Bring Up the Bodies, The Mirror and the Light, Beyond Black, and the two time award winning trilogy novel, Wolf Hall, are some of the notable titles that bibliophiles from all over the world have read, and they were authored by none other than Hilary Mantel.
People knew her based on her bestselling novels, but very few were aware of what stories lie behind her successful life as an author. Here are five interesting facts about Hilary Mantel and how they propelled her to become not only an established novelist but also an inspiring individual that touched the hearts of millions across the globe.
1. Hilary Mantel renounced her Catholicism at the age of 12
Hilary Mantel didn’t apostosize religion from the get-go; rather, it was something that happened gradually. During the years she spent at Harrytown Convent School, she was exposed to all sorts of things that gave way to her exposure to life and religion.
At one point in her life, at the tender age of 7, she experienced something indescribable. As she was sitting peacefully in the backyard of her home, she suddenly tensed up due to feeling some kind of force that invaded her body.
From that moment on, she was never the same again. Although there isn’t much detail as to how or why that experience caused her to apostasize, still, her being an anti-Catholic only proved to be true in the coming years of her adulthood.
During her interview with Lynn Barber, she boldly states that “I think that nowadays, the Catholic church is not an institution for respectable people.”
She was able to make such a strong statement since she was no stranger to the mistreatment of religious figures like priests and nuns, who were supposed to display acts of kindness and holiness.
2. Hilary saw ghosts. Literally.
Only a few novelists believe in the supernatural, and Hilary Mantel is one of them. Her ghostly sightings began during her childhood, and it is safe to say that at the time and up until her death, she believed that there was no difference between the living and the dead.
This is probably one of the many reasons why Hilary was such an astounding writer—she was able to blend both fiction and reality in her stories based on the events that transpired in her life.
3. Hilary Mantel has authored a total of 17 books, two of which have won the Booker Prize—making her the first woman to receive the award twice
Hilary’s life was nothing short of an achievement. As a matter of fact, out of all the 17 books she has under her belt, two of which were awarded the Booker Prize, namely, The Mirror & the Light (the last novel of the Wolf Hall trilogy), and Bring Up the Bodies, the sequel to Wolf Hall. Not to mention, she is the first woman to ever receive this esteemed award twice.
4. Hilary’s self-diagnosis of endometriosis was proven to be correct by doctors in London
Unbeknownst to some, the author self-diagnosed herself with endometriosis. While the condition is truly devastating, the fact that Hilary was able to accurately diagnose herself by reading medical texts on her own is truly remarkable.
Before the confirmation of doctors of Hilary’s self-diagnosis, she actually encountered other medical conditions such as a psychiatric illness during her 20s. She was given antipyschotic drugs that later caused symptoms of pyschosis.
This is what pushed her to stop seeking the advice of medical professionals and conduct a self-diagnosis, which we now know was proven to be correct later on.
5. The final book in the trilogy of Wall Hall, The Mirror & the Light, took 15 years to complete
The end of one of the most successful trilogies in the world, The Mirror & the Light finally draws the curtain to the enthralling story of Thomas Cromwell.
The first book in the trilogy, Wolf Hall, was published in 2009, Bring Up the Bodies, the second book, was then published in 2012, and lastly, The Mirror & the Light filled shelves in every bookstore you can find in 2020.
Not to mention, Hilary never had the intention to publish a trilogy. If anything, she even surprised herself on how the story unfolded right in front of her as she scribbles down her ideas.
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