I'm unfettered from the source material - disgusted by many characters, disinterested in its many machinations, disenchanted by much of His-Fit in general, but this is my favourite book. It is, in fact, the best book that I have read. All three (in the series) are great, truly splendid, but the second book is the best. It has grip and expedience the other lacked, but never once trades off its great poetry of thought. No, I would not hear a single bad thing about Dame Mantel and her gift of story. The unending, little subtleties of sentiment. The scathing, striking, sublime turns of phrase. Layers in layers of play; nothing given for free, but nothing fully concluded in a way that is unquestionable. Never once does she disrespect the intelligence of her reader. Always graceful. Always balanced. Her Cromwell shall walk with me until I've steps left to take in this world.

Dame Mantel, I mourn that you left so early. I would have liked to write to you about how you changed so much in the way that I am. At least I can say, with surety, the marvel of your work and talent will not simmer down its great ripples for many ages.