In this world, men are not obliged to explain or account for themselves. Creatures endlessly to be placated, they look to mold a woman into a satisfactory, if not perfect, wife. Conrad Fleming seeks to mold Antonia. He is a man of unblemished conceit, immaculate selfishness. Young female readers today may view him with incredulity. They should not. He is faithfully recorded. He is the voice of the day before yesterday, and also the voice of the ages past.

Hilary Mantel, A Memoir of My Former Self-…, loc. 1039