One of the world’s leading experts on Hilary Mantel will explore the work, life and lasting influence of the twice Booker Prize-winning author at an event in Worcester this month.
Dr Lucy Arnold
Dr Lucy Arnold, Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Worcester, will discuss her newly published book, Hilary Mantel, in a free event at The Hive on September 23.
The book, published by Liverpool University Press, is the first critical guide to the life and career of the celebrated novelist, whose bestselling Wolf Hall trilogy transformed historical fiction and made literary history.
During the event, titled Mistress of Phantoms: Remembering Hilary Mantel, Dr Arnold will be joined by The Hive’s Academic Liaison Librarian, Tom Mandall, to examine Mantel’s writing, from her award-wining historical novels to her work as a cultural commentator.
“Hilary Mantel became one of the most influential British novelists of our time and her work continues to shape how people think about history, storytelling, and literature,” she said.
“We’ll be exploring the themes that united her writing across her career, particularly history. While she became most famous for historical fiction, history was important throughout all her work.”
The discussion will also examine the recurring themes of ghosts, haunting and the supernatural that feature throughout Hilary Mantel’s writing.
Mantel was best known for her trilogy tracing the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell in the Tudor court. Beginning with Wolf Hall in 2009, the series earned widespread acclaim and saw Mantel become the first woman to win the Booker Prize twice, following the success of Bring Up the Bodies in 2012. The trilogy concluded with The Mirror and the Light in 2020.
Dr Arnold said the event would appeal to both dedicated Mantel readers and those interested in contemporary literature more broadly.
“I think people will get an accessible and enjoyable insight into one of the most important writers of recent decades,” she said.
“If you’re already a fan of Mantel’s work, it’s an opportunity to explore why readers return to her novels again and again. But if you’re interested in contemporary literature, historical fiction, or narratives of haunting and the supernatural, there’ll be something here for you too.”
Dr Arnold said Mantel’s legacy will continue to influence readers and writers for generations.
“She showed that authors don’t have to stay within a single genre or theme throughout their careers,” she said. “She moved across time periods, countries and genres, which make her work so rich and keeps readers coming back to it.”
The free event takes place at The Hive from 6.30-8pm on September 23. Book your ticket online.