The third volume in Hilary Mantel’s series of historical novels starring Thomas Cromwell, The Mirror and the Light begins where the previous book left off: Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second wife, has been beheaded for infidelity and treason. The kingdom occupies an uncertain position, cut off from the continent not merely by geography but now also by religion. Henry has broken with the Holy Roman Empire, renounced the Pope, and declared himself Head of the Church of England. His enemies throughout the Catholic world, from France to Scotland and beyond, encroach at the borders. Meanwhile, he moves on to his next wife, Jane Seymour, in the hopes of finally fathering a legitimate male heir. Through it all, Thomas Cromwell remains his trusted advisor, serving as Secretary to the King and Lord Privy Seal—until his sudden and spectacular fall from grace. The first two books in the series—Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012)—were each awarded the Booker Prize in literature, marking the first time that a sequel was granted the prestigious award. Mantel also became the first woman to win the Booker Prize twice. Among many other awards, Mantel received the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2014 for her services to literature. All quotations in this guide come from the First U.S. Edition 2020, published by Henry Holt and Company. Note that the U.S. Edition employs standard British spelling and punctuation.

Plot Summary

The book begins as the former queen’s severed head lays at Thomas Cromwell’s feet. In the aftermath of Anne Boleyn’s execution, all is uncertain: Many hope that the king will return England to the Catholic fold, while others hope that he will not. These decisions are stark matters of life and death, as demonstrated by Boleyn’s execution. Loyalties are questioned, and rumors are rampant about who might next fall afoul of the king’s whims. Worse, matters of succession hang precariously in the balance. If Henry’s new wife, Jane Seymour, cannot bear him a male heir, then the Tudor dynasty will end after merely a brief span. Thomas Cromwell, Secretary to the King, tries his best to serve the interests of the famously mercurial monarch, but even he is not safe from the jealous rumors that swirl through the court. At the pinnacle of his power and influence, Cromwell has overcome his humble origins to occupy a central role in the fate of the kingdom: “Though he is a commoner still, most would agree that he is the second man in England” (13). This does not always sit well with others, particularly the proud descendants of aristocratic families.

Meanwhile, Henry is intent on dissolving the old abbeys and monasteries, finding new ways to enrich his kingdom. These efforts enrage factions of the populace and embolden some of the ancient aristocratic families, who see an opportunity to regain power. A rebellion is fomented, and the Pilgrims, as they call themselves, advance upon the kingdom. Amidst the internal turmoil, there remains the threat of France or Scotland advancing on England’s borders; the rebels will attempt to ally with one or the other of these Catholic-leaning realms. Eventually, however, the rebellion is put down but at great cost—materially and otherwise—to the king. His revenge is swift and increasingly merciless. Disturbed by Henry’s wrath, Cromwell cautions mercy in certain cases. He is instrumental in convincing Mary, the king’s daughter by the devoutly Catholic Katherine of Aragon, to sign an oath recognizing that her father is head of the Church of England. Still, Mary’s loyalties are in question, and thus her life is constantly under threat for her continuing allegiance to her mother. Rumors fly that Cromwell intends to wed Mary himself in a bid to usurp the king and assume control of the kingdom.

Some rare good news appears on the horizon: Jane Seymour is with child, and the king wishes devoutly for a son. His health is increasingly fragile, the result of an old jousting wound to his leg and a propensity for overindulgence in food and drink. When his son Edward is born, the rejoicing is cut short by the subsequent death of the queen. Now Cromwell will be tasked with making another match for Henry. As his son Gregory puts it, “My lord father, who will you let the king marry next?” (446).

Increasingly isolated from Europe and officially excommunicated by the Pope, Henry has few choices when it comes to new brides. Cromwell encourages him to make a union with Anna of Cleves, bringing together an alliance with the Germans who have also broken with the Catholic Church. These negotiations are delicate, however: While Henry has assumed his role as head of the Church of England, he has not wholly given over to the Lutheran views to which most German Protestants adhere. In particular, Henry retains his belief in the miracle of transubstantiation: that the sacrament is literally the body and blood of Christ. Cromwell secretly disagrees with Henry but maintains his loyalty out of personal devotion to the king and a desire to see the Holy Scripture disseminated in English.

The marriage to Anna—later Anne—of Cleves is not, however, a success: “At the first moment [Henry] saw Anna, he saw himself in the mirror of her eyes. From that instant it was written that there would never be any love or affection between them” (646). He refuses to consummate the marriage and badgers Cromwell to assist him in dissolving the union; another young maid, the Duke of Norfolk’s niece Katherine Howard, has caught his eye. While Cromwell is sympathetic to the dilemma, his position is threatened by the dissolution of the marriage. It would open the door for his rivals to erode his influence and reassert the Catholic faith. The Howards, Norfolk’s clan, are likely still loyal to the old religious ways, and they are certainly determined to regain power.

Cromwell’s resistance—coupled with the king’s increasing dissatisfaction, the rumors surrounding Cromwell’s alleged ambitions for sovereignty, and his rivals’ desires for revenge—eventually leads to his arrest and imprisonment. Accused of treason, he is held in the Tower of London for 48 days. Just days before his arrest, Cromwell contemplates “The Book Called Henry,” his personal treatise on the behavior of the king, which reminds him “never say what he will not do” (689). Indeed, the king does the once unthinkable and signs the order of execution: Cromwell is beheaded, just as Anne Boleyn—whose severed head once lay at his feet—was, a mere four years prior. That same day, Henry marries Katherine Howard.