of his father. After traveling through Europe and honing his political acumen, Cromwell ends up working for Cardinal Wolsey, a close advisor to King Henry VIII. Wolsey has been examining the validity of Henry’s marriage to his first wife, Katherine, because Henry wishes to dissolve the marriage and marry Anne Boleyn. He is enamored with Anne and is also frustrated that Katherine is unlikely to give him a male heir. Meanwhile, Cromwell suffers the sudden death of his wife and two daughters due to the plague.

Wolsey falls from favor despite his attempts to extricate Henry from his marriage; while Wolsey’s fate hangs in the balance, Cromwell becomes closer to the king. Cromwell is unable to prevent Henry from eventually issuing an arrest for Wolsey, and Wolsey dies while being transported to prison. As Henry grows more desperate to get out of his marriage, Cromwell urges him to break with the Church of Rome and declare himself the supreme head of the English church.