England is always remaking herself, her cliffs eroding, her sandbanks drifting, springs bubbling up in dead ground. They regroup themselves while we sleep, the landscapes through which we move, and even the histories that trail us; the faces of the dead fade into other faces, as a spine of hills into the mist.
In "Wolf Hall," Hilary Mantel reflects on the ever-changing nature of England. The author suggests that the landscape is in constant flux, with natural elements like cliffs eroding and springs emerging in unexpected places. This reshaping of the land occurs imperceptibly while we rest, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between people and their environment.
Mantel also touches on the transient nature of history and identity. As generations pass, the memories and influences of the past blend into the present, similar to how hills fade into mist. This evokes a sense of continuity as well as transformation, where the determination of place and history relies on both the tangible and ephemeral elements of life.