Historical novels, though popular in the 19^th century, have not received much critical attention. The novels of this genre attempt to convey the spirit of the past, the manners and social conditions with adequate fidelity to historical facts and impress the reader with an illusion of reality and willing suspension of disbelief. The historical novel started with Scott's Tis Sixty Years Since and in the present century Hilary Mantel attempted to revive the genre in A Place of Great Safety, dealing with French Revolution and Wolf Hall, which narrated, with focus on accuracy, the events during the reign of Henry VIII, the rise of Oliver Cromwell, the fall of Cardinal Wolsey and the destruction of Thomas More. This paper brings out the predatory nature of man who is really wolf to man. The novelist attempted to look at the historical details through the eyes of Cromwell and they appear differently. Among the reading public and also the literary critics, the historical novel has not gained much as an entirely respectable form in the modern times. It was popular during the early 1880s as the reading public of that period evinced interest in reading about "the long ago and far away" (Orel Harold, 1995). It has as its setting a period of history that attempts to convey the spirit, manners, and social conditions of a past age with realistic detail and fidelity to historical fact. It also deals with actual historical personages and it may also contain a mixture of fictional and historical characters.

Usually it is characterized by the attempt to fuse strong dramatic plot lines and credible human psychology, within a setting constituted from specific historical detail (typically based upon diligent research into actual events, locations, characters, as well as cultural customs, costume and speech) (Uglow, 2002).

According to Geenblatt, this literary genre has an "interest in significant historical events, and the representation of identifiable, documented historical actors" (Geenblatt, 2009). It mostly takes the reader to the illusion of reality and a kind of willing suspension of disbelief.

Sir Walter Scott's Tis Sixty Years Since (1814) is primarily considered to be a full-fledged historical novel which underscored Scott's passion for the historical novel. Scott's legacy was carried on by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, William Harrison Ainsworth, Mrs. Gaskell, William Thackeray, Charles Dickens, Charles Kingsley, George Eliot, and Wilkie Collins. Among the recent examples may be included Carlo Ginzburg, Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, Natalie Zemon Davis, and Charles Nicholl.

English Studies Journal, Homo Homini Lupus, Dramatic Plot Lines, Thomas Cromwell, Human Psychology, Financial Acumen, Wolfish Demeanor, Financial Gains, Italian Kitchen, Historical Novel, Historical Reconstruction, French Revolution, Historical Actors, Historical Events.