Founder/Publisher : Richard Lee, Marine Cottage, The Strand, Starcross, Devon, EX6 8NY UK (histnovel@aol.com)
SOLANDER:
EDITOR: Sarah Cuthbertson, 7 Ticehurst Close, Worth, Crawley, W. Sussex, RHIO 7GN.{lCuthberts@aol.com)
Contributions Policy: Please contact Sarah with ideas in the first instance . Please note that the society does not usually pay for contributions, except for short stories Letters to the Editor: Please, if you want a reply, enclose a stamped, addressed envelope.
FICTION EDITOR: Richard Lee, Marine Cottage, The Strand, Starcross, Devon, EX6 8NY . UK(histnovel@aol.com)
NEWSLETTER: Write to Lucienne Boyce (GGBoyce@aol.com) for our fortnightly email newsletter - it's free of charge LISTSERVE : Join in the discussions on the society's internet listserve - go to the society website and sign up . CHAT ONLINE : At the society web-site. From time to time we will invite authors along to field your questions .
MEMBERSHIP DETAILS:
Membership of The Historical Novel Society is by calendar year (January to December), and entitles members to all the year ' s publications: two issues of Solander , and four issues of The Historical Novels Review Back issues of society magazines are also available Write for current rates to : Marilyn Sherlock, 38 The Fairway, Newton Ferrers, Devon, PL8 lDP UK(ray sherlock@appleoneline.net), or Tracey A Callison, 824 Heritage Drive, Addison, II 60101. USA (Callison@wwa com) or Teresa Eckford, 434E Moodie Drive, Nepean, ON, K2H 8A6 CANADA (eckford@sympatico ca) orPatrika Salmon, Box 193, Whangamata, NEW ZEALAND . (pdrlindsaysalmon@hotmail.com) It is also possible to join the society by credit card online at www historicalnovelsociety com
OUT OF PRINT BOOKS:
The following are dealers in out of print historical novelsForget-Me-Not Books, 11 Tamarisk Rise, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 lWG judith_ridley@hotmail.com Rachel Hyde, 2 Meadow Close, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 6JN. rachelahyde@ntlworld com Rosanda Books, David Baldwin, 11 Whiteoaks Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 SYL dbaldwin@themutual net David Spenceley Books, 75 Harley Drive, Leeds, LS13 4QY. davidspenceley@email.com Legend Books - www Legendbooks.com
COPYRIGHT remains in all cases with the authors of the articles. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the authors concerned.
ISSN 1471-7492
No. 16 May 2001
This issue, a great deal packed into a small space so all I can do is encourage you to respond to the lively mix of articles and reviews. Val Whitmarsh has suggested members write in with the historical novel they have most enjoyed reading this year, especially if we've missed it! Yes, I know it's only May, but if you've recently read a new novel you wish to recommend, do tell us.
Sally Zigmond
The Good, the Bad, and
the Historical Novel
Strange but true : I've never seen so many disparaging comments about the historical fiction genre as I have in articles that praise individual historical novels Some examples:
In a recent interview with Booklist (15 Feb), Ross King in describing how he spent a year doing research to prepare for writing Ex-Libris declares that his books contain 'many more details than the average historical novel.'
A reviewer from Vogue praises one recent historical novel as follows: ' Historical fiction often suffers from a sense of inauthenticity Not so in Maria McCann's surprising debut, As Meat Loves Salt '
One of GQ ' s book reviewers, in a review made to set Chris Adrian's new novel Gob's Grief apart from the norm, reports that 'there's a problem with most historical novels : too much history but not enough novel , too many cute costumes but too few warm bodies. '
Why is it necessary to put down an entire genre in order to praise one example? I confess, I'm curious to know the titles of the historical novels on which these reporters base their comments, because they sure sound awful. If one were to believe them, one might come to
the conclusion that the typical historical novel is either a product of half-hearted research, despite an engaging storyline and likable characters, or a book-length series of facts and dates with no plot to hold the reader's interest. I find these grumblings just a bit odd, considering the positive mentions that many individual historical novels have been receiving
There are good and bad examples of historical fiction to be found ... but this is true of every genre . Clearly, many members of the writing and reviewing public seem have a preconceived idea of what the ' average historical novel' contains When they come across one that seems to break the mold , they sit up and take notice Their original mold , though , is outdated ; it doesn't fit with a large number of historical novels being published today . As members and reviewers of the HNS , perhaps it's up to us to help change these conceptions - one novel at a time, if that's what it takes
Sarah JVesbeitt
THE HNS BOOK ORDERING SERVICE
UK Members
Contact Sarah Cuthbertson (01293 884898 ; Email : ICuthberts@aol.com) with details of the book(s) you want. I'll send you a quote from the cheapest Internet source (most online bookstores give 10-20% discount) , including shipping options You pay me(+ 50p admin per book) & I'll place your order and have it shipped directly to you Alternatively , US Reviews Editors Sarah Nesbeitt (snesbeitt@bridgew edu), Trudi Jacobson (tj662@csc albany edu OR readbks@localnet
Home tel : + 01 518/439-3989) and Ilysa Magnus (goodlaw2@aol.com) have offered to buy books in the US and trade them for UK titles. If you don't have Email , I can contact them on your behalf with any requests Overseas Members
The following UK members are interested in trading books with overseas members, incl wishlists & 2nd hand: Sarah Cuthbertson (for contacts see above) Rachel A Hyde : rachelahyde@ntlworld com 2 Meadow Close, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 6JN +44 (0) 1395 446238 (Rachel also will trade Fantasy & SF}.
Wherever you live, you can order English language books in print from THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE by catalogue order form (subscribers) , by phone : +44 (0) 20 7490 9911 (24 hrs) or www thegoodbookguide com
If you know of any more possibilities or would like to join the trading list , please let me know
THE 1-IlSTORICAL
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
SARAH CUTHBERTSON PONDERS ON EBOOKS & BOOK TITLES
Jane Hill's article about Ebooks in Issue 15 was interesting and enlightening Most of us will probably get used to reading Ebooks in time , but production technology that makes it easy for anyone to 'publish' anything creates a different kind of problem for the reader .
During the last 6 months I've visited dozens of Epublishing websites , sampled dozens of chapters at random (historical fiction where available) and bought and read 4 complete Enovels
There are thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of books on these sites . The problem is finding one worth your time . Leaving aside those novels whose authors had only a nodding acquaintance with spelling and grammar and those who seemed positively unhinged , most of the rest seemed like lessons in how not to write a novel.
The conventional publishing industry isn't perfect , but at least we know that what it publishes has been through a filtering process - agent , reader , editor and (one hopes) proof-readerwhich offers some assurance of a decent product.
Some authors say they turned to Epublishing after conventional publishers , who otherwise liked their novels , deemed the slant or subject matter too hard to sell in the current market. That may be so , but until Epublishers install the same kind of quality control as conventional publishers , how is the poor reader to find these jewels amid so much trash?
Since we started the US/Canada section I've noticed that some novels have different titles on each side of the Atlantic . A few examples :
Steven Saylor , A Twist at the End (US), Honour the Oead(UK)
James Welch , Heartsong of Charging Elk (US) , Heartsong (UK)
Allan Mallinson , The Nizam's Daughters (UK) , Honorable Company (US)
Elizabeth Peters , He Shall Thunder In The Sky (US) , Thunder In The Sky (UK)
Anne Perry , Slaves and Obsession (UK), Slaves of Obsession (US) (Subtle, this one )
I can't see any particular pattern here Does it perhaps reflect differences in culture or marketing perceptions? Or did the author think of a better title after the original edition was published? I'm intrigued Insights or experience, anyone?
The Forum
NEWS, VIEWS, YOUR LETTERS
From US editor, Sarah Nesbeitt :
I read with interest your commentary in Review 15 about the difficulty in categorizing Margaret Drabble 's The Peppered Moth A similar circumstance has happened here in the States (and possibly in the UK also?) with Andrew Motion's 'fictional biography' of Regency-era felon Thomas Wainewright , Wainewright the Poisoner If you read Ann Chamberlin's review in the US section of this issue , you'll see what I mean Ever sinGe the book appeared in print here last year, I've been enjoying seeing the various attempts made to pigeonhole it. The Library of Congress gives it the subheading of ' fiction ,' but reviews have appeared in the nonfiction sections of Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews The publisher calls it an ' richly memorable exploration of the nature of biography itself' Keep your eyes opened - perhaps we 'll be seeing more of this style in the future?
MEET THE TEAM
SARAH NESBEITT
Sarah Nesbeitt has been reading and collecting historical fiction almost exclusively for the past 15 years . Though she prefers titles with pre-1900 settings, particularly novels involving royalty, she'll gladly read most anything historical. After a series of odd jobs (secretary, planetarium lecturer, donut shop clerk) and too many years as a professional student , she's finally settled into a career as a librarian Besides editing and reviewing for HNS , she serves as the North American editor for Reference Reviews , a library journal, and is currently rushing to complete a book for a library science publisher In her 'spare ' time , she enjoys cooking, genealogy, surfing the web, and avoiding the wrath of her jealous cat, Sophie
HNS Member C S Guest offers the following books as two of his favourite historical novels.
THE IDES OF MARCH by Thornton Wilder, (1897-1976) first published in 1948. In his foreword to this novel, Wilder stated 'historical reconstructuon is not among the primary aims of this work . It may be called a fantasia on certain events and persons of the last days of the Roman republic .'
The principal liberty taken was to transfer an event which took place in 62BC - the profanation of the Mysteries of the Bona Dea by Clodia Pulcher and her brother - to the celebration of the same rites I 7 years later on 11th December 45.
By 45 many of the characters would have long been dead and Wilder states that all of the documents in his work were from his own imagination with the exception of the poems of Catullus and the closing entry which is from Suetonius ' s Lives of the Caesars. He also points out that source material dealing with Cicero was copious; with Cleopatra, meagre; with Caesar, rich but often enigmatic and distorted by political bias The book, therefore, was presented as a suppositional reconstruction provoked by the inequalities of the source material
The novel is divided into four books, consisting of letters and journal entries and as befits the craftsman who three times won a Pulitzer Prize (including the classic, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, recently re-issued by Penguin .)
Within each of the books, the documents are given in approximately chronological order. Book One covers September 45BC. Book Two which contains material relevant to Caesar's enquiry concerning the nature of love, begins earlier and traverses the whole of September and October Book Three, mainly occupied with religion., begins earlier still and runs through the autumn, concluding with the ceremonies of the Good Goddess in December. Book Four, resuming all the aspects of Caesar's enquiry, particularly those dealing with himself as possibly filling a role as an instrument of 'destiny' begins with the earliest document in the volume and concludes with his assassination.
Wilder was not a prolific writer (In 1967 he published The Eighth Day, his first novel for 20 years) but all his work fulfilled the maxim that quality counts more than quantity .
LETTERS OF PONTIUS PILA TE by W P Crozier, first published in 1928
These fictional letters were addressed by Pilate to his friend , Lucius Annaeus Seneca the younger (later the tutor of the young Emperor Nero and to commit suicide on his orders) , and who is known to posterity as liberal philosopher and writer of moral essays and tragedies
which, according to the author, a fomer scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, few men read Historically, little is known about Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judaea from AD 26 to 36 . Described by the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria as guilty of of 'never-ending inhumanity' on the one hand and, on the other in the Gospels, presented as a just and humane but timorous Governor, the author believed that the truth lay somewhere between or beneath the existing accounts of Pilate's character and actions .
A short book ( 160 pages) and written in a style akin to that of Seneca in his Letters to a Stoic to Lucilius , a native of Pompeii, the novel is divided into two parts Part one, letters I-XI, describes the early days of the Procuratorship Part two, letters XII-XXXIII belong to the period which covered the preaching and the death of John the Baptist and Jesus. The book contains no 'replies' from Seneca and thus parallels Seneca's Letters to a Stoic where no replies have come down to us.
Continuing our occasional series, novelistJune Barraclough, shares the books she read as a child and how she never intended to write historical fiction.
I had already read children's stories that mingled the past with the present, but A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley which I read when I was eight bowled me over I don't think I've read a better one since, although Penelope Farmer ' s Charlotte Sometimes was very good I read A Traveller in Time over and over again in the years that followed, committing certain passages to memory I still love this book, although I don't believe it was really aimed at children
At about the same age I read two other timeslip stories, The Hidden River by Christopher Prescott and The Pharaoh's Secret by Catherine Christian which continues the story Both books involved the same children going back to Ancient Egypt I was at the age to be fascinated by underground rivers, streams running through culverts to reappear - where?
At the age of nine or ten we all read a good deal of the non-fiction narratives of Dorothy Margaret Stuart (does anyone remember her?) and P and M Quennell ' sA History of Everyday Things in England I read Geoffrey Trease (Bows against the Barons) and Carola Oman (Joel, the Story of a Boy and Ferry the Fearless) and many other adventure stories, including , of course all Baroness Orczy ' s Scarlet Pimpernel books
Then, when I was twelve , I discovered Harrison Ainsworth . Apart from the Alison Uttley I think this was the great revelation of my childhood historical reading I gloried in, cried over The Tower of London and Windsor Castle. I had also read Scott's The Talisman and
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
Kenilworth but could make no headway with Quentin Durward or Redgauntlet. Stevenson's Kidnapped and Catriona were more to my taste. Shortly after this the fourth form at school were given two 'historicals' by Conan Doyle for private reading, both of them highly enjoyable : Micah Clarke and The White Company I liked them better than Sherlock Holmes.
I suppose at the rime I was working towards reading A Tale of Two Cities and Henry Esmond. I was pleased when the latter turned up as one of my School Certificate set books. (Can you imagine it being set now?)
I had a particular penchant for Margaret Irwin . I adored Young Bess, but my very favourite fourteen and fifteen year old fiction reading was the very 'romantic' Berries Chronicles of Hugh Walpole which I lived and breathed, especially the first three of the series. Later for light reading I might read Doris Leslie, especially her book about Queen Anna and Lady Masham, whose title I now forget and Jane Lane, but not Georgette Heyer,
My tastes as an adult reader of historical novels are rather different. I much enjoyed Marghanita Laski's Victorian Chaise Longue, a similar story by Betty Askwith, many of Joan Aiken's historicals and Mary Lee Settle' s American novel, Beulah Land.
I have never enjoyed 'mixed' gemes such as historical detection. However I did admire Josephine Tey's The Dughter of Time. I do also read a good deal of children's literature, William Mayne above all (Earthfasts and Ravensgill are my favourites plus The Stone Book Quartet. ) He is a great writer -a poet.
These days I read fewer 'historicals' but more 'literary' novelists whose novels may sometimes be historical such as Peter Ackroyd and Adam Thorpe.
I never set out with any intention of writing historical fiction and some of my novels are not historical, although few are set in the present. Some are, I suppose, 'sagas'. For example, A Time to Love starts in 1912 and ends in 1949 . Generations starts in the 1860s and ends in the 1890s. But it seemed that what I wanted to say was better said in the setting of the past.
I believe that in my novels, including the historicals, I recapture my adolescence, enjoy telling a story and allow a fuller rein to the romantic elements shunned by the 'Booker type' novel with its obligatory irony and sophistication
Finally, as historical novelists, as opposed to historians, we use our imaginations. The great German historian Von Ranke said that history was 'how it really was.' But to know this is easier said than done. By adding imaginative elements the novelist makes a new whole
June Barraclough's novels are published by Robert Hale. The Family Face was published in 2000 and reviewed In Review 14 .
WRITING THE HISTORICAL NOVEL
In the last issue Kate Tremayne introduced us to her new historical series. This issue she begins a series of features on writing the historical novel, drawing on her considerable experience.
GETTING STAR1ED
How many of you have wanted to write an historical novel, or any novel, and not yet got round _ to it? Have you started it but put it aside? Or written it, but it has yet to find a publisher? Did you find you ran out of impetus for the story? Knew the idea was a great one but simply did not have the knowledge to bring it all together?
These are common hurdles to overcome when you are starting out as a novelist and why I wanted to write this series to help writers achieve their dream of not only finishing their novel but to sell it to a publisher.
You cannot teach someone to be a storyteller because ultimately every novel can only be as good as our imagination and inspiration. Yet many brilliant and original ideas fail because the author bas yet to master the techniques which can turn a good story into a published novel.
Techniques can be learned and most writers have to undergo an apprenticeship to master them before they are published. Above all, writing is about giving pleasure, not only to your readers but also to yourself The most essential ingredient of any novel is perseverence. Writing a novel needs commitment of both time and energy plus dedication if you are to succeed
Before you start you must be aware of the basic presentation needed . I frequently judge writing competitions when I talk at seminars and writing clubs all over the country Yet so often writers who should know better are failing to follow the basic rules when producing their manuscript. All typescripts must be on A4 paper of 80grm weight, with double line spacing and a good inch margin at each side and at the top and bottom of the page. The print must be clear and easy to read . If you have a word processor print in high quality not draft. If you use a typewriter or a dot-matrix wpc make sure your ribbon is new before producing the final typescript. Reading 80,000 words plus offaint typescript will put any editor off
Paragraphs must be indented. This is a common fault with wpc users . If you do not indent a paragraph it is difficult to see where one ends and another begins. And you never use a double space between paragraphs. A ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
double space is only used to separate scenes within a chapter, or if there has been a time gap Every page must be numbered consecutively throughout the novel. Do not start a new chapter with page I Also if you have a wpc do not justify the right hand margin as this produces erratic spacing between words which does make it harder to read. Also a copy editor would have to take hours amending these gaps which is an unnecessary expense for the publisher. These points may sound trivial but if ignored show a lack of professionalism in your work.
When you are ready to submit a manuscript to a publisher or agent, never attempt to bind your manuscript or even separate chapters by using paperclips to hold the pages together. Store your manuscript in an old paper box or loose in a folder.
GETTING DOWN TO THE WRITING :
Most writers have to fit their writing around jobs and family. It is important that you set aside certain periods within a week solely for your writing. lt is better to write 500 words every day than try and produce fifteen pages on a Sunday morning. Set yourself a weekly goal and stick to it.
Chose a period in history which fascinates you. Your passion for that era will show in the writing and will bring the novel alive to the reader Before starting to write you will need a rounded general and social history of that time to make your settings and characters realistic. Too often even published novels fail to meet their full potential because the produce a story which is little more than drama in long frocks or action in doublet and hose You need to know what the people in all levels of society wore, the kind of houses and environment they lived in, what they ate etc. You cannot create your first scene without this knowledge for all characters must appear within atmospheric and accurate settings from the first page to make the world you are creating believable.
It is not necessary to bog yourself down with massive research at the outset. Many facts can be checked as you go along.
Once you have chosen your period of history decide what market you are aiming at Also know your main readership. Th~ Historical Novels Review is a wonderful magazine to browse through to decide what category your novel would fit into. Then read all you can in that category to research the market and analyse what makes each novel so special . Read top authors of this genre and analyse the degree of atmospheric detail, historical data, how characters are presented on the page and most important how conflict is built within each scene. Also know the length required for each genre This is usually a minimum of80,000 and for a first novel it is best to limit yourself to 120,000 words. Longer length first novels, unless they are exceptional, are usually harder to sell
You will need to draw up a character list with background histories of the main characters and how they interact with each other. Know the appearance, personality, ambitions and motivation of your characters . This should be as detailed as possible for main characters and can be just a few lines for minor ones
Know your ending and work out a rough structure for your plot. Also state the main sources of conflict which will keep the reader hooked on the story . Map out the key points and purpose behind every scene . Every scene must serve to push the story forward and never be padding.
Every novel should have a focus or theme to give it greater depth. H you are writing a war novel, the battles are not enough.
The theme could be on overcoming cowardice, prejudice, brutality, revenge or the comradeship of men A focus of a saga is more than a struggle against the odds . It should have a dimension of human interest e .g coping with betrayal, abandonment, sacrifice etc Historical detective series need a central character who inhabits a different world from that chosen by established writers such as medieval monies, apothecaries or strolling players. Create a new world for your reader to bring in fresh interest.
Every novel must have its own unique voice. An editor will be looking for what makes your novel different and stand out from the rest.
In my Loveday Series I have used shipbuilding as the family business which brings in an unusual aspect oflate l 8the century life The family dramas revolve around social issues of the day : prejudice to be overcome from marriage between different classes, personal sacrifices to be made to save the family estate and shipyard when financial ruin looms, the passion for land, sibling rivalry and topical scandals to be weathered. These are emotive issues and are strong sources of tension, drama and conflict throughout the books.
Bring a fresh twist to the type of historical novel you are writing Ask yourself what will make this story different and you are opening the road to success
ADAM LOVEDAY by Kate Tremayne is published by Headline in paperback. THE LOVEDAY FORTUNES is out in paperback from Headline in August 2001.
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
Epic stories with sweeping narratives are all the rage with literary judges, according to Magnus LinJdater.
WHY THE IIlSTORICAL NOVEL TAKES ALL THE PRIZES
Why oh why, said the TV panellist at the Whitbread Awards, do we have to hand out prizes to yet another historical novel? Why can't we recognise new talent which explores the cutting edge of contemporary Jife and the dilemmas of modern society?
Why, that is, did Matthew Kneale win the overall award with his novel English Passengers, set in 19th-century Van Diemen' s Land, instead of Zadie Smith's White Teeth set in 20th-century Willesden?.
The panellist's point was clear : once again, the English novel had taken refuge in distant events, acquiring its landscape from elsewhere, and its characters from a place so far removed from Britain today that it might just as well have been written in a foreign language. Are we running scared of our own time and country? Or has the modern novel finally buried itself in the fustian sand?
On the surface, there would seem to be some truth in the charge . We look these days to American, not English literature, for the 'big' novels, not just in size and length, but in ambition. They are the ones that chart contemporary themes, cover the broadest canvas, rub salt in the most painful of wounds, whose prose pulsates with an energy that makes the home-grown product look positively anaemic. Writers like Don de Lillo, whose Underworld is a massive work, or Dave Eggars, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, attract the kind of praise that once went to Martin Amis, Julian Barnes or Ian McEwan Behind them lurk the giants, Norman Mailer and Saul Bellow, Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarthy and many others . This is a list in depth. What can we offer to compete?
This may account for the enthusiasm that greeted Ms Smith. Here was a first novel which broke most of the conventions - written by a young black author, exploring the story of three families in North London, it took on big issues of racial and religious conflict in multicultural Britain. Here at last we were out of the drawing-room and on to the streets What is more it was funny. This was the muscular style of a mature and self-confident writer, whose prose was witty and assured, a writer who, as Salman Rushdie pointed out on the front cover, 'has bite'
Yet, when it came to the vote, she did not even make it to the last lap. Instead the judges opted for a trip across the Tasman Straits with Mr Kneale.
For many it was simply part ofa pattern. As The Ttnres' 5 literary editor, Lrica \\1agnci, puinted- out recently, the historical novel is enjoying unprecedented 5!J~,;.,:s~. L!st year's Booker Prize shortlist was made up of six books that fell into the category; and some of our major novelists have turned to deeply researched history for their inspiration. Mrs Wgner pointed out that Margaret Atwood actually thanked sources like the archivist of the Cunard Line and the executive director of the Ontario Historical Society for supplying the essential details that helped make her novel, The Blind Assassin, such a gripping read. A S Byatt paid tribute, in The Biographer's Tale to those who acceded to her 'outlandish requests' for information Lawrence Norfolk spent two years on the classical footnotes of his recent novel, In the Shape of a Boar.
The charge is that these are mere exercises in thinly disguised non-fiction rather than proper novels, that they not only represent an escape from modern life, but they substitute the work of researchers for the full-blooded imagination of the writer.
In fact, as Ms Atwood briskly points out, 'all novels are historical novels.' There is no such thing as the exact contemporary present . No sooner is it fixed on the page than it has become the past What is more, as English Passengers so triumphantly shows, the past can be as stunningly relevant as the present.
Mr Kneale's book is no costume drama, it is a big work spread across a broad canvas, the kind that we complain is lacking in contemporary fiction. Its material is horrific - it is about eugenics and genocide, and the blind abuse of power. Its voices are fresh and contemporary, whether they are the parodied tones of the vicar, hoping to prove that his theory of divine refrigeration by locating the historical site of the Garden of Eden; or the reinveted conversation of the Aborigines; or the Manx dialect in which the sailors speak. There is something here of the rhythm used by Lewis Grassie Gibbon in Sunset Song to convey the almost inpenetrable accent of northeast Scotland, or James Kelman's powerful Glaswegian dialogue in How Late it Was, How Late.
In his epilogue, Kneale openly admits that 'All fiction - and non-fiction - changes and concentrates what it portrays.' This is a book that revives faith in the genre rather than undermining it. Ms Smith will go on to win again. Meanwhile, down in Van Dieman' s Land, the English novel is alive and well and altogether bigger than it has been for a long time
This is a slightly shortened version of the article that was first published in The Times on Thursday 25th January 2001. The editor wishes to thank Mr Linklater for his kind permission to reproduce it.
English Passengers is now in paperback. Penguin £6.99
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
IUK TITLES
Titles are classified by period and then alphabetically by author surname.
ALL BOOKS MENTIONED HERE CAN BE ORDERED THROUGH THE HNS BOOK ORDERING SERVICE. ALL ENQUIRIES TO SARAH CUTHBERTSON
Prince Alkmaion has been brought up on tales of heroes · mighty deeds - but all that sort of thing belongs to the past now he is told . But he can ·t wait to prove himself a true prince of Pylos and soon gets his wish to go on a long sea voyage when he offends the Goddess at the Great Spring Festival. He meets up v.~th the Dorians , led by Cresphontes and they seem friendl y enough Soon foolish Alkmaion and the rest of his people are fighting for their li\"es and trying to preserve their vanishing way of life in the face of these relentless invaders
Around 1200BC the palace at Pylos was destroyed by the first wave ofDorians and this is the tale of the beginning of the end for the legendary Mycenean civilisation This older civilisation is seen as gentler and more enlightened even if their weapons are only of bronze instead of the new iron - the Iron Age is about to start and leave them behind Some of these points were labored somewhat but on the whole Hilary Green spun an engaging and heroic tale which does for Mycenean Greece what Christian Jacq does for Egypt - delivers up legends along with facts and wraps them up in an easy-to-read story Entertaining stuff Rachel A Hy de
ALEXANDER: CHILD OF A DREAM , Valerio Massimo Manfredi (Translated by Iain Halliday) , Macmillan , 2001. £9 99 pb 352 pp. ISBN 0-333- 78035-3
Alexander: Child of a Dream is the first part of Valerio Massimo Manfredi's trilogy of Alexander the Great and starts in 356 BC as Alexander is born to Olympia, wife of Philip II of Macedon
The scene is set , a history book of
characters are in place. but the telling is 1________________. unimaginative , the passion and adventures less
TI-iE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
Ithan gripping Manfredi allows his knowledge to get in the way of the story . In his compulsion to impart everything he knows , sentences are not clearl y structured and far too many adjectives stumble over each other. The dialogue is stilted and modern phrases are used which do not sit comfortably in Ancient Greece
The maps are excellent, but one would have been sufficient for this book ; also an introductmy background to the period , including dates of principal events , would have been useful , together with more sources of reference It was not until the last few chapters as Alexander sets out for the shores of Asia , already two-thirds of the way through his life , that I wanted the story to continue Gw e n Sly
ANCIENT EGYPT
LORDS OF THE TWO LANDS
Pauline Gedge , Hodder & Stoughton , 200 I , £17 .99. hb , 400pp . ISBN 0-340-77093-7
See Issue 13 US / Canada Section (reviewed as T7ie Hippopotamus Marsh)
MURDER IN THE PLACE OF ANUBIS
Lynda Robinson Allison & Busby £6 99 , pb. 218pp , ISBN O 7490 0496 7
In this first Lord Meren mystery , Lynda Robinson has chosen the brief reign of the boy king Tutankhamun as her setting
Lord Meren is the 'Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh'. his Chief Investigator. The body of a notorious scribe , hated by all who knew him , has been discovered in the sacred embalming temple of Anubis Lord Meren is set the task of finding the murderer before the newly powerful priests of Amun use the incident to undermine the royal authority still tainted with the monotheism of the Aten The list of potential murderers is long as everyone is suspect , from the family of the scribe to the Great Royal Wife , Ankhesenamun
Little is known of the actual life of Tutankhamun , but there is a wealth of wonderful things discovered in his tomb to show how the ancient Egyptians lived at that time . Depiction of everyday life should flow , but the writing is disjointed , the short sentences are anno)mg and there is a feeling of another page of the reference book being turned
There is a surfeit of ancient Egyptian 'whodunnits' on the bookshelves and Anubi s is overworked as a title Alas , Ms Robinson's book does not float above the rest.
When the Emperor's hated favourite dies at feast in Glevwn, Roman Britannia, is it murder? Perennis has enenues , and mosaic-maker Libertus is appointed by his patron to investigate.
In Libertus ' third outing , the focus is on the mvsterv. rather than the sleuth Other characters -~en't vi vidl y drawn, though the plot twists and turns are entertaining Some of the language is puzzling : us ufru c t and vivicombustion are certainl y not in general modern usage Also, the dialogue is mostly very formal , leading to some stilted conversations. There are several copy-editing mistakes , one making for a very confusing sentence near the end . The story is most intriguing when Libertus observes or experiences the prejudice with which slaves are treated within Roman society. An ex-slave himself, he has ample opportunity to comment, but we generally only get tantalising glimpses of his life , and occasional mentions of his lost wife The venue for the next story is clearly signposted - Eboracum, modern-day York.
Sandra Gars ide-Neville
11 lH CENTURY
THE ELEPHANTS OF NORWICH
Edward Marston, Headline , 2000 , £17 .99 , hb . 308pp , ISBN 0-7472-7410-X
In this 11th Domesday mystery , Commissioners Delchard and Bret arrive in Norwich to settle a land dispute . When a landowner is robbed of two decorative gold elephants and his steward is found murdered, the sheriff calls on the Commissioners to investigate -a task not made easier by the hostility of the locals to Norman rule.
This series has now settled into a familiar rhythm. Delchard and Bret have an easy relationship with each other , and with their respective v.~ves , so conflict and tension arise from external problems , which makes for a cosy read rather than a roller-coaster ride . Red herrings , twists and clues keep the reader's interest until the satisfying denouement.
A slight criticism is motivation and characterisation For instance , Bret's wife fails to come to believable life
Although this novel can be read as a stand-alone, the reader might benefit by starting with the earlier books . S ara Wil son ISSUE 16. MA Y 200 1
121H CENTURY
GRIFFRI
Christopher Meredith, Seren, 1994 , £5 .95, pb , 253pp, ISBN 1-85411-130-2
This extraordinary novel takes historical fiction and runs with it as far as it can go It is a beautifully written story that does not simply recreate the life of a Medieval Welsh Prince's court - it also injects a philosophical slant that questions the very nature of history and examines the limits of our knowledge of the world and ourselves
Griffii , the title character, is a poet at the court of lorweth of Gwynllwg, a minor Welsh Prince . Sitting by a hearth, he narrates his life story to a Cistercian monk over two nights , separated by a gap of a dozen years. His story is sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic , and encompasses love, murder, rape and political violence
Christopher Meredith has a gift for recreating the sights and sounds of medieval Wales , but ensures that his story focuses just as much on characters , and particularly the innermost thoughts and emotions of the narrator Griffii finds himself reassessing events in his life that only begin to make sense after many years have passed We are also invited to question whether his perceived version of events can ever truly represent the reality of the history he describes.
This book is written in an earthy poetic style that captures both the beauty and the danger of the world in which Griffii lives Non-Welsh readers may find themselves struggling to pronounce the numerous character and place names in the novel, but this does not detract from the overall beauty of the book. This is an excellent novel that should find a broad appeal beyond readers of historical fiction
Christopher Lean
131H CENTURY
THE BONE PEDLAR
Sylvian Hamilton, Orion, £9.99 272pp pb
ISBN O 75283 260 3
'In the crypt of the Abbey Church at Hallowdene , the monks were boiling their Bishop .' This must be one of the best opening lines I have read It immediately grabs the readers ' attention and draws them in Richard Stracchan is a dealer in holy relics Asked by the prioress of Holystone Primy to find out what he can about a traveller who has died at their Priory in possession of a holy relic , Stracchan is pulled into a web of treachery and witchcraft The least of his
troubles is a plot against King John by the northern barons, the most , the abduction of his daughter by practitioners of the satanic arts.
The pace of this novel does not flag for a moment and the characterisation is excellent. Even those with walk on parts are skillfully drawn and fully rounded. The everyday historical detail feels real. and I doubt the general reader will be tripped up by the various small anachronisms that are scattered throughout the book. There are occasions when the author's joi de vivre in her writing goes over the top and credulity is strained as a result. King John is portrayed as a bluff, avuncular character who , on dropping a piece of holy relic on the floor , goes scrabbling after it , declaiming 'Oh bugger' In fact , the author is very fond of 'buggers,' 'sods' 'shits' 'craps' etc This habit seems to have filtered downwards from contemporary romantic comedy fiction and is now appearing with increasing regularity m historicals . Unfortunately I fmd the frequent use of modern slang constantly jerks me out of my belief that this is the Middle Ages While I am aware that a plethora of 'Ayes , nays' 'twas's and 'twouldn't's can be both false and distracting to the reader, equally distracting in my opinion are comments such as 'I wouldn 't want a piss-artist around,' or 'Bugger, I've got their sodding cold!' Surely a dealer in holy relics has a plethora of saints by whom to swear without resorting to overused modernisms! Die-hard whodunnit fans should be warned that the mystery is not a complex puzzle and does not appear to be the core of the novel. The straight medieval element is diluted by the supernatural and satanic goings on, not to mention a family group of cannibalistic 'yetis' which preys on passing travellers. I found the author's style rather reminiscent of comedy horror films such as An American Werewolf in London: the juxtaposition of humour and horror could lead some readers to feel slightly queasy The nearest author for comparison in my opinion is Judith Merkle Riley - although she is somewhat less ghoulish - and fans of her work may well enjoy this offering . Elizabeth Chadwick
141H CENTURY
THE BOY-BISHOP'S GLOVEMAKER
Michael Jecks , Headline , 2000 , £17 99 , hb , 331pp, ISBN 0-7472-7247-6
In their 10th mystery , Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock travel to Exeter at Christmastide 1321 to receive gloves from the cathedral chapter, presented to citizens it chooses to honour . They arrive to fmd the glovemaker robbed and murdered , an outlaw
convicted of theft swinging on the gallows. When a cleric expires during Mass , the cathedral's dean asks Baldwin and Simon to investigate Amid the Christmas preparations and the ensuing election of a chorister as bishop-for-a-day, the two men discover that many Exeter people are not what they seem. This entertaining medieval mystery is not simply solved. Meticulous period detail ~Teaths the obfuscated relationships and dealings of its characters. Michael Jecks wittily brings to life the day-to-day workings of a cathedral chapter. Although I had trouble early on distinguishing between the various churchmen, his ability · to make all characters interesting and human cured me of this handicap
Claire Morris Bernard
151H CENTURY
THE REEVE'S TALE
Margaret Frazer, Robert Hale 2001 , £17.99 , hb , 239pp , ISBN 0- 7090-6818-6
In this latest historical mystery featuring Dame Frevisse from St. Frideswide's nunnery, the plot involves the death of Mary Woderove's husband, followed rapidly by the murder of her lover. Further complications are caused by the accusation that St. Frideswide's steward is a runaway villein All this is set against the backdrop of a potentially deadly outbreak of ' mesels • amongst the village children
Although the mystery is fairly entertaining, the characters engaging and the historical colour convincing, the novel is a touch flat. To grip the reader at all levels a crime novel must be more than just puzzle and solution - there must also be tension , precious little of which is in evidence here The first chapter in particular suffers from lengthy explanations of village government , which threaten to bog the reader down in unnecessary detail.
While not a bad story, The Reeve's Tale leaves the reader mourning a missed opportunity.
Sara Wilson
FALSE AMBASSADOR
Christopher Harris , Dedalus, £8 99 , pb , ISBN 1 9033517 00 I
Starting in the year 1428 this novel follows the fortunes of Thomas Deerham after the defeat of the English army at Orleans. His desertion leads him to join a band of brigands plundering the remains of the war-torn French countryside and he learns the brutality and self-reliance needed to survive. With no prospect of looting enough to make himself wealthy in order to return home with some
Tiffi I-IlSTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
8
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
dignity , he uses his linguistic skills to secure employment with an ambassador travelling to England Once home , however, he mistakenly commits a terrible crime that after his release from prison leads him once again to resume his travels in search of redemption
Throughout his adventures Thomas endures defeat, humiliation, ridicule and slavery and the end of the book only serves to bring him round full circle with the same depressing prospects , albeit in a new setting I found this ending to the novel quite dissatisfying - you rather expect some sort of definitive close to the story , or at least some progression in his fortunes. Also , despite his friendship with a roguish chaplain at one point m the story. his pre-occupation with absolution in the second part seemed completely out of character.
The narrative was well written and readable but I found the story ultimately disappointing
Fleur Routley
1611-1 CENTURY
MADHUMALATIMANJHAN
Translated by Aditya Behl and Simon Weightman Oxford University Press, £7 99 , pb , 278pp , ISBN O l 9 28444037 I
Written in 1545 this mystical Indian Sufi romance in verse tells the story of a prince and his love for a princess , their separation and suffering and eventual reunion and happiness Such is the stuff of all romances It is full of symbolism and spirituality and the plot conforms to very precise symmetry , the explanation of which I found as fascinating as the story itself.
This is many-layered and the notes are essential! It is invidious to judge the language when it is a translation not the original , but I found it very uneven Often lyrical it was also frequently pedestrian , probably because the translators were concerned more with accuracy of meaning , not metre or rhyme
Like its HNS-reviewed predecessors Death of a Lady's Maid. Murder at the Rose , Blood on the Borders and Kill the Witch , this novel is based on the notebooks of Dr Simon Forman, a mid I 6th-century astrological physician As such, he was invited to attend Sir Walter Raleigh's School of the Night , a secret and highly suspect society which studied, among other things , necromancy.
Dr. Forman is plagued by a series of bizarre events which he can only attribute to
TI-IE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
the supernatural , but his logical mind rejects this. The story moves swiftly along to an unusual climax
The writing style is accessible. Ms Cook avoids both the 'Have at thee , villain,' school of language and the use of modem slang The period setting gives a strong feeling of being in Elizabethan London, and the characters are well drawn and lively
Those wishing to follow up this interesting man should read BBC History magazine (Vol 2 , no 2) and two recent biographies , one by Ms Cook herself*
Mai read McKerracher
[*Judith Cook, Dr Simon Forman (Chatto and Windus): Barbara Traister, The Notorious Astrological Physician ofLondon (University of Chicago Press) ]
171H CENTURY
A THEFf OF HONOUR
Aileen Armitage, Severn House, 2000 , £16 99 , hb , 205pp, ISBN O 7278 5558 I
In the early years of the Restoration Kate Varney is rescued from a Dublin riot by Colonel Thomas Blood, a smooth-tongued lrish adventurer with a talent for subtle intrigue Their paths cross again some years later when Kate leaves her native Ireland with a troupe of travelling players They journey to England where she becomes romantically involved with Colonel Blood ' s second-in-command, Thomas Hunt. The self-styled ' Coloner and Hunt are plarming their most audacious scheme , the theft of the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London The theft goes wrong and the two of them are captured But how·s this for a sequel ? Captain Blood demands a private interview with the King , Charles II as a consequence of which he is pardoned , his lands restored to him and is even granted a pension The reason for this has never been established and has puzzled historians ever since , but Aileen Armitage gives her own account of the interview between Blood and the King and offers an intriguing solution
The fictional accounts of Kate Varney ' s adventures in Ireland are interspersed with chapters on Blood·s actual life and exploits in England which come together neatly as the story progresses but I would have liked more background about Blood himself and the theft of the jewels. There ' s a good plot here which could have done with deeper treatment but it ' s an entertaining adventure nonetheless with uncomplicated and easily understood history
Maureen Barton 9
YEAR OF WONDERS
Geraldine Brooks Fourth Estate , £12.99 , hb
Proof copy supplied - no ISBN
This book, subtitled a Novel of the Plague, is set in the village of Eyam in Derbyshire in the year 1666 While inspired by the real events at Eyam, this is a highly fictionalised account and the author has taken her own slant on events and characters
The story is narrated by Anna , young widow and mother of two boys , who works at the rectory and recounts the devastation of the epidemic and its effects on the community Anna has her share of sorrow, but she also has a history and as we glimpse into her past life an increasingly compelling person emerges.
This is a gem of a book. The sense of time and place are believable, as are the beliefs and attitudes of the characters . In addition their motivation is utterly convincing and I found myself in tum appalled, intrigued and generally sucked in to their experiences The detail is meticulously researched with enlightening accounts of herbalism, sheep farming and tin mining amongst much else In an age where witches were believed in and the law largely administered locally, there are some truly vivid episodes
The author is a journalist and her professionalism shows through A highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys rural history and a gripping read
Janet Mary Tomson
A HANDFUL OF SEEDS
Elizabeth Daish, Robert Hale, 200 l , £ I 7 99 , hb , 27lpp, ISBN 0-7090-6763-l
I enjoy a well-written historical romance , as long as the background and physical details are accurate , as they are here. But I just couldn't enjoy this novel set in England, Holland and North Africa of 1666 An awful lot of detail was told at me , and I found the women, otherwise normal I 7th-century women in their piety and behaviour, tiresome. Adultery was committed in a most modem way. And spoilt Alice and Anna , the un-English sultry beauty who constantly complains , were not likeable Even the hero was irritating . Still , the medicinal partsherbs for sick soldiers in Tangiers , and their growth and treatment - kept me going , as did the hospital descriptions I lent the book to an avid romance reader who found it very good
But we both disliked the cover which showed a very modem , busty young woman with contemporary make-up and hairstyle wearing the usual 'no fashion period' revealing dress.
P.D.R Salmon
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
THE RISING SUN
Douglas Galbraith, Picador : 2000 , £9 99 , pb , 500pp, ISBN 0330372971
It is the 1690s Roderick Mackenzie has left the schoolroom with a letter of commendation in his pocket and made for Edinburgh. In due course he joins ' The Rising Sun ', one of four ships taking colonists to the New World During the voyage he chronicles the life aboard and continues to do so when they lands at Darien, on the north coast of Panama
This should have been a good story. There was enough action and incident to provide the reader with a highly entertaining book but the fact that it was told by Mackenzie through the pages of his journal, for me, made it ponderous and dull. It seemed to have the effect of dampening it all down and left it without that essential vital spark.
This one is not for me I'm afraid.
Marilyn Sherlock
AS MEAT LOVES SALT
Maria McCann, Orion, 2000 , £14.99 , hb , 53 lpp , ISBN O 00 2261944
In many ways, this is a very good book indeed, set in the dying throes of the English Civil War . The narrator, Jacob Cullen, is a gentleman ' s son but through family misfortune is now a servant. After violent events , he is forced to leave his position, separated from his new wife Caro , and, destitute , drafted into the New Model Army Here he meets Christopher Ferris , a Londoner of refinement and education, who takes him under his wing . After the siege of Basing House , described in all its horror, the two men leave the army and go to London , where Ferris ' s aunt lives An idealist, Ferris plans to set up a communal farm on common land near the capital, much as Winstanley and the Diggers did, but the experiment for various reasons is doomed to failure , as is the relationship between Cullen and Ferris
It is refreshing to read a book set in this period that examines the condition of the common people, servants , soldiers and the poor, and the portrayal of their lives has great power The author pulls no punches in her descriptions of the brutalities of military life , and the dreadful fate that awaits those who dare to challenge the conventional rules of society You do get a feeling that this is what it must have been like for so many, and her use of language is spot on - not archaic, yet giving a real sense of how people spoke But - and it's a big but - the main characters in the book are entirely unpleasant. They are deceitful , violent , spiteful and vindictive. The narrator in particular is someone that any sane person would cross the street to avoid, and the end of the book came as a relief, so horrific were his thoughts For that reason, much though I
Tiffi HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
admire the author ' s writing and research, it was not an enjoyable read , and I won't be picking it up again It ' s a shame that all too many ' literary ' authors seem to feel that their work won ' t be taken seriously if it contains people whose fate the reader can care about.
Pamela Belle
ASTRAEA
Jane Stevenson, Jonathan Cape , £15 99 , hb , 308pp, ISBN O224 06140 2
This is Jane Stevenson's third work of fiction and her first historical novel. It is a most impressive work ofliterary fiction - combining convincing and accurate historical detail , learned and cogently laid out intellectual argument and a compelling, moving narrative .
The book is set in the Netherlands of the 1630-40s and concerns the extraordinary love affair and clandestine marriage of Dr Pelagius to Elizabeth Stuart - daughter of James INIQueen of Bohemia, more popularly known as the Winter Queen Pelagius is a West African prince , sold to the Portuguese after suffering defeat in a tribal war, taken as a slave to Dutch Batavia and then brought over to the cold and alien Netherlands by his former owner, the botanist Dr Comrij. He uses his skills as a healer and counsellor and comes to the attention of Elizabeth
There is much detail on the botanical theories and knowledge of the day together with theological arguments and considerations. But these are never heavy-going, rather they help to get inside the concerns and thoughts of the mid 17th century Dutch, rather than just show what the characters say and do
This is the first of a planned historical trilogy - given that the book is dedicated, among others to Bradshaw and Ireton, and others of 'The Good Old Cause' one can hope that the English Civil War will be a subject for her subsequent fiction This is the work of a very talented writer and deserves to succeed. It is a splendid example of literary historical fiction.
The author has the gift essential to historical novelists : ability to bring the past to life. The story is written in a fluent style , with sparkling dialogue and clever characterisation
At first I was doubtful about the use of Mozart as a child, but this aspect of the book is handled well The story has plenty of pace , with mysterious ladies, several murders and a
delightful hero . Perhaps coincidence is stretched too far when Fairfax meets Cordelia after a lengthy separation, but this i~ a minor criticism. I noticed some repetition in the various subplots , as the tale of one unhappy marriage followed another. Were there no satisfactory relationships in the 18th century?
But this is an absorbing read Research has been extensive and I've seldom seen it used to better effect. The background is as interesting as the plot and anyone with an interest in history will enjoy it.
Margaret Crosland
THE GUARDSHIP
James Nelson, Corgi , 2001 , £5 99 , pb , 477pp , ISBN 0-552-14838-5
This is the first of a trilogy under the general title of Brethren of the Coast For once I heartily agree with the puff quoted from Publishers Weekly - 'Brilliant Readers will gladly be swept along by a wonderful plot.'
The Brethren of the Coast are , of course , pirates and they figure largely in this story of life in Virginia around Chesapeake Bay in the early years of the eighteenth century Thomas Marlow uses guile to obtain command of the Naval Guardship , which is stationed in the Bay to deter pirates from attacking the colony and its shipping He is determined to win the regard of the recently widowed Elizabeth Tinling Both wish to become respected members of the Williamsburg community but each have a hidden past which makes this difficult - the result is intrigue and mayhem as their secrets are gradually revealed.
This is not a book for the squeamishrealism and knowledge of the cruelty and depravity of pirates are one of the author's strong points , others being his intimate familiarity with tall ships , an appropriate vocabulary and a dry sense of humour
Highly recommended to those who will enjoy an unusual plot and an exciting story His website , for those interested , is at jamesnelson com
A first book by a new author (a retired Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy ) introducing a new late 18th-century Naval hero in the making. The publishers have gone to town over what they term the 'most exciting find since Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian'
They may well be right. Young Kydd, like Sharpe, begins his career in the lowest rankas a pressed man in the Navy. He at first rebels but , encouraged by an old seaman, determines to make the most of it. He ISSUE 16. MAY 200 1
discovers that he loves the ship on which he serves and thrills in learning how to help sail her We are treated to a fine evocation of life below decks and on watch, the plain sailing, the storms , the heat of action - and, of course, we meet the obligatory inept captain and ruthless officer and experience the brutality of punishment.
As Tom learns , so do we . Descriptions and explanations of tackle and seamanship are exhaustive and can slow the pace, but are convincing and absorbing Adventures and experiences harden the country lad and one begins to see the fine officer he's destined to become. Yet , on occasion, I felt that the hero behaved out of character and the captain's actions at the end did not convince me
Overall though, an excellent start to what promises to be an enjoyable series
Monica Maple
THE CLOUD MACHINERY
Christopher Whyte, Gollancz, 2000, £16 99, hb , 233pp, ISBN O575 07084 6 Carnival time in 18th century Venice A tiny , obscure theatre , that was forced to shut down when the proprietor was found brutally murdered , re-opens
The murder remains unsolved as do various other mysteries concerned as they are with dark magic - or is it pure evil ? And who are the two strange foreigners who seem very interested indeed in what secrets the little theatre may hide ? Whose are the footsteps heard in the theatre ' s attics and who is the beautiful red-haired girl who sits at the window singing so sweetly?
This novel is full of secrets and disguises and as complicated to unravel as the labyrinth of Venice ' s alleys and backwaters and as unfathomable as the dank fog that hangs over the city at this season. Stranger things begin to happen and get even stranger. Some very dark forces indeed are at work
You need to keep your wits about you as you read. Even then, you will find yourself up many a creek without a paddle chewing on red herrings a plenty Nothing is what it seems It is all a huge inconsequential romp , of course, but after a while I grew dissatisfied as Whyte either couldn ' t or wouldn ' t tie up the many loose ends I think even he lost the plot. Finally, when everything is done by magic , where does that leave human experience?
Here is another long-overdue reprint of a Baring-Gould classic tale of the Fenlands, a part of the country he immortalised in his novel Mehalah It is set in 1816 against the background of the riots when the labourers rebelled against the farmers for paying lower wages when the price of corn fell To Ely ' s Tawdry Fair comes the Cheap Jack in his gaily-decorated van with his daughter Zita When he dies she ends up in the house of Hezekiah Drownlands, van and all . Drownlands and neighbouring landowners the Runhams are bitter enemies and she finds herself in the middle of this quarrel when young Mark Runham starts courting her - but how can he be free to do so when he is also paying so much attention to the mill girl Kerenhappuch ?
The brooding villainous Drownlands with his tiger skin cloak, rioting labourers , comical town officials and some bizarre local customs (burning hats during a pub brawl for example) make up the rich tapestry of this fast-paced novel. Present on every page is the eerie drowned landscape of the Fens and plenty of information about this unique part of the country . Satire, comedy and tragedy combine to make this a Dickensian tale replete with memorable characters including another pair of Baring-Goulds tough heroines Aval able from : Praxis Books , Crossways Cottage, Walterstone , Herefordshire HR2 ODX.
Rachel A Hyde
SOLOMON'S SONG
Bryce Courtenay, Michael Joseph , 2000 , £17.99 , hb , 653 pp. Australian edition 1999 When I started reading Solomon's Song I had the feeling that I was missing something . It was only when I consulted the 'previous books by the author' that I realised this was the last in a trilogy and it was on page 26 l that I finally discovered what had caused the big rift in the Solomon famil y that generated this senes
The story starts promisingly with a headless corpse drifting into shore in Sydney Harbour in 1861. From the moment the corpse is wrongly identified by the next of kin, the story takes off at various tangents introducing us to numerous characters , many of whom, one assumes , have arrived in Australia via the convict ships A pretty hard set they were too , particularly the women but it is their ruthlessness that has helped them to prosper in the business world By the time this story
begins the famil y feud , which had its roots in London, has been carried forward to the next generation and shows every sign of reaching on to eternity
Once one can accept the constant use of the present tense in the narration, the prose in descriptions is often very good, though I found this to apply mainly to the latter section There is almost a Damon Runyonesque quality about this book. We have Mary Abacus , the London whore who became a high powered business woman running her own companies, Tommo and Hawk, her adopted twins , one a Negro , the other very involved with the Maoris Racial tensions play some part in the development of the plot which the sudden passage of years makes difficult to follow . Similarly, because the characters have had a life in previous books , there is little room for any development for most of them . And some are distinct stereotypes I found the section of the novel dealing with the Australian action against the Turks in the First World War very affecting As it stands, this is a 'hard read' If the author is new to you, I recommend that you start with The Potato Factory
Sheila Hardy
THE FAMILY ORCHARD
Nomi Eve, Little Brown, £12 .99, hb , 336pp ISBN O 316 85457 3
For review see US section, page 52
BLACK PRINCE
Elizabeth Gill , Coronet, 2000, £5 99, pb , 504pp , ISBN 0-340- 75092-8
The Black Prince mine dominates a County Durham village. The men depend on it for work, while the women cope with its physical and psychological demands.
Intricate and with many unexpected twists , the plot revolves round two men whose lives have been blighted from birth Joe, the pit-owner's son , is left as a baby when his drunken father throws his mother out to die in the snow Dryden, the result of rape , is given away to a harsh, bigoted couple
The characters are memorable , all of them having serious flaws , and Elizabeth Gill is not afraid to give them unpalatable choices . Nor does she shrink from realism This novel with a difference is an uncompromising portrayal of Victorian desire for public esteem and determination to keep up appearances in the eyes of the world This and casting out sinners are more important virtues than compassion and forgiveness .
Marina Oliver
ISSUE 16. MAY 200 1
THE BONE HUNTER
Tom Holland, Little Brown, £10 .99, pb , 370pp, ISBN 0 316 64819 I Lily Prescott, a pretty , self confident heiress , having achieved a betrothal to an English nobleman, is returning to New York in 1878 when she meets a very different sort of Englishman Captain William Dawkins is also crossing the Atlantic , driven by his obsession for the infant science of palaeontology : the study of rock strata and the fossils they contain A passionate maverick who has all but ruined his own reputation, it seems that Dawkins has been in correspondence with Lily's father , scientist Sheldon Prescott, who has hinted at a strange and remarkable find that may turn even the new ideas of Darwinian scientific thought on their head
New York in the aftermath of the Civil War is in a turmoil of newly acquired wealth and ex treme squalor. Murder, corruption and amoral behaviour are the norm Even eminent men of science, Professors Marsh and Cope, caught up in bitter and mutually destructive ri valry to achieve palaeontological superiority, will stoop to foul play Lily embarks on a journey west, back to the barely remembered land and skyscapes of her childhood where the seemingly inexhaustible treasury of dinosaurs offers temptations as great as those of the big city. Dawkins pursuit of the intrepid woman he longs to protect leads him, along with the professors , to the place of Sheldon Prescott's unique find : a place of old crimes and deceit.
This is an author entirely in control of his sensational material. A mystery which Professors Marsh and Cope, locked into their own vicious combat, really do not deserve to solve An adventure where the young New York socialite shows herself a true frontierswoman in courage and endurance. A chance for the Captain, her match in resourcefulness and self-sacrifice, to be warned by the Professor' ruinously obsessive example and dare to follow a course leading him to the place where Lily believes he deserves to be A love story told with a delicacy rare in modern fiction
Nancy Henshaw
THE SEASONS WILL PASS
Audrey Howard, Hodder & Stoughton 200 I , £ 16. 99, hb , 470pp , ISBN 0-340-71813-7 In 1847, Clare Hanrehan arrives in Liverpool from Ireland looking for work in the Lancashire cotton mills Her journey ends in a Pennine village where two men from very different backgrounds enter her life Her struggle to choose between them takes up most of this classic 'rags to riches' tale
Audrey Howard gives a good account of the contrast between the sometimes wild Pennine moors and I 9th-century Manchester
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
and its importance to the cotton trade. The characters are less convincing : Clare's meteoric rise and her superhuman capacity for work are far-fetched , as are the working-class males content with one pint of ale a week as their only social outlet. Moving the plot by convenient deaths and flowery dialogue was irritating, as was the misspelling of some placenames.
The award-winning author has a devoted following, but this novel is , in my opinion, not the bestseller the cover pronounces it to be Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
OUT OF IRELAND
Christopher Koch, Vintage , £7 .99 , pb , 706pp
ISBN 0099286971
Young Ireland was an Irish nationalist movement formed by young Protestant radicals in the 1840s. Its rising in 1848 was a failure and its leader was transported to Australia. The author uses this fact as a starting point for this huge and mesmerising novel , which forms half of a double novel , under the overall title Beware of th e Past
His hero , Robert Devereux, is an Irish landless gentleman and journalist, leader of the Young Ireland movement. Arrested and tried , he 1s sentenced to 14 years transportation He is , however, treated as a political prisoner, feared by the English authorities ; he might continue to forment rebellion, but he is seen in Ireland and America as a hero and martyr After a plot is discovered to have him rescued from Bermuda, he is transferred to Van Dieman's Land, where several other members of Young Ireland have already been sent.
The book is written in the form of a journal and it is enthralling from page one
Van Dieman's Land is a strange place where respectable settlers live side by side with brutality ; where whalers come to trade ; where the horse and carriage is the norm (Europe has the train) ; and any infringement of the convicts' ticket-of-leave has them back in fetters doing hard labour Everyone is spying on everyone else too , as the whole island is a prison state Gradually Robert's unconscious and in-bred prejudices begin to break down He becomes partner with a ticket-of-leave man in buying and running a hop farm and falls in love with a young Irish convict woman
This is a superb novel , with layer upon layer of incident ; it is never possible to guess what will happen next. The author was born and raised in Tasmania (previously Van Dieman's Land) and all his forbears arrived in Australia in the 1840s, among them a Prussian architect, an English merchant sea captain and a young Irish woman transported as a convict. This first-hand knowledge of place and time lifts
this novel into living history Highly recommended
Val Whitmarsh
MAD HATIER'S HOLIDAY
Peter Lovesey , Allison & Busby, £6 99 , pb , l 92pp ISBN 0 7490 0499 I
One of the best aspects of Peter Lovesey's Sergeant Cribb novels is that each uses the background of a favourite Victorian Social activity and this reissue of Mad Hatter's Holiday is no exception This time the seaside holiday at Brighton comes under the spotlight. The plot centres of Albert Moscrop , binocular enthusiast, who becomes embroiled in a murder mystery centring on the well-to-do Prothero family After the discovery of a severed hand in the Alligator and Crocodile Cavern at the Aquarium he sets out to assist Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackery in identifying he victim and tracking down the murderer The plot rattles on at a great pace taking many twists and turns before its wholly satisfying conclusion
Lovesey provides us with a complete picture of the Victorian seaside - bathing machines , pleasure boats , the promenade, The Grand Hotel and Brill's Gentlemen's Swimming Baths all make their appearances. Cribb is at his amusing and ingenious best , while Moscrop is the epitome of the Victorian amateur scientist. This really is a darned good read.
Sara Wilson
KILLIGREW AND THE GOLDEN DRAGON
Jonathan Lunn , Headline , 2001 , £17 99 , hb , 343pp, ISBN 0-7472-7439-8
Reviewing Killigrew's first adventure (Issue 13), I expressed the hope that his creator would make him a more compelling hero Killigrew has now become a rather weak-minded quasi-James Bond - of the fanciful films upon which Lunn was reputedly brought up.
His paddle-sloop HMS Tisiphone is based at Hong Kong, fighting pirates in the China Seas He rescues an Indian trader's daughter from the most notorious , whom he captures . He falls in love with the girl and becomes involved with opium-smuggling Triads and the power-struggle between Chinese dynasties Can he prevent a second opium war ?
Killigrew scarcely recovers from one escapade before becoming involved in another At one point, from being barely able to stand he is , within moments , capable of decisive and athletic action His hairsbreadth escapes from death seem contrived or impossible. Every blow of the hand-to-hand fights is faithfully recorded: repetition breeds boredom, not excitement.
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
Lriadequate proof reading caused me some hilarity : 'Killigrew worked up a ladder before applying it to his face and then .jotned the rest of the officers for breakfast in the washroom.'
Mr . Lwm's research is excellent and, despite the criticisms, I enjoyed much of the book.
Monica Maple
A REGIMENTAL AFFAIR,
Allan Mallinson., Bantam Press , 2001 , £16.99 , hb , 323 pp, ISBN 0593 043758
This is the third instalment of the 6th Light Dragoons The year is 1817 and we find him returned from India as brevet Major to an England in turmoil. The task of policing falls increasingly to the cavalry as the country , tottering under the burdens of parliamentary and economic reform, borders on rebellion
Allan Mallinson writes well and effortlessly across fields of conflict which cover a vast panorama from chasing smugglers in Brighton to Luddite violence in the English Midlands and ending finally and disastrously with a border conflict in the snows of Canada in the aftermath of war with the United States As a serving cavalry officer, Brigadier Mallinson is well able to show the nature of horsed warfare , but at times I found the cavalry jargon overwhelming and would have been grateful for a glossary There is a feeling of Jane Austen in the scenes of domestic life , as the dialogue follows the same patterns of speech. The novel too frequently refers back to events which happened in the earlier books of the series and are not adequately explained. This may be a device to encourage readers to 'start at the beginning'however, it does not help this book to stand entirely on its own , which is a pity. I found Mathew Hervey a little wooden. Perhaps I did not meet him early enough in his adventures , but, having said that , I did enjoy the story.
Gwen Sly
CAST A LONG SHADOW/fWO FARMS/POLSINNEY HARBOUR
Mary Pearce, Warner , £6.99, pb , 660 pp , (Omnibus edition of three stories)
ISBN0751531316
On receiving this book my heart sank somewhat at the prospect of reading three novels by an author I did not know. 1n the event, from the opening paragraph of the first story , I knew that here was a writer who was not run of the mill and who captured instantly the feel of time and place.
Two of the novels are set on farms and the third in a Cornish fishing village The action in all three takes place in 19th century rural England The main male characters are craftsmen and the women are strong ,
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
self-respecting and independent. hi each case Pearce creates an original scenario with believable characters , made t!1e more human by their failings
I was also particularly impressed by the easy way in which she fed into each tale details of the crafts involved • miller, blacksmith, farmer , fisherman This never intruded but served to make each tale authentic There are moments of great drama and mounting tension and I found it easy to move from one story to the next. It is interesting to observe certain themes emerging - sibling jealousy, imperfect relationships between parent and child, growing love between often unlikely partners , but in every case it is handled afresh and makes for good, escapist reading .
Janet Mary Tomson
FROM CHINA WITH LOVE
Margaret Pemberton, Severn House, 2000 , £17 99 , hb , 192pp ISBN 0-7278-5576-X
This is a reprint of a 1987 novel published under the pseudonym of Carris Carlyle. Set against the Boxer rebellion it tells of an English girl , Olivia, caught up in the horror of siege, and the charismatic English doctor who was ostracised for marrying a Chinese wife Lewis Sinclair (not Adam Ross as in the blurb!) scorns those of the diplomatic community who are self-seeking, and cares more for the Chinese he lives amongst.
Initially I felt overwhelmed by the deluge of historical information., but once the action started, and it was fast-paced and horrific , I enjoyed the story It is more than a light romance, and readers who enjoy the author's longer books will not be disappointed in this one My only reservations are for the rather contrived manner in which Olivia fails to discover the truth about Lewis , and the way they seem to meet accidentally so often in what must have been a horrendously crowded city But these are quibbles , it's a good read.
Marina Oliver
RESURRECTION ROW
Anne Perry, HarperCollins , 2001 (first published in USA 1981), £5 99. , pb , 216 pp, ISBN O 00 651123 6
' It was certainly a quiet affair ; one does not make much nf hnryin~ " !"'r<:nn " <:l':C.nnn time ' Dank graveyards , bitter cold fog in the streets of London., an aristocratic corpse driving a hansom cab : these are the images evoked by an author well-practised in conveying the atmosphere of Victorian England.
1n this aptly-named novel , it is Inspector Thomas Pitt ' s responsibility to discover why Lord Augustus Fitzroy-Hammond ' s body refuses to stay buried 1n the course of his
investigations , he meets again the redoubtable Vespasia, Lady Cumming-Gould, a relative by marriage previously involved i..'1 the Paragon Waik outrage , Alicia, young widow of the peer - a prime suspect , here - and her friend , the charming Dominic Corde , whom Charlotte Pitt once not-so-secretly admired
Anne Perry displays a fluent , readable style and this reissued novel in the Inspector Pitt series may bring her many more admirers The author sustains the pace and creates enough interest to make the reader eager to discover the identity of the perpetrator and motive for the crimes
As a comparative newcomer to the books , I wondered whether men so freely visited ladies when their men-folk were not present. Alicia ' s discussing the possibility of a second marriage, to a man known to be her admirer, merely five weeks after being widowed, also seems an unlikely topic of conversation, especially with her unapproachable mother-in-law
It may , however, be this slightly anachronistic. quality which makes the books that much more accessible to keen followers of Inspector Pitt
Marian Hussenbux
SLAVES AND OBSESSION
Anne Perry, Headline, 2000, £17 99 , hb , 282 pp , ISBN 0-7472-6282-9
This is the 11th in Perry's strongest series, featuring William and Hester Monk Across the Atlantic , ominous rumblings are about to explode into Civil War. But in London the Monks enjoy a dinner party chez Daniel Alberton, an arms dealer who, suspecting blackmail, wants Monk to investigate This is the least of Daniel's troubles. His daughter is in love with a Union officer and after her father refuses to sell him guns , the pair flee to America . When Daniel is murdered, the runaway lovers are suspected
Perry excels at describing Victorian Britain from hovel to palace and now adds a vivid picture of America at the start of the Civil War The story has faults , mainly the strangely harmonious married life of the Monks , who spent the previous novels sparring. And the Albertons indulge in some very un-Victorian dinner party conversation, whill': thl':ir nmwhtl':I" i<: hrn71':nlv nnt<:nnkl':n_. But it's an impressive tale, well plotted and full of surprises
Rachel A Hyde
LION IN THE VALLEY
Elizabeth Peters , Robinson, 2001 , £6 99 , pb , 320pp ISBN l-84119-216-3
This is the fourth of the highly entertaining Amelia Peabody Emerson books This book takes place in 1895-96 and the Emersons , ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
accompanied by their precocious son Ramses aged eight are on an expedition to •dig the burial chamber of the Black Pyramid at Dahshoor However, trouble seems to follow this formidable family around. It starts with the attempted abduction of Ramses by moonlight, followed by the death of one of the guests at their hotel in Cairo and later the appearance of a damsel in distress at the site of their excavation It takes another death and the abduction of Amelia before the mystery is solved
I find these stories extremely entertaining. The Emerson family seem to stride through the world in their own eccentric fashion totally oblivious to the fact that they are anything unusual. A good escapist read and a good laugh
Mary Tucker
THE PROBLEM OF THE EVIL EDITOR
Roberta Rogow , Robert Hale , 2001 , £17 99, hb , 266pp , ISBN 0-7090-6843-3
Using real-life characters as amateur detectives rarely makes a credible story In this third in a whodunit series , the sleuths are Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and Arthur Conan Doyle. So far so dubious , as in real life they never even met.
The first murder - of a magazine editorcoincides with the 1886 Trafalgar Square Riots , which mask the second - that of the magazine's chief writer. The police on the case are apparently complete imbeciles, so it's up to Dodgson and Doyle
Accounts of the riots are convincing, but the author falls into the trap of including practically every member of contemporary literati Oscar Wilde features largely; othersBeatrix Potter, Stevenson, Shaw, Whistlerwander in and out of the story without good reason The thin plot gets lost amongst snippets of celebrities' lives that slow the pace and overshadow the investigation .
Not enough bite and the mystery was too easy to solve
Celia Ellis
THE DEVEREAUX INHERITANCE
Norman Russell , Robert Hale , 2000, £17.99 , hb , 238pp, ISBN 0-7090-6766-6
When, first , a skeleton is discovered near the gates of Walton Manor, then the present owner, Sir Edward Devereaux is found murdered, Detective Inspector Saul Jackson and Sergeant Bottomley find themselves entangled in a web of avarice and insanity.
The finger of suspicion falls on Sir Edward's two sons , studious Philip and the debonair man-about-town, Frank, and it takes all the investigators' combined skills to hack their way through the miasma of deceit.
The Devereaux Inheritance is a gothic Victorian melodramatic novel written in the style of the original authors of that genre. Thelma Cox
HONOUR THE DEAD
Steven Saylor, Constable, 2001 , £16 99, hb , 438pp , ISBN 1-84119-227-9
First published in 2000 in the USA as A Twist at the End this is Saylor's first departure from his Roma sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder
Taking the stories of a series of murders of Negro servant girls which were perpetrated in Austin, Tex-as in 1885 for which no one was ever successfully convicted, Saylor constructs a credible account of the events and characters, both fictional and real , involved in the drama . Predating Jack the Ripper by two years , these are probably the first recorded serial murders
Steven Saylor is a dedicated researcher and his account of these largely forgotten atrocities is vivid and compelling but I found the constant flashbacks slowed the pace unnecessarily. Verbatim accounts of the Senate Bill 79 could have been omitted. The 'twist at the end' is not that much of a twist , but, as a historical whodunit it works. All the clues are there and it is a good story if you have the patience to stick with it.
Ann Oughton
THE SAVAGE LORD GRIFFIN
Joan Smith, Robert Hale , 2001 , £16 99 , hb , 188 pp , ISBN 0-7090-6572-8
Lord Griffin, away in the Brazilian jungle so long that everybody thought he had died, is back - brown as a native , sporting an earring, a large spear and a monkey His fiancee , the beautiful if silly, timid Myra is about to be married to the equally wimpish but rich Duke of Dunsmore, and Griffin still madly in love with her, enlists the help of her younger sister, now all grown up - and very much in love with him. Will he find this out before he makes a fool of himself with the highly unsuitable Myra or the scheming Lady Sara?
This is an entertaining Regency ·with more descriptions of a London Season . than some The plot is very standard, populated by stock characters , with nothing to make it stand out. But if you enjoy this frothy , fun and frivolous fare , dive in and wallow
Rachel A Hyde
SARAH'S FORTUNE
Mary Street, Robert Hale, 2001 , £17 99 , hb , 220pp, ISBN 0-7090-6867-0
Sarah Holroyd's face is her only fortune James Foster is wealthy but crippled and ill-favoured, so all believe that Sarah has only mercenary reasons for marrying him . Her
cousin is furious , insisting he aimed to marry her himself all along - but if he loves her why has this come out of the blue? Could he have another reason for pressing his suit?
I particularly enjoyed the way Mary Street shows that a good romance doesn't need a tailor's dummy of a hero As with many modem Regencies , descriptions of a London Season and what it was like to live in a great country house fall very short of the period detail of Georgette Heyer. But it's the story and romance that count and bravo for introducing a physically less-than-perfect hero who still engages our attention.
Rachel A Hyde
HOLMES AND WATSON
June Thomson Allison & Busby, £6 99, pb , 288pp , ISBN O 7490 0477 0
This book won the Special Sherlock Award in March 200 l as a book which in some way illuminates the world of Sherlock Holmes There is a whole industry , it seems , of books about the most famous detective of them all This is a biography, academic in tone , and meticulously researched, using both the original novels and real historical facts . I did occasionally become confused, having to remind myself that they were fictional characters being discussed and closely analysed . That is normal, I imagine, if the present occupants of 2218 Baker Street receive several letters a week asking for Holmes' assistance .
I suspect one needs to be a real aficionado, familiar with all the stories, to get full value from this very detailed and highly knowledgeable account. Apart from rather a lot of cross-references which produced repetition, however, it was an intriguing idea and fascinating to read I wonder when we shall have similar 'biographies' of Miss Marple, for instance
Joanna Trollope won the Romantic Novelists' Association's Award in 1980 for Parson Harding's Daughter Now her earlier novels are being reissued with the pseudonym Caroline Harvey, one she used for other books in the 1980s
This novel , originally published in 1986, spans a period of seventy years from 1870 Despite the preeminence of Buscombe Park, the 'place', the scene ranges widely , from India, Kenya, Vienna and Spain, Boer War and WWs l and 2. The ownership of the house passes from generation to generation, through the different branches of the family,
Tiffi HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
and the novel focusses on how each regards and treats the house and estate. Some love it, others hate or resent it, but all are influenced by it, and most return to it for peace and consolation.
The characters move in and out of the story, in a necessarily brief chronicle of their lives. In this kaleidoscopic tapestry no one individual plays a dominant role. It is a tour de force, but I would have preferred a trilogy where more attention could have been given to the people who had such enduring influences over the house. And at times I felt the need for a family tree to help me sort them all out!
Marina Oliver
HERMES IN PARIS
Peter Vansittart, Peter Owen, 2000, £16.50, hb, 234pp, ISBN O 7206 1106 7. In the first issue of Solander, I outlined why Peter Vansittart's work deserves our attention. He writes some of the most original, supple, coruscatingly erudite fiction available, usually drawing upon arcane historical eras to enact his unillusioned meditations upon fate and chance. Hermes in Paris depicts the Hellenic god of magic, messages, thieves and trickery as a jaded dandy in the fakely gorgeous city of the Second Empire, adorned with a scarlet cravat, and a serpent-entwined cane. The god is slyly ubiquitous, amusing himself at mortal antics, tipping a peacock's feather into the great scales of events to unbalance them just sufficiently to stimulate disorder and change, his preferred state. He pervades the opulent and operatic city like a mood, a caprice, a fleet-footed rumour. He observes, and guides, not always to their advantage, a radical columnist who frequents the old, still unboulevarded underworld of the city. and a young schoolboy.
Peter Vansittart's work has always been laced with his fascination for what others have believed, and is riddled with images from mythology, apocrypha, folk-magic and the secret arts. Here, he goes a little further. Hermes is depicted as both flaneur in human form and as shape-shifting deity, a subtle and swift spirit that achieves its ends by the most delicate and unassuming of interventions. There is also much, in Vansittart's novel, of the world of cafe conspiracies, backstreet freak-shows, slum sorcery and revolutionary broadsides which characterised the underside of the baroque cosmopolis that was Paris, just before it was brought down by the disastrous war with Prussia. It is implied this fall was helped along by a delicate touch from the hand of Hermes, god of chance, god of change. If you seek for a form of historical fiction that is distinctive, deeply-crafted, and elegantly wise, do try this work. The quicksilver virtuosity of Peter Vansittart's novel pro~es him to be a
TI-IE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
fine votary of that immortal who was also the patron-god of high arcane literature.
Mark Valentine
CRY OF THE CURLEW
Peter Watt, Corgi Books, 2000, £6.99, pb. 702 pp, ISBN 055214794 X.
It would appear that Australia in the mid 19th century has become the new American Western. Instead of cowboys battling it out against Native Americans with the Cavalry rushing to the rescue, we have the hard-nosed settler, usually of English origin, riding roughshod over the Aboriginal population. Cry of the Curlew is not for the faint hearted. The harsh opening with its horrifying description of a 'dispersal' - an example of ethnic cleansing - is brilliantly achieved. And the reader goes on reading in the hope that retribution will be meted out in the end, especially to the vile Mort.
This is a mystical novel with the dreamlike quality that is evoked of life among the Native Australians. It is also a saga of two families whose lives I found myself totally involved with its realism, caring very much for the members of the Duffy family who always seemed to be at the receiving end of whatever the rich Macintoshes threw at them. Then alas, the mood changes again, so much so that at one point I began to wonder if the author's name covered two people. The love story element at times verges on slushy romance and detracts from the power of the rest of the novel. And powerful it is. It makes the reader stop to think and consider his own attitude to the questions of race and religion; politics and business; human relationships. A good long read.
Sheila Hardy.
HEARTSONG
James Welch, Canongate 2001, £10.99, pb, 440pp ISBN 1-84195-133-1
See Issue 13 US/Canada Section (reviewed as Heartsong ofCharging Elk)
DR MORTIMER AND THE BARKING
MAN MYSTERY
Gerard Williams, Constable Crime, 2001, £16.99. hb, 270pp, ISBN O 84119 316 X This is the second in a series of novels featuring James Mortimer - the physician who left his stick behind in the rooms of Sherlock Holmes in the Baskerville Case. He and his new wife Violet are no mean sleuths themselves when necessity calls for it and call it does.
A Russian politician, General Ostyankin, has been brutally murdered in a brothel and the authorities are determined that a young revolutionary, Solomon Solomons, will hang for the crime. The Mortimers are convinced of
his innocence and decide to investigate. And so ensues a thoroughly entertaining romp through Victorian Whitechapel, one that encompasses politics, child prostitution, medical science and espionage.
The Mortimers are an engaging couple, endearingly absent-minded and fallible. The plot is stuffed full with red herrings, action and tension. Victorian London is realised in authentic and colourful detail. In fact the only thing that stops this novel from being top of the league is the tendency for its dialogue to sound stilted and too slavishly Holmesian and this sits uncomfortably beside more modern sounding prose passages. Also the Cockney dialect and spelling could be used more sparingly. That aside this looks to be a promising series of crime novels.
Sara Wilson
201H CENTURY
LOST GEOGRAPHY
Charlotte Bacon, Harper Collins, 2000, £6.99, pb, 260pp, ISBN O 00 651492 8
What makes some people wander far from their origins whilst others stay in the same place all their lives? Is it in the genes or does a a sense of not belonging create a restless soul? This is the theme of this fine novel which begins in 1935 when Davis Campbell, a younf Scottish fisherman, arrives ill with fever in the Canadian plains and marries local farmer's daughter, Margaret Evans.
The novel follows their lives, then that of their daughter, Hilda who moves to Toronto and her daughter Danielle who marries Osman and settles with him in Paris. Osman himself struggles with his English and Turkish heritage and after his wife· s death he and his children are left to ponder their ethnic inheritence whilst his sense of displacement overwhelms him.
Although tragedies occur. this is not a novel of action, more of feeling. It begins splendidly with a sharp evocation of the tough life of the Canadian prairies. However, I felt it lost its way after a while and by the time we came to Osman and his two children, it was altogether a different novel. The writing however is splendily assured and brilliantly sums up the restlessness of the 20th century.
Recommended if you prefer your history to be about people rather than events.
This is a novel of India. The main story moves between 1937 and 1947 and tells of the lives of two Punjabi Indian women in the time of the British Raj and up to Independence Sardarj i, their husband, is an engineer who works for the British rulers He has been to England for training and spends his time trying to ape the British He is however Indian enough to expect implicit obedience from his wives and the book explains in chilling detail the horrifying position of women in India, where the birth of a girl is an occasion of sadness and a widow or single woman is a pitiful object of charity if she is lucky and beggary if not. The progress of the nation towards independence is told mainly through the eyes of the two women and their husband and the tragedy of the religious bloodshed which followed is graphically described
I found this book difficult to get into at the start but as I caught onto the plot it became more and more engrossing and I wanted to know about these people and their lives and I felt for the women in their struggles against what really was imprisonment of a sort The question of the rights and wrongs of colonialism is a very thorny one but I felt that reading this book from the point of view of the Indian perhaps gi ves one a fresh angle on the history of the times and in some cases teaches a very salutary lesson
Mary Tucker
THE SEASON
Charlotte Bingham Bantam, 2001. pb , 524 pp ISBN O 553 81275 0 Simultaneously published in Great Britain by Doubleday This novel chronicles the coming-out of those upper-class fillies in 1913 The golden days of the Edwardian London Season are already over. The Titanic 's been and gone . The Americans are snatching up the best fellas and remember this is before Mrs Simpson breaks in on the scene Marrying your 'gel' off to a nobleman is a life-changing career. And the likes of drop-dead gorgeous Daisy, Countess of Evesham, former darling of the dead King, have no time for Mrs Pankhurst and her shenanigans Everything should be possible by the use of charm.
Yet even Daisy has her work cut out for her when she's persuaded - purely through financial necessity - to launch an American heiress on the scene Had the 'gel' been brought up by an English nanny, she would have been placed on a diet of gin to stunt her growth Alas , Sarah Hartley Lambert is too tall for most of the aristocrats , many of whom are fated to die on the battlefields of France
THE IBSTORICAL NOVELS REVIE W
1 ne competition between this Season's debutantes is fierce Daisy's rivals , Portia and Emily, have daughters to launch. There's a very eligible young Duke up for grabs. So let battle commence.
This is a smashing novel , full of amusing old wives' tales and almost forgotten anecdotes . The period is sufficiently far removed for us to be able to have a good laugh at the marriage-brokering business From a more sentimental point of view it captures the last great days of finding a good catch and even more absurdly of trying to attain an eighteen inch waist. The bitching and frippery aside, the reader still wishes 'the gels' the best ofluck in finding happiness.
Sarah Crabtree
FORGET-ME-NOT
Emma Blair Little Brown £9.99 , hb , ISBN O 316 85621 5
Emma Blair is the pseudonym of a man - and in this saga of love and the Great War this fact is evident.
It is the story of Tim , a cub reporter on a local Torquay newspaper , who falls in love with Katherine, the young daughter of a wealthy businessman, Jeremiah Coates and his wife Ruth Tim's widowed mother runs a boarding house in the seaside town An exotic and rather tragic actress , Elyse , comes to stay while appearing for the season at the new Pavilion Theatre Three romances blossom before war is declared and everyone's life is changed
Tim becomes a pilot in the RFC and Katherine a VAD nurse The types of flying machines Tim flies are authentic but the author ignores the facts that at that time aircraft did not have self-starters or oxygen masks and that it is extremely cold and the air is thin at altitude Although specific period artefacts i.e. motorcycles , cars , aircraft etc are described, a true sense of the realities of the period is often lacking Two ex pressions recur : 'Very much so' is said or thought by everyone at some time and can appear on several pages running ; 'that would be nice' is said by anyone offered refreshment.
The plot holds few surprises apart from a touch of the paranormal at the end The writing is workmanlike The chapters are divided into short sections , most of which end in a trite one-liner, e.g 'She began repairing her make-up' Characterisation is adequate and the prose is easy to read . This will please his fans and those who enjoy a romantic saga
Bradshaw begins with an incest scene that most writers would keep as a shameful secret to be revealed at some dramatic point in the novel. But then, Bradshaw isn't most writers It's Sunderland in the 1900s and Michael and Polly grow up loving each other, neither of them realising that a terrible secret makes their love a forbidden one When the blow falls , tragedy is heaped upon tragedy and Polly has to struggle on alone, believing she may never find happiness
At first glance this would not seem a remarkable plot, but what has been left undone in Saga fiction? All published writers have skill and creativity, but a few have more It's called magic I'm beginning to believe Bradshaw has it!
Linda Sole
THE ELEMENT OF WATER
Stevie Davies, The Women's Press , £9 99 , pb , 248 pp , ISBN O 7043 4705 9. The genre is difficult to classify. It is both a love story and a tale about coping with memory and morality . In 1945 , German soldiers and sailors dump their uniforms and sometimes themselves into Lake Pion Some wait for the right moment , ready to surrender to the advancing British whilst avoiding the suspicious gangs of SS . Michael Quantz is a survivor who has not been able to dump his feelings of guilt with his naval uniform. Thirteen years later the naval base is a residential British school. Quantz is now a music teacher at the school. He is unnerved when a new young teacher, 'Miss Dahl' arrives from Wales. The story develops with two themes One centres on her naive enquiries into the harsh treatment of children by both the German and British staff and much to her amaz.ement by the other children as well. As she is the only British member of staff who is a fluent German speaker she challenges some of the German staff about their treatment of particular children Some of their long suppressed answers lead her to suspect that both they and she may have dark connections to the war
The other theme centres on Quantz and how he deals with his guilt which has surfaced with her arrival. He had impotently witnessed atrocities - a nightmare made worse by seeing them carried out with relish by a former close friend
For me the period setting feels right both for 1945 (Quantz has flashbacks throughout the story) and for 1958 . I felt involved with the plot. I wanted to find out what would happen to both Quantz and the young woman They remam superficially connected
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
throughout the story and yet share a common humanity, the one oppressed by terrible experience and the other about to discover it.
Stevie Davies makes the wartime Nazis frightening in i958 by the simpie expedient of giving them common lives. Truly as Miss Dahl quotes, ;we are them and they are us;. I found it to be a very disturbing book. Highly recommended.
Paul F Brunyee
IN THE BLUE HOUSE
Meaghan Delahunt, Bloomsbury, 200 I. £16.99, hb, 304pp. ISBN 0-7475-5236-3
The Blue House -Casa Azul- was Trotsky's last residence in Mexico where he was eventually murdered in 1940 by a GPU agent. The novel centers on the impressive figure of the ageing revolutionary in exile, charting his life through a multiple voice narrative and continuous time shifts. It often reads like a successions of snapshots: This can make the story feel fairly static as well as disjointed: I was conscious of looking at an album and admiring the portraits, rather than being absorbed by a drama. The writing can also be self-conscious, with too many sentences without verbs and elliptic repetitions in italics.
However this technique succeeds in keeping intact the mystery of Trotsky and Stalin. I liked the intelligence with which they were approached, leaving them at some times to speak their own words, as with Trotsky's own writings. This is overall a stimulating read that engages more and more as it goes, until it builds up the climate of passion and intellectual violence of the first part of the twentieth century. Some voices linger in the mind, Stalin's wife, Trotsky's wife, whose lives are both crushed by the historical battle their husbands are fighting. It is also a well-researched, serious work on communism from Russia to Spain to America, with many true anecdotes, one feels, such as Trotsky's fondness for rabbits or Stalin's first betrayal of schoolfriends in the seminary. They contribute to the reader's sense of satisfaction at having learned something.
Dominique Nightingale
THE OFFICERS' WARD
Marc Dugain, Phoenix House 2000 (first published in France in 1998 as 'La Chambre des Officiers'), hb, £16.99, 134pp ISBN 1-86159-176-4
The novel starts in 1914 when Adrien, a young French lieutenant is looking forward to what should be a short sharp war against the Germans. On his first day of service he is hit by mortar fire and the centre of his face is destroyed. Most of the action in the novel takes place in the officers· ward of the title and relates Adrien's friendship with two men
TI-IE HISTOR1CAL NOVELS REVIEW
and a woman who have aiso been disfigured as he struggles to come to terms with his injury.
With such a powerful subject The Officers' Ward should have been excellent but unfortunateiy it isn ·1 and I am not sure whether I should be blaming the French author or his translator. The most successful scenes in the novel are those describing Adrien's initiai reaction to his maiming which had me thinking 'what if it was me?'. Unfortunately from this point on the novel failed to live up to its early promise.
The simplest reason for this is that the book is too short (134 pages in fairly large type). Adrien's friendship with his fellow patients, the crux of the book, is not detailed enough
After the war ends Adrien and his friends have to somehow return to normal life. Dugain (and here he cannot hide behind bad translating) now wastes what could have been an even more fascinating story than the hospital section. In the space of the last ten pages Dugain skims through the marriages of the three men and their lives as memories of the war fade and yesterday's heroes become little more than freaks. The novel ends in 1946 after a brief excursion into the Second World War and antisemitism (Weil, one of Adrien's friends, is Jewish).
In its favour The Officers' Ward is extremely accessible to read and there are moments of deep poignancy. There is a great story hidden within its pages but it is given no time to realise itself and the book is ultimately a disappointment.
Andrew Zigmond
FROM A PAST LIFE •
Penny Faith, Flame, 2000, £I0.00, pb, 323pp, ISBN 0-340-72842-6
With the subtitle 'A Modem Ghost Story', this novel does not overtly promote itself as historical fiction. However, with its dual storyline, set both in the 1920s and the present day, it explores the bonds between present and past in an intriguing and imaginative way.
The novel revolves around two women. Rachael is a First World War widow who embarks on an obsessive sexual relationship with a disturbed younger man who falls in love with her. Rachel is happily married to Brendan but becomes increasingly consumed by the idea that she is somehow responsible for the hole in her baby's heart. Rachael and Rachel are born seven decades apart, but, as the novel unfolds, we discover that their lives are fundamentally connected.
Penny Faith's second novel draws you in from its very first page. It is a vividly realised and hauntingly powerful ghost story that also proves to be a fascinating study of the unconscious mind. Her writing style is
immenseiy readabie and she successtu.Uy manages to juggle two separate story strands while maintaining a satisfying pace. Although not a historical novel in the strictest sense, this story is a reai page-turner that shouid enthrall every reader.
Christopher Lean
MOROCCO
David Flusfeder, Fourth Estate, £6.99, pb, 3 l2pp, ISBN l 85702 964 X
Immediately intriguing, this novel draws the reader into a strange and disquieting world where civilisation as the inhabitants know it is gradually breaking down. The city and the characters are inspired by the Jewish community in Warsaw during the last war but it takes a little time to realise this, and this difficulty in placing the action adds to the intrigue.
As the story unfolds we see the gradual descent of the city into a ghetto from which Gloria, a young and ambitious psychologist is able to escape because of her Aryan looks and the temporary protection of one of her clients. When that protection fails, Gloria has to rely on her resourcefulness to survive. To do so she contacts people she has known, including Igo Sym, an actor, with disastrous consequences.
The style of writing is innovative; including one section where the whole of the action is told by question and answer. The descriptions are sharp and clever and the whole novel displays an intelligent wit, spare language and black humour which serve to tell a sinister story of moral corruption and loss of identity in a society which is unable to sustain its ordinary life in the face of aggressive occupation. Highly recommended.
Amanda Statham
SOMEONE TO TRUST
June Francis, Piatkus, £17.99, hb, 342pp, ISBN O 7499 0551 4
Feisty young Lucy Linden lives with her widowed mother, Maureen., and little brother Timmy in Liverpool after World War One. Times are hard and Lucy has to sell firewood to help the family's finances. Matters are not helped by the arrival of her Uncle Mick, embittered by the war and with some dangerous friends in the IRA.
Two things keep up Lucy's spirits, her growing relationship with Rob Jones, a young police officer, and the magic of the picture palace. But Mick's activities threaten to drag the Lindens into ever deeper trouble and Lucy soon has secrets she must hide - even from Rob.
June Francis is a successful author with ten books to her credit. She has obviously done
her research and offers us a vivid portrait of Liverpool in the 1920s.
Elizabeth Hawksley
KINVARA SUMMER
Christine Marion Fraser, Coronet 2001 , £5 .99, pb , 407pp , ISBN 0-340-76714-6
This is an enchanting story set in a small Scottish community in 193 I Often told through the eyes of the children, it carries the reader through a few months in the lives of people so real and likeable that leaving them is a wrench at the end of the book.
The story of Rob and Hannah, and of a great but lost love, is the main theme of this excellent novel , but there is so much more to delight and entertain the reader. No wonder Fraser's books quietly outsell other, more widely acclaimed, authors!
Begin reading Fraser now and you will wonder why you never did so before.
Linda Sole
THE FLIGHT OF THE MAIDENS
Jane Gardam, Chatto & Windus , £15 99 , hb , 278pp , ISBN O 701 16963 X
This touching rites of passage novel is set in Yorkshire in the summer of 1946 Scholarship girls Lieselotte - who had come from Hamburg in 1939 with the kindertransportHetty and Una will be leaving their small town for university in the autumn . During these few weeks they all experience happiness and tragedy. The other characters are lightly sketched, yet evoked with humour and compassion. With an eye for detail sometimes reminiscent of Elizabeth Jane Howard the author, twice a Whitbread winner, paints an excellent picture of post-war austerity and moral values Best of all are her explorations of mother/ daughter relationships
Janet Hancock
A STRANGE ALCHEMY
Sheila Geddes , Pen Press, 2001, £9 99, pb , 306pp , ISBN l 900796 34 l
When Jan breaks a leg in a skiing accident it seems the perfect opportunity to work on the book she has always wanted to write about the birth and growth of feminism She interviews local women who served on the home front and in women ' s services during World War
Two
Jan ' s story is first person narrative while the stories of the women are in the third person ; at the end of each section or where a new set of characters is introduced their lives are updated to the present day in conversation with Jan This makes the book an uneasy mix of fiction and fiction based on fact which doesn ' t quite come off. There are a very great number of characters too which makes it difficult to follow
Tiffi HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
That being said, there is a lot of detailed and interesting information given about the many and varied jobs undertaken by women who , like several of my aunts , had never left home before they were conscripted and who after their war-time responsibilities found themselves changed beyond recognition
The character Jan also draws interesting parallels between her own present-day life and freedoms and the ' innocence ' of those times when society was more morally restrictive Through the eyes of the author (who served in an Ack-Ack battery between 1942 and 1945) Jan also captures the intense war-time feeling of comradeship and commitment to a common cause
THis is an interesting, if slightly uneven , read for anyone who was there or for those who want to know what it was like.
Val Whitmarsh
THE
POLITICAL MAP OF THE HEART
Pat Gray , Dedalus, £7.99 , pb , l80pp
ISBN I 873983 54 2
This book , now revised and extended, was initially written in one twenty-four hour period, to win the 1995 World One Day Novel Cup to critical acclaim Perhaps more novels should be written like this because it is superb
The story is many-layered, built on a simple plot. An English family are living in Ulster at the end of the Second World War The father is eccentric and apolitical, the mother calm, resigned and absorbed in her domesticity There are three sons - the eldest, single-minded, the middle one naughty and the youngest, the narrator, aged six at the beginning of the book.
Outside the security of home 1s the political situation This is never explained and only gradually becoming understandable to the child At first this is no more than the marching bands with their drums and Orange banners ; then bullying at school until he reveals that a relative is one of the marchers. Later still he makes a friend who introduces him to his cousin, Elaine, but it will be a doomed love affair as the politics of Ireland impinge on normal life , mortar bombs, knocks on the door at night and murders. Then the eldest brother, who has been sent to university in England, is found to have secretly returned has become an active republican for whom the army is searching
The story's leitmotif is the sinister throbbing of the drums , but the book itself is very warm and often funny , with memorable and likeable characters. I normally avoid books on Ireland. This one I not only enjoyed very much. It also made some of the aspects of the political situation much more understandable .
A light-fingered child heroine making a living in the streets of Bolton seems a new slant on Northern sagas and roused my interest. Alas , this promising start soon evaporated into an unstructured goulash with far too much plot and characters never fully developed , all the more frustrating because there are flashes of good writing The light-fingered child is a secondary character; the story is based around the three daughters of Alex Burton-Massey, who lost his entire estate to an Irish card-sharp and then committed suicide James Mulligan is the card-sharp's son , an altruistic chap who wants to hand back the estate to its former owners and with it the responsibility for the Yard and those who work in it. But the inhabitants of the Yard and the estate are about to be embroiled in a struggle between good and evil. On the one hand Peter Wilkinson, leader of a religious sect, on the other Mulligan, who has a dark secret in his cellar
There's no sense of period or place - we only know it's Bolton in the 1920s because the author says so The Burton-Massey women open a dress shop called A Cut Abovepunning names like this came into fashion much later. The dread hand of modem PC creeps in : when one of Mulligan's maids is in bed with a sprained ankle he comes up to her attic with a bunch of flowers and promises to look after the laundry till she's better. The late Mr Burton-Massey prefers to shoot foxes rather than hunt them. In the 1920s no gentleman shot a fox I feel that the plot and characters of historical novels should be driven by the customs and morals of the time. This book badly needed firmer editing Diane Johnstone
This novel is the second in a series about the Nippies (waitresses) in a Lyons Comer House in central London , set during the first months of WW2. I would probably have enjoyed it more if I'd read the first , and this is always a danger for series To start with, I found the characters confusing, and even when rd sorted them out I felt dubious about the focus being split amongst five ' heroines ', and a couple of anti-heroines , none of them standing out as the main protagonist.
These five girls , with their families and boyfriends, endure separation, bereavement and the horrors of the blitz Life in the Corner House is well researched, the bombing and the terror, the destruction and loss , are brought graphically to life, and the emotions of the
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
people who suffer are reaJ and vivid, but J was left unsatisfied. Each of the girls has her own story, but it seemed as though I was reading half a dozen interleaved diaries, a chronicle rather than a rounded story, with every incident or feature of the time brought in. That said, however, it is a book which brings home to people who were not there (and maybe even some who think the Battle of Hastings took place during WW2) the realities of life which their parents or grandparents faced.
Marina Oliver
THE MARBLE CLOCK
Una Home, Piatkus, £17.99, hb, 282pp
ISBN O 7499 0536 0
Just as Molly Mason and her miner father are recovering from the 1930s Depression he dies in a pit accident. Jackson, the man she loves, and her brother Harry are soldiers in India, her mother is dead and she has to find lodgings near her work. The landlord however, cheated of his desires, accuses her of theft. Prison, unemployment and lack of friends make her life intensely miserable. And despite Jackson's return these are not her only troubles. There are some interesting characters, thought I wasn't totally convinced by all the motivations. Molly seemed rather passive at times and I longed for her to fight back, while accepting her youth and that the misfortunes would have affected her badly. Of the rest Jackson and Harry were attractive. Even the apparently good-hearted neighbours had their darker sides, well portrayed. The north east 'clogs and shawls' story can be told in the 1940s and the war scenes are particularly vivid. It is an easy to read style and the wartime background has been thoroughly researched. Readers of sagas will enjoy this story.
Marina Oliver
OUR POLLY
Anna Jacobs, Hodder & Stoughton, 2001, £17. 99, hb, 407pp, ISBN 0-340-75060-X
This story, set in Blackpool just after WWI, tells of young widow Polly and her small son Billy, badly injured in a car accident. It shows with horrifying clarity the lack of understanding about brain injuries - senior doctors see sterile institutions as the only recourse. But Polly knows instinctively that patient effort and understanding may give Billy his life back. It's also the story of servicemen whose injuries, especially of the mind, are only just beginning to be understood by enlightened doctors. One, Captain Mercer, himself wounded, has established a home for such men, and the entanglements of his private life bring him and Polly together.
The characters are easy to relate to, the style clear and compelling. A graphic picture
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
of life at the time is marred only by repeated and over-emphasised descriptions and too common use of fountain pens and telephones - among the working class in 1920?
Marcia
J Treece
THE MINERAL PALACE
Heidi Julavits, Virago, £9.99, pb, 323pp
ISBN l 86049 75 l 9
This is a visceral and a violent novel. A man eats his scabs, a woman projects 'a dollop of spit and mucus' to the ground. There's blood a-plenty: the blood of amputated fingers, slaughtered animals, stained sheets. Much of the violence is done to animals - stones thrown at a cat's head, a dog's spine broken by a kickbut not all. Bonnie and Clyde make a fleeting appearance. There's rape, infanticide, child abuse. People due by drowning, burning, suffocating, lose limbs in accidents.
In 1934 Bena Jonsson, her husband Dr Ted Jonsson and their newborn baby, arrive in Pueblo, Colorado where Dr Jonsson takes up a new job at the local clinic. Bena secures a job on the local newspaper, reporting on the social life of a town dominated by clubs - The Club of American University Women, the Now A Day Club, music clubs, Shakespeare clubs, postal workers' clubs. In this bleak place of drought, duststorms and decay, surrounded by a 'hopeless expanse' of 'barren landscape', Bena befriends a pregnant, drug-addicted prostitute and the man who is trying to look after her.
But Bena, the more fortunate woman, is not happy. Her baby does not thrive in Pueblo, although her husband's extra-marital lovelife does. On a visit to 'The Mineral Palace', a decayed museum built by wealthy miners to celebrate 'King Coal' and 'Silver Queen', Bena confronts the truth of her marriage. It is in 'The Mineral Palace' that the denouement of the story takes place. It is a horrible story, with a horrible ending.
The writer commands an impressive vocabulary of despair and demoralisation. Like the characters the reader is surrounded by relentlessly dispiriting forces. Oddly, though, I did not feel that the historical setting was vital to the book. So much of the atmosphere depended on the climate and the landscape. 'The Mineral Palace' could have been any decayed building in any era. Bonnie and Clyde could have been any bloodthirsty criminals on the run. Workers have been downtrodden in every century.
Rape, infanticide. child abuse; it's all a bit too remorseless, and too manipulative, for me. The novel sounds the note it sounds extremely effectively. It just happens to be a tune I'm not particularly fond of Lucienne Boyce
This book evokes memories of a gentler age. It is the 1950s and things are gradually getting better after the war, so Jenny has a right to expect life will improve for her too. No wonder that she is angry and a little bitter when husband Paul leaves her for a younger woman. However, Jenny receives lots of tea and sympathy from her friends and family, though her elder daughter appears to have gone over to the enemy for a while. With a great deal of luck and determination, Jenny begins to make herself a new life and to become a stronger and more independent person.
Reminiscent more of Pilcher than Cookson, this is a comforting, enjoyable story for those (and there are many!) who like the security of knowing that nothing too terrible is ever going to happen.
This is an unusual plot as it has three main female characters with very different backgrounds and characters, but one desire. As the story of their lives unfolds, it is one man who holds them all in the palm of his hand. To Kitty, Archie is a friend; to Esme he is the love of her life, while to Charlotte he represents security. But is Archie the man they think he is?
The growth of Kitty's group of travelling players adds interest and colour to this book. Although I did not find it a compelling read, it is certainly different and entertaining.
Linda Sole
LICK.CREEK
Brad Kessler, Abacus, £9.99, pb, 299pp ISBN 9 780349 113654
Set in the West Virginia mountains in the late 1920s this is the story of Emily Jenkins, whose father, brother and lover are killed in a mining accident, leaving her and her mother Ada to cope without their wages. An electrical power company buys a right of way across Emily's and her uncle's neighbouring land; although her family makes money from the transaction, Emily is hostile to the development
It is an oddly written book, unaccountably slipping into the present tense every now and again. There are some strange comparisons: 'music clung to her like a washcloth'; someone's scent is like a scarf; a name is like a hat. One word or phrase is never enough: There's an apparent quirkiness in the use of words. White sheets in a laundry room are
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
'scrimmed under pines'. Men would be 'rousing back to work' after their lunch break Emily 'skirted back the curtains' . Possibly these are American usages ; certainly my dictionary did not include what I took from the context to be their meaning. Personally I found the language unattractive, but I daresay it will not appear so to everyone. Finally, and strangest of all, is the unexpected introduction , in the last 26 lines , of a first person narrator as the medium for the discovery of the letters on which, we are suddenly informed, the story is based
The writer's grandfather was an electrician and there's certainly a sense in the novel of Kessler's interest and admiration for the electrical linemen who brought electricity to America It's an unusual subject, and clearly there's more romance in the history of electrification than most of us have ever dreamed of. It's a pity, however, that the love story struck me as so bland - but then I'm not a great fan of love stories, and would have preferred to know more about the linemen's adventures in the mountains - the 'tales of moonshine and getting shot at' that Kessler so tantalising speaks of in his biographical note
Lucienne Boyce
LUCK BE A LADY
Anna King, Little Brown, £17.99 , hb, 472pp ISBN 0 316 85175 2
Set in 1912 in the East End of London, young Rebecca Bradford is struggling to make do on a small income In return for a reduced rent she looks after her selfish, bed-ridden cousin Maude , and makes a home for herself, her young sister Amy and wastrel brother Philwho all too often gambles away his monthly wage packet. Then fate brings successful bookmaker Jimmy Jackson into her life
This is one of those books where I was happy to turn over the pages , without in the least believing in any of the characters Anna King can plainly tell a story and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep one interested, but somehow the characterisation remained unconvincing There was too much authorial explanation of character's motives , rather than it being demonstrated by the characters themselves Saying not showing, in fact. I was longing to get out my editorial pencil and delete all the unnecessary phrases. A pity , as with judicious cutting, the book could have been so much better.
In 1921 , in a remote Suffolk village Sam Savage, youngest son of a WWI veteran is born . At the same time in North West India,
1HE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
Lakshmi enters the world as the unwanted daughter of a family of Untouchables Both are born into poverty where there are too many mouths and never enough food
Sam attempts to escape by joining the army at fourteen and is sent to a cantonment in Kanpur . Lakshmi briefly crosses Sam's path and the two cultures meet with tragic results which affect Sam for the rest of his life Back in his Suffolk village seventeen years later, Sam finds himself at the mercy of rain once more as the floods of 1953 swamp the east coast and his story comes full circle
This is a harsh portrayal of family life, prejudice and injustice in which every action carries a price and every character must pay it. Transferring the vernacular to the page is not easy but Angela Lambert succeeds admirably . Though, at times , quite harrowing it is written with great sensitivity I couldn't put it down.
Ann Oughton
LACEY'S OF LIVERPOOL
Maureen Lee , Orion, 2001 , £9 .99 , hb , 389pp
ISBN 0 75283 801 6
When Alice's envious , ambitious sister-in-law, Cora, swaps her own weakly baby son for Alice's bonny baby during a wartime raid in Liverpool neither woman has any idea of the vicissitudes in store for them
Maureen Lee has written a novel that is so much more than a Liverpool saga - these are real people grappling with real dilemmas with humour, anger and all too human weakness We experience twenty years of sweeping changes in sexual mores and womens' expectations of their roles in society through Alice's three daughters but the author's male characters are no less well-drawn giving us a novel that is a wholly satisfying read Thelma VCox
MILE END GIRL
Elizabeth Lord, Piatkus, £17 99, hb , 388pp
ISBN 0 7499 0548 4
Modem-day , successful Jenny, living in an expensive flat in London's Docklands , is deserted by her husband for his new love on the eve of the millennium. She discovers a diary written by her great-grandmother Jessie a century before . Jessie , born in a slum, escapes through her singing to marry a Mile End businessman, but soon discovers that her husband is moody, unfaithful and violent. Forced to flee with her daughter life becomes even harder than before she was married. As Jenny reads the diary and discovers the problems Jessie faced, which to some extent mirror her own, she comes to terms with her own difficulties. For both women a mew man comes to the rescue encouraging them to face the future with more hope.
Elizabeth Lord manages the switches between the two lives and the dipping in and out of the diary with consummate skill . It is always a wrench to leave one story, but the reader is immediately immersed in the other and both are portrayed with clever period detail, not just of the physical surroundings but of the attitudes as well. This is a lovely book and deserves a wide readership
Set in South Wales in the early 1920s , this smart saga features Jenni Goodenough , apprenticed to dressmakers by a mother who does not want her beholden to men Tragedy convinces Jenni to change her name and move from the Rhondda to Swansea, where she anticipates freedom from small-community prejudice . Reiteration flaws this novel, and often, Jenni's lack of initiative seems at odds with her courage and determination . But the story is unpredictable ; the dialogue and sense of place are strong. I thought it contained just the right balance of love , secrets, and dilemmas to keep the pages turning
Three apples fell from heaven , one for the story teller, one for the listener and one for the eavesdropper So runs the traditional ending to Armenian fables And it is from fables , family diaries and historical documents that this extraordinary debut novel has been crafted The author, descended from Lebanese Armenians , is the granddaughter of a victim of Turkish policy towards Armenians during WW I. Fearful that these orthodox Christians would side with Russia , the Turkish authorities deported, executed or left to die over a million Turkish Armenians - the first twentieth century example of ethnic cleansing which has powerful contemporary relevance . The novel is motivated by a determination that ancestral stories will not be forgotten , that those who perished will continue to be cherished A Turkish commander tells one of his victims , ' This story will never have happened after it's finished .' Anger runs through the book that this attitude is still prevalent eighty years later - witness the recent controversy over Britain ' s first Holocaust Day. Yet there are also glimpses of family life, of normality before the cataclysm; not all Turks are painted as villains
Because of the sheer scale of the suffering the author wishes to record she has chosen a fragmented style, a mixture of third and first person , past and present tense , an assembly of voices, mainly townspeople from Kharphert in central Anatolia The eloquent narrative , like rumour, which is given female identity' begins in the middle, stops and starts , is a wanderer.· Shocking, blasphemous , stomach-churning, this novel cannot but disturb the reader. Not for the squeamish!
Janet Hancock
OUR YANKS
Margaret Mayhew , Corgi. 2001 , £5.99 , pb , 416pp , ISBN 0-552-14822-9
In 1943 American airmen descend on a peaceful Midlands village and create physical and emotional turmoil. They are at first resented by many of the villagers, but relations gradually improve , and even the crusty Brigadier accepts them.
This is a social history told through the stories of several village characters It is difficult to manage such a large cast when there is a risk of attention becoming diffused , but Margaret Mayhew makes the village as a whole the main protagonist, creating believable inhabitants, and all with great warmth
This theme could all too easily have become caricature, and it is a measure of Margaret Mayhew's skill that she introduces humour and pathos without overdoing it.
Marina Oliver
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
Connie Monk , PiatJ...-us , £17 99 , hb , 316pp
ISBN 0 07499 0546 8
1905 : Jane, daughter of well-to-do brewer, Amos Bradley, falls in love with handsome cooper, Jan Harriman and , in the teeth of family opposition, elopes with him But life as a working-class man's wife in Bracklefield presents far more difficulties than Jane ever imagined and she is forced to face some uncomfortable truths about herself and her marriage
This book is rather more than the usual working-class saga Connie Monk 1s examining what a sexually repressive society can do to both men and women
Connie Monk knows how to write a page-turning story The characters are well defined and the various emotional conflicts give the book pace and energy The period details were nicely chosen and the research was properly integrated I'm sure her fans will thoroughly enjoy it.
A Desert in Bohemia is an ambitious novel. Set in a fictional country in Central Europe and encompassing the sweep of years from 1948 to 1990 it tells the story of the aftermath of war and the coming of communism through the eyes of nine people whose lives are closely interconnected.
Jill Paton Walsh's prose is a joy to read being both fluent and lyrical She effortlessly switches viewpoint in each section without muddying the plot or confusing the reader and each location is beautifully captured in a few telling descriptions Although the main setting, Comenia, is purely fictional one feels instinctively that it could have existed And equally post-war London is realised with factual authenticity Even the potential pitfalls inherent in using lengthy narrative time lapses are overcome with accomplished style .
This is a moving story of ordinary people caught up in political turmoil and revolution from which even the innocent cannot hope to escape Yet it is ultimately uplifting, as any story of survival against the odds must be
Sara Wilson
THE LAND ENDURES/ SEEDTIME AND HARVEST
Mary E Pearce, Warner Books , £6 .99 , pb , 266pp ISBN 0 75153132 4
This is an omnibus volume containing books four and five of the Apple Tree Saga The Land Endures picks up from the end of the Great War and follows the fortunes of the Wayman family after they buy Holland Farm. These are the Depression years and are made worse by the tragic death of Gwen Wayman which leaves Stephen Wayman to bring up four children with the help of eccentric Aunt Doe .
Seedtime and Harvest deals with the life of Linn Mercybright , a minor character from book four Being a single mother with an ageing father was no easy life in the twenties and thirties , so when Charlie Truscott proposes marriage Linn grabs her chance of happiness
Both books can be read as stand alone novels, particularly The Land Endures which seems more complete, and share only a few common factors : location, minor characters and sequential datelines Seedtime and Harvest ends on an obvious cliff-hanger and will presumabl y be folJowed by a more directly linked novel. Both are entertainingly written, even if unfortunate events are rather baldl y sprung on an unsuspecting reader . On the whole they are both competent and pleasing sagas
Sara Wilson
THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE , Steven Pressfield, Bantam Books, £6 99 , pb , 267pp , ISBN 0-553-81307-2
A rich businessman has built a golf course at Krewe Island, off the coast of Savannah in the Deep South But it is 1929 and the Depression has America in its grip The rich businessman blows his brains out and it is left to his daughter to salvage the family fortunes She sets up an exhibition golf match between Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur, and Walter Hagen, the greatest professional , of the day But the city fathers want a player of their own to be matched against these two They settle on Rannulph Junah, a damaged war-hero. When the proposal is put to him, Junah introduces a black man sitting at his table as 'My mentor and boon companion, Mister Bagger Vance'.
The match begins Brilliantly described, it contrasts the superb play of Jones and Hagen with a disastrous beginning for Junah, who drops stroke after stroke Then Vance begins to talk to him, explaining how to find the Authentic Swing through the force of his own will and inner strength
Bagger Vance is inspired by the Bhagavad-Gita, the 'Song of God' It is the great philosophical poem of Hindu religion which makes up a chapter of the Mahabharata , the superb Indian epic of gods and warriors. Bagger Vance is Krishna, the human incarnation of the god Vishnu Junah is the hero Arjuna , Krishna's disciple, who is about to fight on the battlefield of KurusetraKrewe Island The search for the Authentic Swing becomes a metaphor for the search for the Authentic Self
Steven Pressfield blends golf and philosophy into a highly readable and pacy book. I couldn't put it down, and I know I shall read it more than once Buy it and if you've enjoyed it, read the Mahabharata as well Diane Johnstone
Set in the Potteries in the 1920s, this is a story of Sarah, a talented apprentice who is befriended by Daniel, the pottery owner , sent by him to Design school, and through the perception of her tutor, becomes a sculptor rather than the ceramics painter she had at first wished to be Add a vicious stepfather, slatternly mother, grandmother with a past , plus Daniel's faithless wife and indolent brother, and there's an intriguing combination of characters.
The plot is neat, if a mite predictable The novel contains a great deal of cleverly inserted detail about the craft of pottery , illuminating but by no means intrusive The book is an
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
THE
easy read, and anyone iooking for something a little different from the normal back-slum saga will enjoy this story
Marina Oliver
ALL MANNER OF THINGS
CW Reed, Robert Hale, 2001, £17.99, hb , 254pp , ISBN 0- 7090-6808-5
This continues the story of the Wright family from To Reason Why (Review 6) and Ties of Blood. During WW2 John hastily marries Jenny before being posted abroad Meanwhile his brother, Ted is a POW coming to terms with a wife and child he never wanted. Back home , Jenny embarks on a secret assignment at Bletchley Park and meets the charismatic Martin Castleton Ted's wife, Marion seeks solace in the arms of Jim Moody and matriarch May watches over all.
This is prime saga material. The Bletchley Park scenes are especially entertaining, with oblique references to state-of-the-art codebreaking Just one gripe; both young wives are particularly weak-willed, falling into bed with other men remarkably quickly after declaring undying love for their husbands
The novel rattles along apace, ending on a high note with the war's end and a family notionally reunited Plenty of scope for a follow-on .
Sara Wilson
THE CARPENTER'S PENCIL
Manuel Rivas , The Harvill Press, 2001 , £12 00, hb , 165pp, ISBN 1-86046-743-1. Translated from the Galician by Jonathan Dunne
In the summer of 1936 during the early months of the Spanish Civil War, an artist sketches the Portico da Gloria of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, replacing the sculptured faces of the prophets with the faces of his fellow Republican prisoners. His only tools are an old notebook and a thick red carpenter's pencil which has been handed down from one dissident to another as they were executed. The pencil finally comes into the possession of the prison guard who tormented them and it is through his reminiscences that the story of Doctor Da Barca unfolds . A charismatic personality, whatever tortures he is subjected to his spirit cannot be broken He has something that can never be taken from him ; the love of a faithful wife
This is Manuel Rivas' third novel and it is a true gem. He writes with insight ; an observer of human strength and frailty who subtly captures every nuance of his characters' make-up . First published in 1998, it deserves to be one of the great novels of the twentieth century.
Ann Oughton
1HE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
KATE CATERINA
William Riviere, Sceptre, 2001 , £16 99 , hb , 378pp, ISBN 0-340-77038-4
Born in London, she was Kate until she married Gabriele d'Alessandria , went to live in a Tuscan palace and became known as Caterina. The novel opens three years later in August 1939 : the time of Mussolini , Black Shirts and nationalist fervour, when only a few face up to what is festering beneath Italy's civilised surface With her two countries on opposite sides of the war and the family riven by politics , Caterina and her small daughter struggle to survive during the following five years , keeping faith while living a lie while a civilisation collapses into barbarism
The author returns to the themes of famil y and war so movingly explored in his previous novel, Echoes of War (Review August I 998) This novel is shorter, with more brooding introspection by the characters - reflections on the past, anxieties for the future , streams of consciousness - than dialogue and action in these momentous years The pace is steady, the descriptions of the countryside sensual and evocative All the time I was waiting for something to happen. When it did, it was as unexpected as it was cataclysmic.
An interesting book, strong on history, with believable characters ; but it may leave you unsettled
Janet Hancock
SWEET POISON
David Roberts , Constable Crime, 200 I , £16.99 , hb , 288pp, ISBN I-84119-237-6
The year is 1935 and the Duke of Marsham is in his stately home , playing host at a series of dinner parties designed to further the cause of Anglo German relations. The odd man out in this list is General Sir Alistair Craig VC , a distinguished soldier, who is firmly against any attempt to meet the German government halfway.
The Duke's younger brother Lord Edward Corinth has also been invited. He and Verity Brown, a journalist and ardent socialist, arrive at the castle just in time to witness the death of the General from cyanide poisoning Lord Edward and Verity make an unlikely couple of amateur sleuths, but they unite in their commitment to find out the truth behind the death of the general.
This is the author's first and fairly competent effort at a modem copy of the 'Golden days' of the whodunnit in the 20s and 30s The comparison with Dorothy Sayers is always there , as Lord Edward Corinth appears in many ways to be based on Lord Peter Wimsey, wealthy youngest son of noble blood etc However this book strikes one as more politically correct than most of the golden oldies. There is awareness of social divisions ,
political unrest , drug taking amongst the idle rich I enjoyed the first part but felt the plot lost momentum It will be interesting to see how the relationship of this unlikely couple moves forward if at all in a second book I would like to see Mr Roberts sticking to pure murder and perhaps giving too much social commentary a back seat but then I speak as a Christie fan from way back.
Mary Tucker
A HISTORY OF INSECTS
Yvonne Roberts , Headline Review, 2000 , £6 99, pb , 343pp, ISBN 0-7472-6126-1
Ella is nine years old . The year is 1956 and she lives in the cloistered community of the British High Commission at Peshawar. Here, the days of the Raj might never have ended. With few friends of her own age or race, she lives in a fantasy world All around her , incipient class distinctions , dysfunctional adult relationships and overt racism confuse her nine-year-old logic . When she witnesses a truly disturbing event, the results are catastrophic
Yvonne Roberts is a journalist who grew up in Pakistan, which accounts for the authenticity of this gripping novel. The book is peopled with characters whose weaknesses make them both amusing and tragic , and utterly believable
There has been some debate as to when a novel can be considered 'historical' In reading this witty and observant tale of post-partition Pakistan, there's little doubt that this book and its characters are as far removed from our time as are the Pilgrim Fathers I hate the word 'unputdownable', but this novel is such a delight that I returned to it at every available moment and was truly sorry when it finished A timely reminder of the British quest for emprre
Janet Mary Tomson
THE LAST OF THE JUST
Andre Schwarts-Bart, Vintage, £7 .99 , pb, 374pp , ISBN O099 28559 2
According to Jewish tradition thirty six just men, the Lamed waf, are born each generation to take on the burden of the world's suffering Rabbi Yorn Tov Levey's sacrifice in York in 1158 determined that one man in successive generations of his descendants is a '.just man' Ernie Levey, interred in Auschwitz in 1943 is the 'last' in this line of just men and this is his story
This novel was first published in France in 1959 after he author had written five different versions before he considered it ready for publication It is a powerful , sad and dramatic novel but in it through the fictional Ernie Levey, Andrew Schwarts-Bart manages to encapsulate the fate of millions of Jews into
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
one character The novel also give some idea of the ways in which these persecuted peoples attempted to come to terms with incomprehensible evil. This is a grim and challenging read but is also a worthy addition to the many factual and fictional accounts of the fate of the Jews in WWII and throughout history
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
DROWNING RUTH
Christina Schwarz, Headline 2001 , £9 99 , pb , 288pp, ISBN 0-7472-7285-9
Historical romance writer Kate Ivory is recovering from near-fatal injuries ; she cannot think of a plot for her next novel , and isn't sure she wants to marry her partner, George When she finds a child's diary and a photograph in an attic , she begins to half-heartedly investigate the death of a wartime evacuee to take her mind off her problems Her probing opens a can of worms when George's family appears to be involved
This is a pleasant book, though not particularly gripping The evacuees , sent into the countryside for safety , some to kind people and some to be abused, are a matter of historical record , and Kate's delving into the death of one of them brings together collective memories of those times and how the city children were perceived in the community. The secondary story - how Kate begins to cover her lost confidence , and what she does about George - keeps the book rolling along at a comfortable pace
Val Whitmarsh
THE BONDS THAT BREAK
Linda Sole, Severn House , 2000 , £17.99 , hb , 250pp , ISBN 0 7278 5548 4
This is the second book in a saga , the first being The Ties that Bind In the summer of 1940 , newly married Emma is living and working in London , in the heart of the fashion industry Her gentle , caring RAF pilot husband, Jon, is declared missing , presumed dead , when he is shot down over France Wracked with anguish, she meets handsome and wealthy Americanm Jack Harvey , who provides unstinting companionship and support. For how long can she deny a man who excites such passion in her ? Supposing Jon , now just a shadowy memory, returns ? Well , all right - it is a saga , simply written in saga-speak However, it is also a well-researched book. I had not been sure up to now that the last war really counted as history , but I have changed my mind . This is
not just fatless sponges , frenetic gaiety and air-raid shelters but life as it was from the point of view of the fashion inductry The gradual impositioin of tighter and tighter restrictions , the loss of staff to conscription, the profiteering and black market which flourished as we were under siege, all add an interesting historical touch to a war-time romance which ends , not with a happy ending but the promise of the next book in the series I look forward to reading it.
Val Whitmarsh
THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA
David Thomson, Canongate, reissued 200 I with introduction by Seamus Heaney , £6 99 , pb , 229pp , ISBN 1-84195-107-2
This is a book that is difficult to define It is the result of Thomson's travels through Scotland and Ireland in the 1930s and 40s , during which he collected together Gaelic tales and folklore from fishermen and their families However , this novel is not simply an anthology of those stories , it also describes the storytellers themselves and how they came to talk about their traditions and myths Thomson was particularly interested in the 'selchie', the grey Atlantic seal , and collected tales about men who married seal-women, babies suckled by seals and people descended from seals . Alongside these sea stories , The People of the Sea also includes legends surrounding the ancient royal families of Norway and Ireland, children brought up by she-wolves and the antics of King Otters Ultimately, this book neither demands belief nor encourages scepticism from the reader, it simply asks for attention The end result is a beautiful and captivating read
Sara Wilson
ONTHEWATER
Hans Maarten Van den Brink, Faber and Faber. 2001 (translated from Dutch and first published in 1998) £9 .99 , pb , 134pp, ISBN 0-571-20152-0
Although this brief novel , almost a novella in form and style, is set in Amsterdam in the days leading up to and during World War II , it cannot really be considered a work of historical fiction in the conventional sense. But this should not deter anyone from reading this highly literate and intelligent book. The plot , such as it is , revolves around one Anton He is a self-effacing, introspective and awkward teenaged boy . Living with his unimaginative parents in the outer edges of Amsterdam in the late 1930s , he joins the local rowing club and much to his and the reader's surprise , shows an aptitude for the sport under the eccentric tutelage of the German Dr Schneiderhahn. Anton's rowing partner is the self-possessed and wealthy
David with whom he forms an unlikely alliance The reader is never explicitly informed, but it emerges through hints and descriptions, that David is Jewish So all three of the key characters in the tale are outsiders of one form or another, in a word soon to be blown apart by war We are also not told that the city in which the novel is located is Amsterdam, but this becomes apparent as the story unfolds
This is a gentle, undemonstrative book. There is much about the physical character of rowing ; the techniques and science, and the pain and rewards facing the participant. Together with the sense of the outsider , the other key leitmotif of this story is water, the flow of the river and by implication, the flow of historical development , leading to the unavoidable conflagration of war .
Doug Kemp
THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS
Robert Wilson, Harper Collins , £12 99 , 2001, hb , 464pp , ISBN 0 00232669 8
This is a long novel , and for me , too long for its story Split into two books , in the first , Outlaws of the Mind, an English girl called Andrea Aspinall is enlisted as a British spy in 1944 neutral Lisbon , changing her name to Anne. Following the usual intrigue , reports and inevitable shootings the bones of the story concerns her relationship with a German double-agent , the atomic threat and Hitler's murder.
At 200 pages longer than Robert Harris's Enigma I found it ponderous in parts , though its local colour and atmosphere of torrid weather in and around Lisbon, Estoril , Cascais etc rang true. Sweat, clammy hands , airless nights, grilled sardines and inept local police all added to the sense of place
What irritated me most about Wilson's Lisbon, of which I know a little , was his constant and unnecessary detailing of street names and places. We don't need to be told the location of the main police station when the police are already on their way . Maybe I've been spoilt by Ken Follett's tight, economical writing Certainly his pace betters this
The political problems of I 960s Portugal with communist opposition to Salazar's fascist government, the Angola uprising and student riots in Paris and London all served to place the action firmly in date
In book two , The Secret Ministry of Frost , Wilson jumps to 1968 when Anne returns to her dying mother in London In Cambridge, after an intense and detailed affair with her tutor (why is she still wearing stockings and suspender belt in 1968- 70 I wonder ?) she becomes a double agent acting for Russia and the British Intelligence In a snowy Berlin of Walter Ulbricht we see her in ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
the tracks of Burgess , Maclean, Blake and Philby and instrumental in Ulbricht's downfall
Much cold war , yet now outdated, spy material should please fans of that genre though it leaves me as cold as a Berlin winter
Back again in the England of 1989 (it beats me why Chapter 39 is in September 1989 and Chapter 40 in May 1989!) at a delightful dinner-party , talk centres on Gorbachev and his policies The Wall comes down and Andrea ends up alone on the carpet at 4 am. with an empty champagne bottle. The final chapter sees the return of her first lover, the German Karl Voss to rake over old ground in Lisbon Back in England a staggering triple death brings the tragic story to a close
What does this book tell us about life? About the beauty of loving relationships? About jealousy, fear , self-interest and greed? About humanity itself? Though I am bored by cold-war spy stories I have been changed in the reading of The Company of Strangers Wilson's handling of Anne's introspection is masterful ; his background scenes in Lisbon and Berlin convincing and his character descriptions generally clear
One thing I missed Only at the very beginning did we have a physical description of the heroine As she aged we had to guess , apart from her black hair, what she looked like In her middle-years lovemaking the picture was incomplete but the ending will leave you gasping
Geoffrey Har.field
MULTI-PERIOD
FISH, BLOOD AND BONE
Leslie Forbes , Weidenfeld & Nicolson, :12.99, hb , 433pp , ISBN 0-297-64580-3 Claire, an American, inherits from an hitherto unknown English aunt a Victorian house and garden in London's East End She finds it filled with enticing and disturbing family relics Distressed by the brutal murder of a neighbour called Sally , she agrees to join a mysterious cousin in a scientific expedition to Tibet in search of a green poppy that may hold a cure for cancer. There , she is drawn further into her famil y' s history , knowledge of which threatens her life
Most of the novel is set in the 1980s with Victorian diaries and narrative interspersed Forbes seems determined to educate us We are given lectures on DNA , gardening , botany , Jack the Ripper, forensic medicine , cancer cures , even smells Yet her scientists seem surprised by altitude sickness and the need for malaria precautions. These educational rambles serve to clot an already confusing structure: apparently arbitrary switches from first person to third person,
1HE I-IlSTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
from one unidentified voice to another, from the 1980s to the 1880s Characters appear and disappear inexplicably. Generally , the Victorian sections are clearer and pacier if somewhat lacking in period flavour and language . Claire is a three-dimensional - if tiresome - heroine but not too convincing as an American We Yanks say ' Mom· not ' Mum' Some of the English and Indian characters are well drawn but often others are just flat conveniences to spout information And a greater sense of Victorian and modem India and Tibet would have been welcome . However, Forbes writes well and her imagery is wonderfully vivid Many of the points she belabours are valid ones i.e. exploitation of Third World resources for Western scientific progress and benefit. If her tangents often bored me , that is my problem , not hers
On the other hand , she does leave many threads dangling. Of course, in real life, murders and burglaries do remain unsolved, scientists do vanish into the Himalayan mistsbut who killed Sally? Were Chris and Nick caught by the Chinese or eaten by a Yeti? This reader was left frustrated
Anyone interested in an eccentric, sometimes stimulating, occasionally exciting, intermittently irritating read, will delight in Fish, Blood and Bone
Ly nn Guest
THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE
James Runcie , HarperCollins , 2001 , £12.99 , HB , 250pp, ISBN O00 710782 X James Runcie ' s first novel does not fall into the traditional historical mould It is a work of fiction , liberally sprinkled with hundreds and thousands ' of historical facts about the discovery and development of chocolate Interwoven with this history of chocolate is the bittersweet love story of Diego and Ignacia. ' Quien bien ama tarda olvida ' (He who loves forgets slowl y) is the theme that runs alongside Diego ' s search for the meaning of life and the spread of chocolate, as a source of comfort and delight , around the world.
The sub-title ; ' Love , Chocolate and a greyhound called Pedro ' captures the essence of the story in seven words The ' hero ' Diego de Godoy leaves Seville in 1519 as a notary to Queen Dona Juana and her son, the Emperor Charles the Vth and joins Cortes ' expedition to the New World Diego s quest is to bring back a unique treasure to win the heart of Isabella de Quintallina Things don ' t go as planned and the result is a story that blends fact and fantasy into an interesting ' confection ' to entertain the reader. The style is easy to read and the pace fast moving
Runcie challenges historical stereotypes Montezuma is described as an intelligent, almost benign and bored man The inmates of the Bastille (including the Marquis de Sade) , Herr Sacher of Vienna and creator of the Sachertorte and Mr Fry come out of the archives of historical fact and become 'characters' that we can identify with James Runice·s greyhound speed race through the centuries may not at first glance appeal to those who are looking for historical accuracy. However , it does convey a flavour of the centuries and settings that are used as the background for Diego s travels in time and taste It also has all the ingredients for a successful novel- including Pedro the dog! Reading The Discovery of Chocolate is like eating a slice of gourmet chocolate gateau. It leaves you with a satisfied glow
Myfanwy Cook
THE PIRATE
Christopher Wallace , Flamingo 2001 , pb , £10 99 , pb , ISBN 0-00-225858-7
This novel is perhaps best seen as two novellas running side by side , one very much a modem story , the other in the style of the great adventure yams from a hundred years ago . Martin Law is an English bar-owner in Mallorca after never returning from a student holiday in France almost twenty years ago He is surrounded by a culture of drugs and violence which is about to engulf both him and his family In 1698 another Martin Law joins a slave ship as ship ' s doctor and finds himself caught up in a perilous expedition to the Caribbean Early on the present day Martin Law suggests that the second story is how he views himself, although the exact relationship between the two stories remains open to interpretation at the end The modem section is told in sharp angry prose by Martin himself and Wallace shows one of the great literary skills in letting his narrator tell us one thing and show us something else. The historical section is told in the third person and is written in a more measured, descriptive fashion
I found this book hard to review There is so much to discuss , to ex'J)lain and to speculate on. The plots of the two stories are very different but the ultimate theme is the same: that a flawed man can reject a world he does not belong to and in doing so create a new morality entirely his own The sense of atmosphere is terrific throughout. I could feel the drug addled Mediterranean haze and the feverish heat of Africa.
However I do have a few criticisms. The modem section begins in the middle of the action before meandering off into Martin ' s past for much of the first half. This would be fine if Wallace had stuck to a linear approach
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
for the flashback but ingtead he dips in and out which, with another story running alongside , makes for an occasional muddle. In the historical section I felt that Martin ' s attitude to the slaves is a little bit too sophisticated for 1698 I'm no expert but I don ' t think even the most liberal people of that time would recognise them as other human beings. Both sections were let down by disappointing endings.
In summary , The Pirate is a complex and challenging novel. Perhaps it is not for everyone but is well worth investigating Andrew Zigmond
I mSTORICAL FANTASY I
CELTIKA
Robert Holdstock , Earthlight , £12 .99 , pb , 350pp , ISBN O 684 860 36 8
A new book about Merlin the magician and his trials and tribulations with the mortal realm I must say this shows great promise and could turn out to be an excellent trilogy if it lives up to the potential shown in this , the first instalment.
The story starts in Greece, an unlikely place to find Merlin , who at this time is known as Antiokus Merlin, it seems, was an Argonaut and travelled with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece He was present at the treachery of Medea, Jason's wife, who supposedly slew Jason's sons , and escaped Jason has mourned his sons and lies desolate until death and Argo carries him away
The plot twists and turns with subterfuge and mistrust, mainly between Jason and Merlin We meet the Alban, warlord Urtha and the sorceress Niiv as the story begins lo take on a familiar mantle The author still keeps the story moving in new directions but manages to retain the fabric of the well-known tales We move with a Celtic war host to invade Makedonia to take back the treasures and ancestral relics pillaged by the Greeks from Alba We have ghosts , the underworld and magic , reborn children and Medea , who is not what she seems and raises memories from Merlin's past. Niiv views the future at her own peril and mentions the name Arthur . We know what is to come but how will it be packaged?
The ending of this first part of the trilogy is perhaps not totally unexpected The author has managed to present a well-known story in a totally new way with much promise. The reader is left waiting in anticipation for part two Will a new telling be forthcoming or will the author fall back on well known aspects of the Merlin/Arthur story? I hope part two can live up to this!
(http :/homepages which net/-vicky. bemays) £6 99 , pb , I99pp ISBN I 874490 45 7
This is the 5th in Noble's Carpath series It is 1888 in Transcarpathia and Michael Carpath, special agent, is pulled out of retirement by Military Intelligence to go to Cisalpine Kraznia , were a trade war with Transcarpathia is threatening to turn nasty . Soon, Carpath finds himself masterminding a coup - but with an agenda unknown to his superiors As usual , the sl-ulduggery, treachery and deeds of derring-do will test Carpath to the utmost.
The problem with all adventure series is what happens to the emotional impetus when the hero has become successful and married his true love ? Lindsey Davis' Falco books have neatly solved this by involving us in Falco's friends and relations' problems ; George Macdonald Fraser's Flashman solves it by continuing to be caddish . As this book stands , Carpath's plot goes almost according to plan A and there is no real emotional involvement.
I am a Carpath fan and this is still an immensely readable book, but, for me , some of the sparkle was missing.
Elizabeth
Hawksley
THE WOLF SISTERS
Susan Price, Hodder Silver, £12 99 , hb , l66pp , ISBN O 340 77884 9
This is marketed as young adult fantasy fiction but don't let that put you off As readers may have noted from Price's previous title The Sterkarm Handshake her work is just as accessible to adults and , in fact , often carries multi-levelled themes that may not be understood by younger readers This title is certainly not appropriate for the under 12s in theme or imagery Is it even fantas y I could ask? If a man sat in a firelit Anglo-Saxon hall and told the tale of Beowulf then I suspect that most of his listeners would believe the story might be true Shape-shifters , dragons and demons? I can go with that in an age where Christianity has only a tentative hold on the hearts and minds of men and women
When Kenelm arrives at the hall of Thane Aelfric he has a strange story to tell What tale did Kenelm tell his listeners in the fire lit hall? Was it true? What did it mean? I recommend that you read this wonderfully put together story for yourself and find out.
Towse Harrison
DOWNS-LORD DAY
John Whitbourn, Earthlight, £5 99 , pb , 404pp
ISBN O671 03301 8
Those with long memories might recall my reviews of Whitbourn's previous titles The Royal Changeling (Issue 6 August 1998) and Downs-Lord Dawn (Issue l O December 1999) which brought together notions of 17th century politics , counter-reformation tendencies , Jacobite fanatics and the alternative history of New Wessex . This latest title , the second in the Downs-Lord Triptych is set several hundred years after the events of Downs-Lord Dawn (at least it is in New Wessex ; it's the beginning of the 18th century our side of the portal) and things have not gone well for Curate Blades' people.
This is pure fantasy, a tale of a quest and derring-do and as such lacks the historical based metaphors of the earlier titles which is a shame. Nonetheless it is a very fast paced, action-packed, somewhat gory but very entertaining read. It is also reassuring to know that at least one Jacobite nobleman found his raison-d'etre even if the idea of'over the water' was farther away than he ever could have dreamed.
Towse Harrison
ALTERNATIVE lllSTORY
ASH: A SECRET
IDSTORY
Mary Gentle , Gollancz, 2000, £14 .99 , pb , l l 13pp , ISBN 0575-06901-5
This is a big book, and big books often sprawl lazily over countless pages in need of a jolly good editing But Ash is exceptional , and she demands attention and plenty of space The story starts out deeply rooted in the all too realistic brutalities of the 15th century, but there is already something strange about the tale : Ash is a female mercenary , and what is more she commands her own company , and everyone knows she is a woman The Visigoths from Carthage have invaded Europe , and are intent on conquering Burgundy The Visigothic commander, another female soldier, who looks like Ash, uses voices to direct her on military strategy As the novel goes on , more and more unusual fantastical elements are added The novel is framed within a modern investigation into Ash's history and associated archaeology ; it even has footnotes All this adds to the idea that the book is an alternate history , rather than a fantasy novel.
I was hooked after the first few pages , wanting to know more about this woman who is a soldier in the medieval period The historical Joan of Arc who heard voices (as
THE 1-!ISTORJCAL NOVELS REVIEW
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
does Ash) did not last long in this male-oriented environment. Ash has weaknesses , but is in control , and demands respect , for much of the time It is to the author's credit that a female warrior comes across as so believable, but Gentle draws her characters masterfully. As well as Ash., there is a panoply of very human characters that hold the reader's interest, and combined with fast flowing prose, the story moves at a swift pace
This book appears in several separate volumes in the US , but it works fine in the UK as one big, fat book to be consumed with great relish .
Sandra
Garside Neville
THE GREAT WAR: BREAKTHROUGHS
Harry Turtledove, Hodder & Stoughton, 2000 , £17.99, hb , 486pp, ISBN 0-340-71549-9
This final instalment of an alternate WW 1 trilogy is based around the supposition that the South won the American Civil War Fifty years on, the Great War gives the two sides the opportunity for a rematch, with the Confederacy allied to the French, British and Russians , whilst the USA backs Germany and Austria-Hungary.
This is not simply an excuse to bring the horrors of trench warfare onto the American continent. Although many of the characters take part in the fighting , details of the various military operations are kept muted The emphasis is overwhelmingly on the effects the war has on ordinary people. The book jumps between over 20 separate situations, each with their own cast , the unfolding of the conflict being the unifying factor Mostly these different sets of characters never meet , and it says a lot for the quality of the writing that your interest is still completely maintained.
Some of the threads are more satisfying than others The poorer ones are rather abruptly resolved. The more interesting ones are left open, obviously paving the way for the next series The disadvantage of alternate history is that the further one moves from where history branches , the less relevant the examination of social trends becomes However, this storyline is certainly strong enough for another series , and you can have great fun guessing the parts certain characters will be playing!
All in all , an enlightening examination of American social history , expertly written by an author who understands his subject.
Martin Bourne
TIIE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
NON-FICTION
THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION
Walter Bagehot Oxford University Press , £6.99, pb, 220pp ISBN O 19 2833975 6 Bagehot was Editor of The Economist and in 1867 published this series of still very readable essays on the workings of a Constitution which, unlike others , had evolved; which was more a collection of laws and conventions than one document. It has remained a classic and at a time when constitutional change is happening at frightening speed (devolution, Europe, local government , the judiciary, let alone the massive changes in Parliament itself) a reprint is timely Many of his statements are still valid, meriting debate eg. 'The English people do not easily change their rooted opinions ' 'At this moment, in England, there is a sort of leaning towards bureaucracy - at least, among writers and talkers' - and 'The defects of bureaucracy are, indeed, well known '
Marina Oliver
THE SMART : The True Story of Margaret Caroline Rudd and the Unfortunate Perreau Brothers
Sarah Bakewell , Chatto & Windus , £ I 7 99, hb , 289 pp+notes , ISBN O 701 I 7109 X This study of a celebrated 18th century forgery case gives us a fascinating insight into the society of the period Margaret Caroline Rudd was born in Lurgan in northern Ireland Bored by the limitations of small town life she married an English soldier as a means of escape But she soon forsook him and eventually became a high-class prostitute in London The Perreau brothers were identical twins but with sharply contrasting characters The three of them began to forge bonds , a crime which at this period carried the death penalty They stood trial Caroline was acquitted but the brothers were hanged
The central puzzle of the book is whether it was Caroline or the brothers who masterminded the whole thing. Their trials in 1775 attracted massive publicity and the two brothers and Caroline argued their cases in print, blaming each other Sarah Bakewell takes the view that Caroline was the mastermind and I am inclined to agree She appears to have been intelligent, charming and highly manipulative
Lastly, the insights given into certain aspects of 18th century London society, together with the extensive documentation , make this an excellent source book for the historical novelist.
Neville Firman
DR SIMON FORMAN
Judith Cook, Chatto & Windus , £18.99, hb , 209pp , ISBN O70 I I 6899 4
Dr Simon Forman was one of the most extraordinary personalities of Elizabethan and Jacobean England. Often called a quack by the Royal College of Physicians, because of his interpretation of illness through astrological charts , he was a charismatic, volatile and ambitious figure His ways of properly recording case histories are exemplary for his time and medical historians have lately begun to take him seriously, reassessing his place in Elizabethan medicine
Judith Cook has written a lively book in which she recounts Forman's rise from a poor country background in Wiltshire to one of the wealthiest practices in London. The story is told wherever possible in Forman's own words
The cover, beautifully designed, sets the scene for the vivid descriptions of 17th century London . The author has written for the theatre and about Elizabethan drama and she frequently introduces into the narrative references to Shakespeare and the first eyewitness accounts of the Bard's plays are recounted in Forman's journal Without ever intending it, Dr Simon Forman was an excellent commentator on his time A feast of a book
Gwen
Sly
SAMUEL PEPYS: A LIFE
Stephen Coote, Hodder & Stoughton, 2000 , £20 00 , hb , 386pp, ISBN 0-340-75123-1
It was a kinsman's influence which brought Pepys the post of Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board in 1660. But it was his intelligence, his 'ability to bring order where there was confusion' , and his mastery of detail which made him the great bureaucrat who eventually became Secretary to the Admiralty He was present at most of the great events of his age He witnessed the execution of Charles 1, and the coronation of Charles II , and he stayed in his post in London during the Plague and the Fire
This excellent biography brings both the man and those events to life. Stephen Coote also shows us Pepys the loving but unfaithful husband ; Pepys as a fellow and eventually President of the Royal Society: Pepys the collector of books , the lover of music and the theatre ; and Pepys the diarist , unforgettably pictured in the act of ruling up the first page of his diary and 'making a balance sheet of his world' .
Jeanne Fielder
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
DYNAMO - DEFENDING THE HONOUR OF KIEV
Andy Dougan Fourth Estate , £14 99 , hb 'In 1942 at the centre point of the Second World War an extraordinary event took place , not on the battlefield, but in a municipal stadium in Kiev A football match was arranged between a German Luftwaffe side and a team of impoverished Kievans from a local bakery, Start FC , that became the subject of legend This is the true story of courage , team loyalty and fortitude in the face of the most brutal oppression the world has ever seen.'
Dougan, a journalist, has endeavoured to separate fact from fiction in a story that was confused even in the minds of contemporaries Some believed the footballers could only be collaborators - playing sport with the enemy while their countrymen fought and died. The truth seems far more horrific The survivors of the assault and capture of Kiev , finding themselves effectively in a concentration camp epitomised the ingenuity and spirit of survival often seen in those in such traumatic situations If the series of football matches was 'an allegory of resistance' then the final score was the 30 ,000 bodies which were eventually found buried or burnt in the ravines outside the city
This book is a prime example of how truth is often so much stranger than fiction and how we don't have to look to fictional characters for examples of courage , tenacity and brutality
Towse Harrison
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF JOHN NICOL, MARINER
Edited and introduced by Tim Flannery , Canongate, 1997 , £6 99 , pb , 192pp ISBN l-84195-091-2
In 1822 , John Howell , writer, bookbinder, inventor and self-styled 'polyartist' , came across an old man scavenging the streets of Edinburgh for scraps of coal. The old man was John Nicol , ship's cooper and sailor The story of his life and adventures was so remarkable that Howell eventually published it.
Nicol's maritime career took him to the Americas , the infant colony of New South Wales , China, Greenland and the Falklands . Nicol observed and remembered This is not a 'here be dragons' account of exaggerated folklore but an account by a man with a keen eye Naive , sometimes sentimental and always curious , Nicol was a humanitarian who abhorred cruelty
On the voyage to New South Wales , Nicol fell in love with a young convict. Due to his contract, he could not stay with her once they reached the colony. His efforts to find Sarah and his son are moving - the editor has kindly
Tiffi HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
followed up subsequent events for the reader. Nicol's endeavours to evade the press gangs are devious and at times amusing but his resolution to avoid them kept him in hiding of one form or another for 11 years
This is an accessible account , not only of maritime life but of life in many parts of the world. The helpful footnotes provide further , fascinating reading as does Flannery's comprehensive introduction.
Geraldine Perriam
BARCELONA
Robert Hughes , Harvill Press , pb , £9 99 , 573pp , ISBN I 86046 824 l
Robert Hughes' history of the city, from its small beginning as a cluster of Roman huts to the spires of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, embraces far more than architecture This is an affectionate look at the people of Catalunya and their struggle to retain their national identity
The book brings the city brilliantly to life : Hughes writes sublimely about the buildings and le.ft me regretting those which have disappeared. He also explores such subjects as Catalan poetry and the importance in Catalan culture The book's climax comes , as it should, with the work of Gaudi Hughes tells the story of Barcelona in a racy and readable style . There is so much in this book to praise that it is disappointing to find that though photographs are plentiful they are badly reproduced and very dark, and the index is not as comprehensive as I would have liked But even if you don't want to read the whole book , do get it out of the library and read the chapter on Gaudi
Diane Johnstone
THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SOLDIERS ATWAR
Edited by Jon E Lewis , Robinson, 2001 , £7 .99 , pb , 498pp , ISBN l-84119-181-7
Nothing can bring home the reality of war better than an eyewitness account of it and The Mammoth Book of Soldiers at War contains a wealth of first-hand anecdotes culled from letters and diaries The 19th century saw the French Revolution , the Napoleonic War and the 1812 War It was the age of Sharpe, of the sword and musket and was also one of the first ages to produce a glut of soldiers' personal memoirs , of which fourteen have been selected for this insightful volume Voiced by many different characters, from varying backgrounds and representing both French and British soldiers , this book is never less than fascinating in its depiction of the day-to-day life of the average soldier. Anyone with an interest in the 19th century will be fascinated by this book which looks much deeper into the psychology of war
because it vividly portrays the emotions of the people fighting those battles An invaluable guide into what it was to be a soldier.
Sara Wilson
DANUBE
Claudio Magris, translated from the Italian by Patrick Creagh, Harvill, £8 99 , pb , 416pp ,. ISBN l-86046-823-3
Magris uses the course of the Danube as a thread on which he strings erudite literary , historical and philosophical references with some connection to the places along the river The places themselves are not of much importance To quote the writer, 'we shall look for places to pause , and detours and delays ' Magris is awesomely well-read , but makes the mistake (in my case that is) of assuming that his reader is equally well-informed I found Danube difficult in both content and style Magris plunges into recondite allusions without supplying any background. His attitude seems to be 'of course, x., y or z needs no introduction from me ' Instead of selecting from his immense store of knowledge , he seems to summarise , forcing his content into the fewest possible words The result is a dense , complex style which overwhelmed me I have to admit that my ignorance of Central European and Balkan culture makes me quite unfitted to review Danube On the other hand, there can not be many English-speaking readers with the specialist knowledge to appreciate the book, and I hesitate to recommend it to the general reader.
Ruth Nash
THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE: A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy
Peter Marshall , Macmillan, 200 I , £20 , hb , 545pp, ISBN 0-333-76367 X
This rather long and occasionally repetitive book is an attempt to search out the mysteries behind the arcane art of alchemy We are taken on a Grand Tour of the origins of alchemy in China, India , Tibet and then onto Ancient Egypt, through the work of the Muslim Arabs This is a lot of ground to cover and to his credit , the author draws out the threads of continuity in the alchemists' arts wherever and whenever it has been practised But the book does not succeed because Peter Marshall seems unable to determine precisely what it should be As an exposition of alchemy - the methods and potted histories of its major practitioners - it is good , if some times sketchy But there is too much New Age mysticism and too much bare credibility given to highly subjective issues
Peter Marshall argues for the existence of a lost civilisation that initially gave the secrets of alchemy to the world - Atlantis He also believes that the world is at the dawn of a ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
DYNAMO - DEFENDING THE HONOUR OFKIEV
Andy Dougan Fourth Estate , £ 14 99 , hb 'In 1942 at the centre point of the Second World War an extraordinary event took place , not on the battlefield , but in a municipal stadium in Kiev. A football match was arranged between a German Luftwaffe side and a team of impoverished Kievans from a local bakery , Start FC , that became the subject of legend This is the true story of courage , team loyalty and fortitude in the face of the most brutal oppression the world has ever seen '
Dougan, a journalist, has endeavoured to separate fact from fiction in a story that was confused even in the minds of contemporaries Some believed the footballers could only be collaborators - playing sport with the enemy while their countrymen fought and died. The truth seems far more horrific The survivors of the assault and capture of Kiev , finding themselves effectively in a concentration camp epitomised the ingenuity and spirit of survival often seen in those in such traumatic situations If the series of football matches was 'an allegory of resistance' then the final score was the 30 ,000 bodies which were eventually found buried or burnt in the ravines outside the city
This book is a prime example of how truth is often so much stranger than fiction and how we don't have to look to fictional characters for examples of courage , tenacity and brutality . Towse Harrison
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF JOHN NICOL, MARINER
Edited and introduced by Tim Flannery, Canongate, 1997. £6 99. pb , 192pp ISBN l-84195-091-2
In 1822 , John Howell , writer, bookbinder, inventor and self-styled 'polyartist' , came across an old man scavenging the streets of Edinburgh for scraps of coal. The old man was John Nicol , ship's cooper and sailor. The story of his life and adventures was so remarkable that Howell eventually published it.
Nicol's maritime career took him to the Americas , the infant colony of New South Wales , China, Greenland and the Falklands Nicol observed and remembered This is not a 'here be dragons' account of exaggerated folklore but an account by a man with a keen eye Naive , sometimes sentimental and always curious , Nicol was a humanitarian who abhorred cruelty.
On the voyage to New South Wales , Nicol fell in love with a young convict. Due to his contract, he could not stay with her once they reached the colony. His efforts to find Sarah and his son are moving - the editor has kindly
TI-IE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
followed up subsequent events for the reader. Nicol's endeavours to evade the press gangs are devious and at times amusing but his resolution to avoid them kept him in hiding of one form or another for 11 years
This is an accessible account , not only of maritime life but of life in many parts of the world . The helpful footnotes provide further , fascinating reading as does Flannery's comprehensive introduction.
Geraldine Perriam
BARCELONA
Robert Hughes , Harvill Press , pb , £9 99 , 573pp , ISBN I 86046 824 I
Robert Hughes' history of the city, from its small beginning as a cluster of Roman huts to the spires of Gaud.i's Sagrada Familia, embraces far more than architecture. This is an affectionate look at the people of Catalunya and their struggle to retain their national identity
The book brings the city brilliantly to life : Hughes writes sublimely about the buildings and left me regretting those which have disappeared He also explores such subjects as Catalan poetry and the importance in Catalan culture The book's climax comes , as it should, with the work of Gaudi Hughes tells the story of Barcelona in a racy and readable style There is so much in this book to praise that it is disappointing to find that though photographs are plentiful they are badly reproduced and very dark, and the index is not as comprehensive as I would have liked But even if you don't want to read the whole book, do get it out of the library and read the chapter on Gaudi
Diane Johnstone
THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF SOLDIERS ATWAR
Edited by Jon E Lewis , Robinson, 2001 , £7 99 , pb , 498pp , ISBN l-84119-181-7
Nothing can bring home the reality of war better than an eyewitness account of it and The Mammoth Book of Soldiers at War contains a wealth of first-hand anecdotes culled from letters and diaries. The 19th century saw the French Revolution , the Napoleonic War and the 1812 War It was the age of Sharpe, of the sword and musket and was also one of the first ages to produce a glut of soldiers' personal memoirs , of which fourteen have been selected for this insightful volume Voiced by many different characters, from varying backgrounds and representing both French and British soldiers , this book is never less than fascinating in its depiction of the day-to-day life of the average soldier.
Anyone with an interest in the I 9th century will be fascinated by this book which looks much deeper into the psychology of war
because it vividly portrays the emotions of the people fighting those battles. An invaluable guide into what it was to be a soldier
Sara Wilson
DANUBE
Claudio Magris , translated from the Italian by Patrick Creagh, Harvill, £8 99 , pb , 416pp ,. ISBN 1-86046-823-3
Magris uses the course of the Danube as a thread on which he strings erudite literary , historical and philosophical references with some connection to the places along the river. The places themselves are not of much importance To quote the writer, 'we shall look for places to pause , and detours and delays ' Magris is awesomely well-read , but makes the mistake (in my case that is) of assuming that his reader is equally well -informed. I found Danube difficult in both content and style. Magris plunges into recondite allusions without supplying any background His attitude seems to be 'of course , x, y or z needs no introduction from me ' Instead of selecting from his immense store of knowledge , he seems to summarise, forcing his content into the fewest possible words. The result is a dense , complex style which overwhelmed me I have to admit that my ignorance of Central European and Balkan culture makes me quite unfitted to review Danube On the other hand, there can not be many English-speaking readers with the specialist knowledge to appreciate the book, and I hesitate to recommend it to the general reader
Ruth Na s h
THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE: A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy
Peter Marshall , Macmillan, 200 I , £20 , hb , 545pp, ISBN 0-333- 76367 X
This rather long and occasionally repetitive book is an attempt to search out the mysteries behind the arcane art of alchemy. We are taken on a Grand Tour of the origins of alchemy in China, India , Tibet and then onto Ancient Egypt, through the work of the Muslim Arabs This is a lot of ground to cover and to his credit. the author draws out the threads of continuity in the alchemists' arts where ver and whenever it has been practised But the book does not succeed because Peter Marshall seems unable to determine precisel y what it should be As an exposition of alchemy - the methods and potted histories of its major practitioners - it is good, if some times sketchy But there is too much New Age mysticism and too much bare credibility given to highly subjective issues
Peter Marshall argues for the existence of a lost civilisation that initially gave the secrets of alchemy to the world - Atlantis He also believes that the world is at the dawn of a
spiritual awakening led by the quixotic science of alchemy , knocking down the world's religions as it goes I felt like flinging the book into the comer of my room as I read such stuff I certainly know much more about the history of the subject, but it has only confirmed my suspicions that there is little of substance to be gained for immersing oneself in the arcane rites of alchemical research.
Doug Kemp
THE FIRST LADY DIANA
Victoria Massey , Allison & Busby, £10 99 , pb , 256pp , ISBN 0 7490 0491 6
This Lady Diana Spencer (1710-1735) had a short life , like her namesake and descendent. She grew up within the cushioned ranks of the aristocracy, married , lost her only child and died of tuberculosis The author had begun to despair of finding even one of her letters , when she came across a whole collection of them, preserved in lead-lined boxes , only recently acquired by the British Museum from Blenheim Palace and all written by Diana from the age of seven until a few weeks before her death.
Diana was one of the grandchildren of the formidable Duchess of Marlborough, formerly the Sarah Jennings who had been bosom pals with Queen Anne until her temper and arrogance turned even that lethargic lady against her. The Duchess either extravagantly adored her relatives or loathed them She was very fond of Diana, taking her over at the age of six when her mother died
The main concern of the aristocracy was , of course , to maintain their position (The Duke of Marlborough was in and out of favour throughout several reigns.) They were better fed and housed than the majority of the population but their hold on life was nearly as tenuous ; the Duchess regularly posting medicine and advice to ailing family members Although there was no understanding of TB at the time the Duchess was well ahead of her time advocating fresh air and clean spring water for Diana and refusing to let her be bled Diana appeared to recover and made a happy marriage with the Duke of Bedford
Diana seems to have been a very attractive girl , diplomatic in dealing with her grandmother and adept in smoothing over family rows She was also lively , sometimes priggish, vain but generous and extremely brave when facing the horrible truth that she was not pregnant after all but dying
The book is illustrated and so detailed that it gives fascinating and readable insight into the day to day life of a powerful, ambitious and dysfunctional family and their own voices speak out for them from their correspondence There are the usual difficulties following who is who as they either marry or inherit a new
TIIE I-IlSTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
title, but this is a minor point. Altogether an impressively thorough and most enjoyable read
Val Whitmarsh
THE BRONTE MYTH
Lucasta Miller, Jonathan Cape, £18 99, hb , 320pp (including notes , bibliography and index) ISBN 0 224 03745 5
The subject of this book is 'the manipulation of a reputation' Charlotte Bronte tried to manage the 'public image' of herself and her sisters but after her death (in 1855) the mythologysing was started by Mrs Gaskell in The Lfe of Charlotte Bronte Mrs Gaskell transformed their 'story' into a 'legend' but as Patrick Bronte pointed out 'Mrs Gaskell is an excellent writer of fiction' Since the publication of A Life in 1857 hardly a year has passed without some Bronte 'biography' appearing
The book concentrates on Charlotte and Emily with some literary speculation which surrounds their brother Bramwell. Anne and Patrick Bronte are apparently 'lesser myths' Haworth plays its part in the story : portrayed (by Mrs Gaskell) and imagined by many to be a bleak and desolate place. Visitors to the Bronte shrine were surprised to fmd that it was a thriving town with several mills and not isolated from the rest of the world
Charlotte Bronte has been depicted in many guises but it is Emily Bronte whom biographers disagree about most. Few seem able to accept her as an excellent novelist with many disputing that she , (a mere woman) , could be the author of Wuthering Heights Images of the Brontes have appeared on film , TV and tea towels. The Bronte name is also used to sell biscuits and holidays can be taken in 'Bronte Country' Their lives have created as much interest as their novels and on a visit to Haworth (in 1994) the author was informed that the bookshop there had closed for 'lack of support'.
The Bronte Myth sets out the near impossible art of writing biography, of interest to both writers and readers It is an interesting read with a comprehensive bibliography, notes and index
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE
Alan Palmer, Constable, 200 I , £20 , hb , 268pp, ISBN 0-09-479860-5
This biography concentrates on the Emperor's second, dynastic marriage to an Austrian Archduchess Inevitably there has to be some political and military detail , but the author concentrates on selected aspects of Napoleon's career which concern his policy as it affects the Habsburgs The first few chapters skim over his rise to power , and the famil y
background and Habsburg ambitions which dictate the future of the girl who follows her great-aunt Marie Antoinette onto the French throne From regarding him as a Corsican monster, Marie Louise appears well-satisfied with her husband , and desolate when they are forced to separate
The style is both academic and immensely readable At times I wanted more detail of what was happening in other parts of Europe (the Peninsular campaign is hardly mentioned, for instance) , or to other major players (Josephine , once divorced, virtually disappears from view), but given the focus of the book, it was an illuminating account of both personal and political events.
Marina Oliver
THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF LIFE BEFORE THE MAST
Ed Jon E. Lewis , Constable.Robinson, £7 99 , pb , 495pp , ISBN 1-84119- I 75-2
If you have a short attention span and want a quick impression of life in the old sailing-ships, this is the book for you. It contains extracts from previously published books and diaries of naval officers and men of the 18th-19th century wars against France and the USA However, Life Before the Mast is a bit of a misnomer : of the 22 extracts only 7 are written by seamen, the rest are all officers , including 2 admirals and 5 captains. These were gentlemen whose place was on the quarter-deck , situated well aft How well they all write! Perhaps because they were new to me , I particularly enjoyed the tales of the War of 1812 , between Britain and the USA . In some cases American crewmen pressed on board British ships , were ordered to attack their own countrymen The account by Samuel Leech , gunner, of the engagement between HMS Macedonian and the USS United States is movingly told, with the attention to detail of a born writer , and had me filled with admiration for the hardship and suffering of the old sailors and a hankering to read the full versions of their works
Diane Johnstone
DR. JOHNSON'S LONDON
Liza Picard, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2000 , £20 , hb , 292pp, ISBN0 297 84218 8 If ever there were a book for absolute indulgence, this is it. Dr Johnson's London is the intellectual equivalent of a large platter of antipasti , each delicacy as delicious as the last.. At the tum of each page there are fresh delights If this sounds over-enthusiastic, the following glimpses may seduce you.
A runaway cow in the middle of the City, with pursuers losing wigs , hats and shoes Details of false teeth , the water wheels of London Bridge, pleasure gardens , slums , dry
cleaning, DIY , housemaids , and so on, not forgetting the fascinating footnotes (in particular, the one on chimney sweeps' apprentices , which posits an interesting theory).
The author is a lawyer who has spent her retirement researching London (a previous book investigated Restoration London) She presents a wide range of particulars in an anything but dry manner, revelling in descriptive narrative
For both readers and authors of historical novels , this book is an invaluable source of information. An appendix deals with the cost of living, currency and prices The sense of place conveyed by the author gives the text an immediacy that immerses the reader in the sights and sounds of the city Dr Johnson's London is more than a source book . It is a comparuon : humorous, entertaining and informative
Geraldine Perriam
THE BATTLE FOR NORTH AMERICA
Francis Parkman (Ed John Tebbe)) Phoenix Press £16 99 ,pb , 775pp , ISBN I 84212 2416 I
Francis Parkman's 13 volume epic France and England in North America published in 1889, is till a superbly detailed account of the history of Canada from the first French explorers to its surrender to Britain in 1763 Unfortunately the books offer some problems to the modern reader The writing style is now somewhat archaic and the original was written and published as separate books rather than as a single work. This led to a lot of repetition in the text.
Tebbe! has edited Parkman's work into a single volume, with the intention of correcting these problems and presenting the result in an affordable product. Of necessity the editor has excluded much of the original writing This includes the entire of three volumes that do not directly fit into the chronology of Canada: those covering the early conflicts between France and Spain in Florida and Carolina Also a detailed study of French Canada I think the book has succeeded in its intentions. The text is more readable than the original and it presents a concise chronology of events However, for me the strength of Parkman is the fine detail in the events he is describing, some of which is missing from this book To be fair , it would have been impossible to produce a single volume that did not lose something of the original But Tebbe! has kept enough detail to make this an interesting read and a good introduction to North American history of the 17th and 18th centuries .
Graham Harrison
KITCHENER
John Pollock, Constable & Robinson, 2001 , £20, hb, 624pp, ISBN O 094 80340 4
A hero in his lifetime , an anti-hero in an age of post-imperial guilt , what was Kitchener really like? Pollock is clearly trying to rehabilitate him, debunk the legend of the cold callous warrior, show us a fallible human being , and at the same time a man who changed the course of history
Kitchener, like most soldiers , didn't see human life in the same way as you or I might. His actions, as at the battle of Omdurman were those of one who can stomach a lot of bloodshed, if in his view ultimate good is done. The same applies to his words, as after the battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915 where 8000 men were killed missing or wounded : 'It isn't the men I mind, it's the shells The men I can replace quite easily.'. It's easy to judge him now It's easy too , to believe that the dervishes , followers of the Mahdi , were quite entitled to practice the tyrannical cruelties of religious fanaticism in their own land, and that Kitchener should have minded his own business. But it wasn't what he believed, and if we believe his morals misguided, we must yet believe him to have been a highly moral man. Just like the Mahdi.
Add to these sorts of issue , the monumental quarrel Kitchener had with his Viceroy in India and you have a fascinating book.
Sydenham Hill
THE FLOATING BROTHEL
Sian Rees , Headline , 2001 , £14.99, 248pp , ISBN 1-7472-7286-7
In July 1789 , 237 women convicts left England for Botany Bay on board the Lady Julian In previous years, population growth had led to a massive rise in unemployment , crime and misery which was exacerbated by the disbanding of 130 ,000 soldiers after the American colonies won their independence Male unemployment was solved by putting women out of work . The Times estimated that there were 'in London and its environs 50 ,000 common women' , as unemployed maidservants and shop girls turned to prostitution and petty crime for survival
Transportation to Parts Beyond the Seas was a usual punishment, as courts were largely reluctant to impose the death sentence for petty crime Prisons overflowed, America no longer wanted our down-and-outs , and the few South African penal colonies had died out. Only newly-discovered Australia needed settlers and labour Between the 'First Fleet' of mainly urban convicts and the 'Second Fleet' including tradesmen, the Lady Julian sailed with her female cargo, intended to provide
sexual services and a breeding bank for the convicts, soldiers and settlers
The author has drawn on the painstaking work of Australian historians and genealogists to write an enthralling and horrifying account of these 'disorderly women' - more sinned against than sinning - and she follows in fascinating and memorable detail the lives of many from their trials , through their lives on board and after they landed Hugely enjoyable and highly recommended
Val Whitmarsh
[Ed's note : one of the sources used in The Floating Brothel was The Life and Adventures of John Nicol , Mariner , also reviewed in this issue , page 27 ]
ELIZABETH
David Starkey, Vintage, £7.99 , pb , 372pp ISBN O099 288657 2
Those who were luck-y enough to get to Kirby Hall in 2000 will know first-hand what an entertaining and compelling speaker David Starkey is , and just how passionate he is about the subject of his latest book, now in paberback
When Elizabeth was 3 years old, her mother was. effectively, murdered by her father What was the effect of this on her? Indeed, how much would it truly matter when the people who raised her in her separate household., kneeling to her cradle even as they chastised her, were so much physically and emotionally closer to her than either of her parents had ever been? Starkey paints a hugely readable, but excellently referenced, picture of a child and teenager who would, for education , political awareness and sheer indomitable (even intractable) spirit, run rings round her 21st century peers.
For drama , trauma , conflict and sexual tension it is the kind of story that any novelist would have been proud to have dreamed up One of the valid arguments against much historical fiction is that characters appear too modern, failing to convincingly have the mind-sets and intellectual and moral concerns of real people of their times This is more than language. Too often readers and writers tend to apply the concerns and aspirations of the present on to our ancestors in the past. In such a reading Elizabeth and Simon de Montfort. as examples , can be re-interpreted as racist anti-Semites - which, whilst true in elements of fact ; anti-Semitism being endemic throughout history: is patently ridiculous in the context of their own times To get an authentic taste of how Elizabeth thought , fought, manoeuvred and survived - this is an excellent place to start.
Towse Harrison
ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
ROMAN INFANTRY EQUIPMENT, THE LATER EMPIRE
I P Stephenson, Tempus , £15.99, pb , 128pp , ISBN O75241 908 0
Between 192AD and 284AD the Roman Anny underwent enormous changes The infantryman of this time was very different from the 'classic' legionary of the I st and 2nd centuries or from his successor in the 4th and 5th In fact Stephenson convincingly argues that not only the equipment and appearance differed but the actual tactics used differed radically from those of the centuries either side He draws on archaeological evidence as well as numerous contemporary v,ritten and representational sources There is a lot of published work on the Imperial armies of the earlier and later eras , but very little on this middle period The writing style is informative and easy to follow for the layman without a feeling of 'dumbing down' for the expert
Each chapter covers a single item, or related group of weapons or equipment, its description, construction and use. The final chapter gives a short overview of the strategy and tactics of the 3rd century Roman army. As with most Tempus titles there is a wealth of black and white illustrations and 22 colour plates The latter include a wonderful series of colour paintings depicting Roman infantrymen
One minor complaint, but something I found extremely irritating, was the totally mis-representational title Who on earth decided on a sub-title of 'The Later Empire'? The author himself breaks the Roman Empire into four periods , 27BC-68AD, 68AD-192AD, 192AD-284AD and 284AD--476AD. How then is the period l 92AD-284AD 'The Later Empire'? This niggle aside , it is an excellent book.
Graham Harrison
ANGLO-SAXON WEAPONS AND WARFARE
Richard Underwood , Tempus , £15.99, pb l59pp
This is a really excellent sourcebook for anyone researching Anglo-Saxon warriors between 450AD and !WOAD, The author uses the latest archaeological evidence, together with epic poetry and literary sources The latter are extremely sparse from Britain in this period, so he supplements these with continental accounts of other contemporary Germanic societies, such as the Franks Underwood also utilises the later sagas of the Vikings , particularly for their detailed description of hand-to-hand combat. The text is well written in an easily digested style , as is the case with many of the Tempus titles.
The first three chapters describe each individual weapon or item of equipment,
TI-IE HlSTORlCAL NOVELS REVIEW
evidence for its use (both from historical sources and from the experience of modem re-enactors) and in some cases , the method of manufacture. The latter two chapters briefly examine the dynamics of warfare within Anglo-Saxon society and the methods and tactics actually employed on the battlefield.
Throughout , the book is lavishly illustrated with 25 colour plates and numerous black and white photographs and drawings of original artefacts , modem re-constructions and re-enactors The author works as a defence analyst , but is a long term re-enactor himself. As such this book is an excellent example of the value of good historical re-enactment and living history. It is there an effective counter to the ill-informed opinions on re-enactment expressed in the HNS e-mail Newsletter Graham Harrison
THE QUEEN'S CONJUROR
The Science and Magic of Dr Dee Benjamin Woolley, HarperCollins , 2001 , £15.99 , hb , 394pp, ISBN O 00 257139 0 Not for nothing was Dr John Dee , the Elizabethan scientist, known as the ' Merlin of Mortlake •. His wide interests included all forms of scientific subjects : He was a great mathematician , perhaps best known for his preface to the first edition of Euclid in English ; he was a brilliant cartographer, astrologer and geologist. In his house at Mortlake his personal library was reputed to be the largest in England
But in spite of being in great favour with Queen Elizabeth, being known as her ' philosopher ', and an honoured member of her court over the centuries Dee has been largely dismissed as credulous and weak , his reputation tarnished by his passion for astrology and magic, his ' conjuring '.
In the si.,-xteenth century Elizabethans regarded astrology as an important science Even the Queen consulted Dee about her horoscope , and he was appointed by Robert Dudley to choose the most auspicious day for her coronation. ' Conjuring ' was applied then as a term for someone who could conjure up ' wicked spirits ' rather than rabbits out of a hat and this Dee dabbled in deepJy, treating his connections with the spirit world, his visions and spirit contacts, with utmost seriousness.
Anyone interested in Elizabethan life and work will be fascinated by this readable and well-illustrated book It gives a picture of the Tudor age at a time of anxious upheaval between the death of Edward VI and the establishment of Elizabeth I, a time of bewildering changes in religious belief. No wonder astrology and magic had such a hold on people ' s thoughts .
Maureen Barton
CHILDREN'S
SINGER TO THE SEA GOD
Vivien Alcock, Mammoth, 1999, £4.50 , 186 pp , ISBN 0-7497-1284-8
First published in 1992 , this retelling of the Perseus myth is a very entertaining and readable version. The young slave Cleo has gazed on the head of Medusa and been turned to stone She is carried away as a statue and sold . Her brother Phaidon travels the world in his efforts to find and save her, encountering war , sea monsters , pirates , and a lonely island inhabited only by the independent Iris , who becomes his friend and companion The hunt for Cleo takes years, and as Phaidon , Iris and their friends continue the search, Phaidon has to grow up and learn lessons about loyalty, trust and priorities . Will he find Cleo and be able to bring her back to life? Yes and no, according to Atropos and her sisters who foretell the future.
Vivien Alcock has created a lively and exciting adventure , which in style and characterisation is in some ways reminiscent of a Geoffrey Trease novel. Strong boy and girl protagonists and plenty of action ensure that the book will appeal to both boys and girls of about 10 to 12 years. This is a very good modem introduction to an ancient story , and worth buying for any child who is showing an interest in the Greek myths , or who just likes a really good adventure story.
Belinda Copson
KEZZIE
Theresa Breslin, Mammoth, I 994 , £4.50 pb , 157 pp , ISBN 0-7497-1771-8
The first part of this book gives an excellent picture of a Scottish mining village in the 1930s but the main part of the book exposes the scandal of enforced child emigration --something which is only now being brought to light.
Mary Moffat
It is during the 1930s, Kezzie is the eldest and Lucy is the youngest. Their father died so they had to be looked after by their granddad . One day Kezzie gets into a car crash and Lucy goes out to find her but gets lost. Somebody finds Lucy and takes her to the orphanage Lucy gets taken away with some children that are going to Canada. Meanwhile Kezzie starts to recover from the crash and realises that Lucy is gone so she goes after her. The papers of aH the children get mixed up so it's even harder for Ke7.7je to find Lucy especially as Lucy tells the orphanage a fake name EventuaHy after days of hard work Kezzie finds Lucy but Lucy is very ill so Kezzie and Lucy have to
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
stay in Canada even longer. They stay at the doctor's house and become very friendly with him Their granddad sends them a letter asking them whether they are going to come back to England or stay in Canada. Kezzie finds it a very hard decision. What does she eventually do?
I found this a very enjoyable story although the cover is very misleading. I would say the age group for this book would be about 11 +, because some of the words are quite long and some people might not even understand what the book is about. Altogether this is a very good book and I would recommend it to other people
Sophie-Ann Leyland (aged 12)
SAXON SUPERMAN. THE STORY OF HEREWARD
Linda Hague, Anglia Young Books, I 996 ISBN 1-871173-04-3
This is the story of Hereward the Wake (from whom, by the way , the late Alec Guiness's wife prided herself on being descended) , the Fenland resistance leader against the Normans after 1066.
Told by Martin Lightfoot, a young and trusted servant in Hereward's household, the life of Hereward is the stuff of which myth and legends are made , of course , for , like Robin Hood whom he precedes by at least a hundred years, he was an English freedom fighter Tactically brilliant, physically powerful and knowing his tenitory intimately, the daredevil hero could outwit and out-fight the Normans Apart from his love of wrestling, fighting and hunting , he was an accomplished musician , who loved to play the harp.
This novel offers one of the most fast paced, action-packed adventure stories known to man and boy Charles Kingsley's retelling of his story was standard fare in classrooms when I was a child, but I do not remember so much hectic action as finds its way into this retelling.
The story of Hereward is the story of the dispossession of the English people after 1066 and of their incredibly brave resistance to what can only be described as the Nazi equivalent of the first rnillenium
This is not just an action-packed novel with, as a result, intense boy appeal. It is also stuffed with facts about this daring and heroic figure , and yet is not obviously didactic A quick and exciting read for 8-12 year olds (Some guide at the end of the novel to further reading would have been helpful , for I am sure child readers are going to want to find out more about this remarkable English hero.)
Linda Hall
I really liked ' Saxon Superman.' It was set at the time of the Norman Conquest of Saxon
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
England. My favourite bit was when the Normans built a floating bridge over a swampy Marsh. When all the Normans started to run across the bridge it capsized so everybody fell off. In the end only one man made it across safely I recommend this book for mostly boys , because it is quite gory Luke Williamson age 9
A DEVIL'S JUDGEMENT
Dennis Hamley , Point Crime (Scholastic) , 1999, £3.99 pb ., 245 pp , ISBN 0-590-19769-X
Set in 1369 after the Black Death had cut the population of Coventry by one half and induced a sense of doomed hopelessness among many of those left, the fourth Joslin de Lay mystery concerns a troupe of travelling players , seen as 'vagabonds' by the bishop , heading for the town for the feast of Corpus Christi
To their dismay , the Church is about to put them out of business by encouraging the Guilds to take responsibility for presenting the Mystery plays on the feast day . This is partly to re-ignite the guildsmen's own flagging faith and partly to help restore the townsfolk's morale and pride
Behind, and interwoven with this story lies a more murl...--y matter of a deadly rivalry for mayor which, though apparently settled years before, issues in several murders and presents Joslin with a truly complicated puzzle to solve .
Dennis Harnley's impressive new novel reminds me of The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco's masterpiece of medieval fiction and semiotics. It is impelled by the same awareness of humour as the vital weapon against evil. In the exciting and fast-paced ending the townsfolk realise that 'the best way to deal with evil is to laugh at it.' The people only liberate themselves from fear , when collectively they begin to laugh at Beelzebub, Satan's right hand man, from which follows strength to defy him A mocking frame of mind is an essential safeguard of political liberty
Intended for teenage readers , this novel will be enjoyed by many adults too A review cannot convey how exciting, vivid, fast-paced and packed with action (most of it credible) this novel is It provides a lucid account of the nature of the medieval Mystery plays and their importance in teaching the Biblical stories to an illiterate populace It also makes clear the popular nature of English drama , and a teacher/parent worth his/her salt will point out that Shakespeare had seen these plays. He makes Hamlet refer to over-acting as 'out-Heroding Herod,' an evil character played for laughs .
I found this novel a really fascinating read Especially in that the Cassandra in me saw it as a welcome parable on political correctness Linda Hall
THE CAT OF BUBASTES. A TALE OF ANCIENT EGYPT
G.A. Henty , PrestonSpeed, 1998 , Trade pb , £8 55 , 339 pp, ISBN l-88715-923-l
PrestonSpeed is republishing all the books of G.A. Henty And not abridged editions either. This book was first published in 1888 .
This is the story of Arnuba, a fourteen-year-old boy who is taken to Egypt as a slave when his people are defeated by the Egyptians. Once in Egypt he is assigned to the service of Ameres, the high-priest of one of the temples He finds himself acting as companion to the priest's son, Chebron, with whom he soon becomes friendly
All goes well until Chebron accidentally kills a cat. The cat was a sacred animal to the Egyptians and killing one , even accidentally , would mean death.
This is a thrilling adventure story The excitement never flags. But it also has a sound historical background packed with detail which, nevertheless , never holds back the pace of the story But there is more than this to The Cat of Bubastes This is , in many ways , a deeply religious book
Some deep ideas here on the origins of religion A book to really make young readers THINK Excellent. 11 to adult.
Mary Moffat THE LOTHIAN RUN
Mollie Hunter, Canongate, 1989, (1st pub in 1971) , £2.99 , 221 pp , ISBN O 86241 069 X This is a smuggling story which is written round a very significant incident in 18th century Scottish history - the Porteous Riots of 1736. To give a brief summary. When a smuggler was about to be hanged, another smuggler, Robertson, mounted a rescue attempt. Captain John Porteous ordered his men to fire on the Edinburgh crowd. They did so and a few citizens were killed . Captain Porteous was later accused of murder, tried and sentenced to death but was later reprieved But when he was finally released from gaol the Edinburgh mob rioted Captain Porteous was seized and hanged from the pole above a barber's shop The story of Captain Porteous runs right through The Lothian Run. But as if this is not enough Mollie Hunter has also worked in a Jacobite plot.
Sandy Maxwell is an apprentice in a lawyer's office Then Deryck Gilmour, Special Investigations Officer in the service of His Majesty's Customs, calls on the lawyer, Mr Wishart. Gilmour is trying to catch the escaped smuggler, George Robertson and he is asking Mr Wishart to help him. Mr Wishart at
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
once tells him that his young clerk, Sandy Maxwell could be of assistance So begins a new career for young Sandy
The story moves between the tall buildings and narrow alleys of Edinburgh, the hills and valleys of the countryside south of Edinburgh and the fishing village of Prestonpans . It moves at a rapid pace until the final climax at the riots and lynching of Captain Porteous
A thrilling story with a sound historical background.
I once heard a story about a teacher who read this book with her class When she had finished her class gave their verdict in no uncertain terms In a mixture of traditional Glasgow and modem TV they told her what they thought of Sandy Maxwell.
' He was a right wee grasser He went to yon wee fushin' village and the people were friendly to him and then he went and shopped them to the polis · Whatever may be said about the sentiments expressed one thing is for sure - The Lothian Run really meant something to those children
I have been informed that Canongate are selling their Kelpie list and that three publishers are under consideration. I hope that this question is resolved satisfactorily and that the Kelpies are in for a revival. IO+
MaryMojfat
SHADOW OF THEWALL
Christa Laird, Red Fox, 1999, £3.99 , pb , 158 pp , ISBN 0-09-940057-X
The time is 1941 and the story is set in a Poland that has been overrun by Germany The main character is 14 year-old Misha who lives with his two sisters inside the Jewish orphanage run by Doctor Janusz Korczak, who was actually one of the heroes of Poland
The city is firmly beneath the Nazi jackboot and all Jewish families have been forced to move from their homes into one area from which the original tenants have been equally forcibly moved out to make space for them. Misha is not yet an orphan but his father is dead and his mother is dying at the start of the story As the Nazi stranglehold on the Jews tightens , we follow Misha's own escape from the Ghetto through the sewers to join a group of Patriots who are trying to combat the occupying forces As be is in hiding, waiting for his friend to come and guide him through the sewer complex, he has to watch as those left in the orphanage are marched away under German guard to the railway station en route to a concentration camp
This is a gripping and moving story and a timely reminder of what happens in wars when those in power have strange and dangerous obsessions such as Hitler's attitude towards one religious group , the Jews l would
TIIE
recommend this book to any young person who is considering a study of World War II for history It is a painless way of getting to grips with the reality of war for ordinary people
Jan Shaw
MARTIN HYDE
John Masefield, Project Gutenberg
Can be downloaded free from Project Gutenberg on the internet. At http ://www gutenberg.net
This book is included to show the wide variety of ways in which books can be obtained nowadays I like the classics I enjoyed this book as a child and l am glad that modem technology enabled me to read it again.
Twelve-year-old Martin Hyde is locked in his room for disobedience In a fit of rebellion he escapes through the window and goes to investigate the strange goings-on in the house opposite He finds it is occupied by the Duke of Monmouth and some of his supporters, all busy plotting the overthrow of James II Young Martin agrees to join them and becomes the Duke's messenger. Then follows an action-packed tale of adventure and intrigue in Holland, an eventful crossing of the Channel , and, finally , a description of the pathetic efforts of untrained countrymen and the dreadful retribution of the Monmouth Rebellion It is good that this book is still available even if only on electronic format. II +
Mary Moffat
INVASION Bette Meyrick, Pont Books , 1991 , £2.50 , 70 pp , ISBN 0 86383 773 5
In February I 797 about 1,200 French troops landed near Fishguard They had believed that the Welsh peasants would rise and support the French against the rich landowners. But instead the Fishguard Fencibles prepared to defend their town Reinforcements arrived and the French surrendered.
This is a fictionalised account as seen through the eyes of two twelve year old boys Morgan Owen and his friend Rhys
This is a worthy read as it throws light on a very significant incident which has been largely ignored by mainstream history But surely the one invasion of Britain by the French deserves to be remembered?
Something caught my eye in passing. The blacksmith plays an important part in repulsing the French The blacksmith's name is Phillippa A woman blacksmith in the 18th century? Interesting for those trying to find out about women in history . 9+
This novel provides a good introduction to the Suffragette movement , its goals , methods and the difficulties it was faced with in pre-WWI London It can be enjoyably read by both boys and girls The author meshes an impressive historical content into the thread of the story, without demonstrating a surfeit of learning. It is mostly accurate, though with an occasional historical solecism in speech, but not so that it detracts from an enjoyment of the narrative
There are perhaps a few too many cameo appearances by figures such as Lytton Strachey and Ottoline Morrell , that although they add to the flavour of the times , do not carry forward the story, and for the younger reader, are probably just names with no real significance, and no obvious link to the narrative thread But I found their too-brief appearances entertaining.
The main historical figures such as the Pankhursts, are outlined by the three main characters in the story, two neophyte Suffragettes and their male writer friend, who are historically insignificant, but are able to witness the development of the Suffragette movement and the key players from an informed distance This works well , as the reader gets both the story , the flavour of the times and main affairs of the day up to WWI, when the Suffragette movement was suspended. The writing is elegant yet unadorned and I enjoyed it. I would warn parents, though, that there is a highly graphic description of the forced-feeding of a Suffragette.
Doug Kemp
This book is all about the Suffragettes. I think this book is best for 11-14 years. It was a bit hard for me but towards the end it got easier to follow At the start of the book, there is a lot of swapping about , which makes it hard to follow the story But it helped me a lot to understand all about the Suffragettes and why they wanted to get votes for women Charlotte Kemp , aged 10
ROOM FOR A STRANGER
Ann Turnbull , Walker Books , 1996, £8 99 hb , I I 9 pp , ISBN 0-7445-4128-X It is I 94 I and eleven-year-old Doreen learns that they will be taking in an evacuee, thirteen-year-old Rhoda from Liverpool. Doreen dislikes sharing her bedroom and still more resents the way the older girl , with her make-up and her glamorous singer mother , soon becomes the star attraction at Doreen's concert . Her growing resentment leads her to say things to Rhoda which threaten to have tragic consequences
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
I was particularly impressed by the period detail in this book. Wartime economies, too, are deftly drawn. But Ann Turnbull is far too skilful a writer to give us undigested lumps of research, and it is all carefully and naturally integrated into the story , for example the kidneys saved under the counter for Mrs Dyer by the butcher offal was exempt from rationing , but you needed to be on friendly terms with your butcher to get it.
What the book is really about is Doreen's maturation. Rhoda's unwelcome arrival precipates Doreen's envy of her possessions and jealousy of her popularity, particularly with Aunty Elsie Doreen, who up to now has had the confidence of a loved youngest child in the family , suddenly feels unwanted, insecure and resentful. She has to learn, as her mother puts it, ' You can love more than one person, you know It isn't rationed-- not like butter.'
As the book progresses, Doreen gradually learns that Rhoda is to be pitied rather than envied ; she is illegitimate ; her glamorous mother doesn't really want her; her 'boyfriend' is probably more imaginary than real and she, too, has a need to feel accepted.
This book would be an excellent background to a study of the Home Front during World War Two. The small, telling details , together with the emotional conflicts, would appeal particularly to girls of ten and up. I think boys might find the lack of action boring
The children's writer Joan Aiken and others have stated that writing for children is not a soft option. It demands the best writing , properly-rounded characters and a crystal-clear focus. This dictum is admirably borne out in this book. The research into the 1940s is thoroughly and naturally integrated into the story ; Doreen and Rhoda's characters and predicaments are sensitively drawn ; and I found the story compelling reading Congratulations to Ann Turnbull.
Elizabeth Hawksley THE HISTORICAL
US/CANADA TITLES
'US/Canada' here means that the following books not The are published, but necessarily set, in United States or Canada.
NOTE: Within this section, if books are available from Amazon UK , these prices are also listed (£). An asterisk next to this price indicates a separate UK edition Canadian prices are also given, if available.
As the second daughter of a king-in-exile , young Princess Sarai has been promised as a priestess to the Temple of Asherah. But when she meets Abram, her destiny changes for Abram is not only the man with whom she falls in love, but a man chosen by a strange god to be the father of a new people Abandoning everything she's ever known, Sarai follows Abram on his wanderings at the behest ofthis unknown and unknowable god.
But years pass, and despite God's promise to Abram renamed Abraham, Sarai now Sarah fails to become pregnant. In an attempt to give Abraham the son who will be the father of multitudes , Sarah asks her servant Hagar to bear a child for them. But Hagar's child, Ishmael, is not to be the founder of the promised nation Only after years of hardship and questioning does Abraham's god grant the aged Sarah the promised son, Isaac.
Providing a number of twists on the biblical tale, this is an inventive and engaging telling of the life of Sarah, the woman who laughed at God's news (that so old a woman would now bear a child) and who gives as good as she gets throughout both the book of Genesis and Card's novel.
India Edghill
STONE TABLES
Orson Scott Card, Shadow Mountain, 2000 , $17.95 (£11.23), tpb , 432pp , ISBN l-57345-663-2
Card once again produces an enjoyable story of biblical fiction. His Stone Tables is the story of Moses and the Exodus , but with a lightly flip outlook And •flip ' in no way means irreverent. Card clearly states he is a Mormon, and this story reflects some of his values and beliefs and he infuses this telling of Moses with a sardonic humor which still gets the his people free of Egyptian bondage but does not weigh down the reader with despairing visions of doom and gloom
Also unusual is his having Hatshepsut, daughter of Pharaoh Thutmose I and eventual Pharaoh herself, as the noble woman who takes baby Moses as her own child thus making him a Prince of Egypt. Card's supporting argument in the preface, based on cultural factors , makes it seem quite possible
Most of the supporting cast are quite different than their usual portrayals, and though some characters could have used a bit more depth, others such as grumpy sister Miriam, envious brother Aaron, and Moses himself make Stone Tables a delightful way to read Exodus Card's skill in the writing of this novel displays his ability to apply his talent to a diversity of subjects. He makes no apologies , and has no need, because for all Stone Tables ' lightness in reading, the message that God loves all his children is there for the reader
Francine Rivers' third novella in her Lineage of Grace series continues with the same simple charm of the previous novellas Unshaken is the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, who willingly exiles herself to care for her mother-in-law Naomi . Seen only as a foreigner in Naomi's home, Ruth is subjected to the malice of her prejudiced neighbors Although shunned and miserable, Ruth stays with Naomi by choice and is rewarded for her love, devotion and sacrifice.
Francine Rivers' portrayal of the burgeoning love between Ruth and Boaz is only one of the reasons why Rivers is such an excellent author Her people are vibrantly alive , with all the strengths and weaknesses that make them so human And always present is the warm certainty that God knows the essence of his children and repays love , devotion and loyalty in kind
This is the fourth of Lauren Haney's Lieutenant Bak series A rumor sweeps down the Nile : Queen Hatshepsut plans to disband her frontier army and transform fortresses into warehouses The proposed cost-cutting maneuver will be a disaster for the Wawat. Amonked, a kinsman of the Queen, arrives with a delegation to study the proposal. The local people fear his report will leave them without protection, and so Amonked finds himself a unpopular visitor. When a well-liked local prince is found slain in a house where Amonked's party has rested, suspicion immediately lights upon the outsiders. Lieutenant Bak, searching for the murderer, joins their caravan as it travels south
The setting, eighteenth-dynasty Egypt, is authentic Each scene has a dusty, low-tech taste and feel. I admired the author's easy familiarity with her sympathetic inspector as well as the colorful and mostly unromanticized descriptions of homes , marketplaces and towns. That said, I felt the solution was overlong in arriving. Despite all the evocative description and traditional cast of red herring suspects , there was a sense that the old Agatha Christie form was starting to chafe the sides of this talented author.
Juliet Waldron
THE WISE WOMAN
Christian Jacq , Pocket, 2000 , $16.00/C$23 .50 (£8.00*), tpb , 425pp , ISBN 0-7434-0347-9
Reviewed in Issue 14 (December 2000) , UK section .
US/CANADA: CLASSICAL
ALEXANDER: CHILD OF A DREAM
Valerio Massimo Manfredi , Pan Macmillan Australia , 2001 , AU$28 , 352pp , pb , ISBN 0-333-78035-3
See page 7 for UK review
THE HOSTAGE
Mary R. DeMaine, PZA Publishing, 2000 , $12 .95 (£8.11), tpb , 316pp, ISBN 0967347114
Although knowledge of the controversies over the Greek poet Homer may not be necessary for the enjoyment of the story , readers should
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
still take time to read the foreword In Greek, the author explains , the name Homer means ' hostage ' Very little is known about either Homer himself or the origins of the two masterworks attributed to him, the Odyssey and the Iliad Disproving the stereotype that academics turn out dry historical novels, DeMaine, a classical scholar, presents her theories in the form of an entertaining, action-filled tale
The novel is one of adventure and discovery, with plenty of local and period color. The author seems at home within the milieu of ancient Greece Her dialogue is casual and almost modern, but it works All her characters have personalities, but some are simply annoying , and others occasionally act more like the mythological figures of Homer ' s poems than real people. Maps of Greece and the islands would also have helped Still, these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise an educational and pleasurable reading experience.
Sarah L. Nesbeitt
US/CANADA: 3RD CENTURY
CALLISTA
John Henry Newman, University of Notre Dame Press , 2001, $35 (£29 50) , hb , 448pp , ,
ISBN 0-268-02260- 7
First published in 1856 , Cal/ista is set in 3rd century Roman North Africa and tells the story of three characters forced to seek their true spiritual home in a time of decadence and persecution Callista is an exiled Greek who makes statues of pagan gods Her suitor Agellius seeks to renew his childhood Christian faith in the midst of adversity , while his brother Juba, passionate and tormented, resists divine destiny until the last.
It was news to me that Cardinal (as he then wasn ' t) Newman wrote fiction, but this is the second of two novels - the other was Loss and Gain (1848) about the spiritual odyssey of a 19th-century English Catholic convert not unlike himself.
Callista is full of incident and drama. But today ' s reader may find the lengthy descriptions and overheated dialogue tiresome , and the use of Victorian colloquialisms and references to places like Birmingham and the West Indies jarring, not to mention preachy : It 's obvious that this novel is a warning to complacent Christians that the British Empire might go the way of the Roman Sarah Cuthbertson
US/CANADA: 4TH CENTURY
LORD OF SIL VER
Alan Fisk, Xlibris, 2000 , $16 (£10 72), tpb , 314pp , ISBN 0-7388-3416-5
In the Museum of London there is a Roman roof tile with a message written into the wet clay just after the tile had been made . It says that Austalis has been going off by himself for 13 days This book speculates why this message might have been written. Was it just the idle scribbling of a bored and nosy tilemaker , or was it something more sinister?
Austalis , a young warrior from beyond Hadrian's Wall , visits Roman Britain. He is looking for a religion, and for the famed Roman civilisation that his father worked within as a soldier before retiring to the Gododdin. Austalis samples various religions, and on the way finds a woman to love He also meets some of the major players in the history of fourth century Britain such as Magnus Maximus and Pelagius But he is ultimately rejected by the Roman society that he so admires , and wreaks havoc by seeking to arrange an alliance of barbarian forces to attack Britain.
Chief among Lord Of Silver's virtues is its communication of otherness : Austalis has very different attitudes from modem day people, and from the Romans There is a strong whiff of authenticity about the behaviour of Austalis and other characters However, this can also create distance , making it difficult for the reader to understand motivations and emotions.
There is much in this book to provoke thought about the various cultures within Britain (and beyond) during the late fourth century. Rome's grip on the western parts of the Empire in the fourth century was substantially faltering , and the book illustrates this well. Lord Of Silver shows the reader less well-known peoples (and aspects) of the fourth century , and of course it is these peoples who prevailed in the fifth century Sandra Garside-Neville
US/CANADA: 9TH CENTURY
SECRET OF SANTIAGO
Bernard Reilly, Combined Books , 1997 , $24.95 (£17.35) , HB , 235pp ISBN 0-938289-60-8
In the reign of Alfonso II of Spain (791-842) , a supernatural revelation led to the discovery of the tomb of St. James. Some sources identify this James as the apostle (the Great) , ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
others as the brother of Jesus Christ (the Less) By erecting a church over the tomb , Alfonso instituted the Christian shrine so famous for pilgrimage : Santiago de Compostela. Secret of Santiago recounts these happenings
This earthy story moves as fast as an action film. But the characters, with the exception of Alvitus, never seem real. Confused tenses and frequent reference to Aurelius as Odo (his nickname) unbalance the reader. Modern slang 'huh' , ' sonny ', 'little kid ' contribute to the sense that this story could be happening anywhere at any time Although told in the first chapter that this is ninth-century Spain, and although details in the novel's second half hint at the place and time, I felt it lacked the peculiar history of its era
Claire Morris Bernard
US/CANADA: 12TH CENIURY
A PERSONAL DEVIL
Roberta Gellis , Forge, 2001, $23 95/C$34.95 (£14 91 *) , hb , 3 !Opp , ISBN 0-312-86998-3
One may pause and ponder when confronted with a novel that features a prostitute as the heroine, particularly one who is also a madam! Any writer who takes on the challenge of making the reader identify with a whore who runs a whorehouse deserves a special niche in the hall of fame (infamy?) of writers who are not afraid of taking chances.
Magdalene la Batarde ' manages ' the Old Priory Guesthouse in the London of the time of King Stephen When one of her prostitutes , the blind Sabina, is implicated in the murder of the thoroughly vile and wretched Bertrild, Magdalene enlists the aid of the stalwart Sir Bellamy of Itchen. Bellamy takes on the task of saving Magdalene from any possible harm connected with the investigation and, in so doing , hopes to convince her to leave her life as a prostitute and settle down with him
The list of possible suspects is a long one Indeed Bertrild is such an evil individual that no one' really grieves her violent end! The plot is rich and tightly crafted The players all are blessed with enough personality to stand in for the central characters The London of early spring , I 139 is outlined in marvelous detail. And last but not least , the author has indeed man~ged the incredible task of making readers cast their lots with a madam An enlightening and entertaining experience
John R Vallely
JOURNEY TO COMPOSTELA
Bernard Reilly , Combined Publishing, 2001 , $24 95 (£15.62), HB , 222pp, ISBN 1-58097-042-7
Journey to Compostela is the story of Martin, a farmer on pilgrimage. Through the course of fate, he loses his original comrades and is forced by the knight Rainald to join his band of companions
This novel positively quivers with emotions , danger, growth and self-awareness. The relationship between Martin and Rainald, the most heinous of knights , shivers with moral obligation, the mindset of the medieval peasant, and the overwhelming contrast between the two
Aside from a few phrases of modern slang which jolted me out of Reilly ' s carefully set soul-searching atmosphere, the passionate fervor of his plot burns throughout the pages of this tiny medieval masterpiece
Journey to Compostela is truly more than the traditional medieval novel, as it powerfully leaps with insight into the brutality of faith, hope , pity , and pure evil that was the era of early twelfth century Spain
Legend among the Anasazi predicts that a child born with six fingers or toes will be gifted Moon Fire, born with six toes on each foot is such a child Her family is torn apart afte; her older brother decides to become a trader rather than follow traditional teachings , and her younger brother's betrayal. Meanwhile , the Anasazi fight for their very existence during a severe drought.
The premise of why the Anasazi abandoned their cliff dwellings is intriguing. Although the names are confusing, the author thoughtfully provides a list of characters with their translations The research is excellent , but unfortunately the execution of the story fell short With too much telling , rather than showing , the plot is linear and slow-moving Moon Fire and her lover are too perfect for believability. And the descriptions lack the enchanted atmosphere of the Southwest setting The passion for the Anasazi I expected to find in the novel went totally unfulfilled
Kim Murphy
US/CANADA: 13TH CENIURY
THE SWAN MAIDEN
Susan King, Signet, 2001 , $6 99/C$9 99 (£4.33) , pb , 327pp , ISBN 0-451-20213-9
Highland Juliana, her castle under English attack, is saved by handsome, loyalty-torn Anglo-Scot Sir Gawain He lets her go and she becomes the mysterious Swan Maiden in a rebel band. Soon she ' s captured and Edward I half-jestingly marries her to the disgraced Gawain who , to redeem his honor, must return her, swan-garbed, to Scotland and force her to swear allegiance to England as an example to the revolting Scots.
Though it starts off well with the storming of the castle and Juliana's rescue , the subsequent plot fails to generate enough drama for a page-turner Most of the characters are too nice to each other: hero and heroine don ' t strike sparks , and the villains are rather half-hearted. There was disappointingly little sense of place or period But Ms King ' s style flows pleasantly, and the sex scenes are handled with subtlety A comfortable rather than an exciting read
Sarah Cuthbertson
US/CANADA: IITH CENfURY
THE REEVE'S TALE
Margaret Frazer, Berkley Prime Crime, 2000, $6 50 , pb , 274pp , ISBN 0425176673
For review, see page 8 UK section
THE SQUIRE'S TALE
Margaret Frazer, Berkley Prime Crime, 2000 , $21.95/C$30 99 (£13.19), hb, 277pp , ISBN 0-425-17678-9
Robert Fenner attempts to settle a dispute between his lady wife Blaunche and her former in-laws. He means to do this through the marriage of his ward, Katherine. However , the young heiress ' hand is widely sought , and she is brought to the nunnery of St. Frideswide ' s for protection When it's judged safe to return , two nuns , Dame Claire and Dame Frevisse, are asked to accompany the group back home, where arbitration will settle things once and for all. The levels of tension and deception escalate, and they eventually lead to murder.
Strangely for a crime novel , in The Squire 's Tale the story leading up to the murder forms the first two-thirds of the book. Mystery fans may find themselves impatiently
predicting the murder, but medieval enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy here
Sarah L. Nesbeitt
THE RED QUEEN: Margaret of Anjou and the Wars of the Roses
Ruth S Perot, 1st Books Library, 2000 , $18 67 (£12 98) , tpb , 284 pp , ISBN l-58721-233-l
This novel covers the years from 1444 to 1475 , during the reign of Henry VI , the indecisive, humanistic, unwarlike king who ruled during a time of great upheaval and political intrigue As we watch Henry slowly lose his grip on sanity, and allegiances shift back and forth between York and Lancaster, we are able to see the cleverness , political savvy and downright gutsiness of Margaret , the French maiden who came to England as Henry ' s wife and perhaps , became more English than the English themselves
The pity of it, of course , is that her own son was denied the throne of England, and that this unachievable goal became Margaret ' s sole obsession That Margaret is self-exiled to France, where she dies in virtual obscurity and poverty, is even more pitiful
Perot captures the very essence of the political tunnoil of the Wars of the Roses in the characters of Margaret, her friends , and her foes , of whom there were increasingly many The ineluctability of fortune ' s wheel is a paradigm of the day and Margaret and Henry, once at the top of that wheel, are crushed by its downward turn. Perot does a marvelous job of making Margaret a compelling, sympathetic and fascinating character. A highly recommended read!
Fiona Buckley draws the reader into the story with her lively and fluid first-person narration: Ursula Blanchard, former spy to Elizabeth I, now married to a man who supports Marie Stuart ' s claim to England ' s throne, sets out for England only to be trapped once more into the service of the Queen Philip Mortimer hopes to regain his family ' s former power by threatening to blackmail Elizabeth, and Ursula embarks on a series of adventures and perils in order to defuse the menace that could ruin the Queen
Buckley ' s tale of political and personal intrigue is well structured, satisfyingly complex and action filled Her characters have
1HE HISTORJCAL NOVE LS REVIEW
many facets which render them quite believable The historical details are smoothly incorporated into the story
I strongly suggest that this series be read in order , since the numerous references to past events made it difficult for me to get my bearings Ursula occasionally proffers feminist ideas that sounded too modern to my ears , and her relationship to men is also confusing She is attracted rapidly to many of them, and it never feels like she loves the husband waiting in France. These were for me the weakest and less credible parts of the book. Still , this is a very satisfying page-turner.
Nicole Leclerc
THE REAL PEOPLE SERIES
Robert J. Conley, University of Oklahoma Press , 2000 , $11.95 (£7.48) each, l92pp , tpb
Individual titles are:
The Way of the Priests (ISBN 0806132728)
The Dark Way (0806132736)
The White Path (0806132744)
The Way South (0806132752)
The Long Way Home (0806132760)
The Dark Island (0806132779)
The War Trail North (0806132787)
These seven books describe various incidents in the history of the Cherokee Nation who call themselves ' The Real People ' in their own language and are all vastly enjoyable and compulsively readable.
Conley is highly adept at describing the world from the Native American point of view and contrasting it with that of the Spanish He packs a lot of story into a short novel , and every one of these books is a real page-turner. He has a way of writing that made me think of folktales Legends are threaded through the narratives of the rabbit Jisdu and his trickster ways (one of the archetypes of Brer Rabbit) , and the reader will learn much about the traditional Cherokee way of life If you enjoy reading about this period, then I can recommend this series for its perceptions about Native Americans , likeable characters and plainly told but exciting stories. Highly recommended
' Down wi' the Boleyns, e'en the royal one! ' is the cry of a group dedicated to the destruction of the Boleyn famil y, included the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the murdered Anne . Elizabeth is spending her time under watch until her half-sister Mary Tudor dies and Elizabeth can ascend to her throne But that is far from an assured thing , as murder and attempted murder bring Elizabeth into a conspiracy to poison her . She must discover 36
the identity of the master poisoner at the center of it all before it is too late
Karen Harper does a great job of evoking the atmosphere of the stress-filled days when Elizabeth knows she has many supporters among the common folk but is still reminded most forcibly that there are others that would much rather see her dead This is an enjoyable book, and I look forward to reading the next.
Anne Marie Gazzolo
A MYSTERY OF ERRORS
Simon Hawke. Forge , 2000 , $22 .95 (£14.36), hb , 240pp, ISBN 0-312-87372-7
After viewing a performance by a traveling theater troupe , stage-struck apprentice blacksmith Symington ' Tuck· Smythe leaves his country village and heads for London, determined to become an actor Along the way, he is befriended by a poet who also has theatrical ambitions William Shakespeare
The two reach London and find employment with the Queen ' s Men, but not in the manner they had envisioned . One of the theatre s backers has arranged for his daughter to marry the son of a prominent court member When he is murdered, Tuck must solve the mystery quickl y to save the company from disastrous consequences .
The novel is laced with fascinating glimpses into the world of Elizabethan theater and describes the bickering in and between companies and the process of writing , rehearsing, and staging plays. There are lots of appearances by members of the Elizabethan stage , and Hawke ' s portrayal of Shakespeare is irresistible The novel is set during the ' lost years' of Shakespeare ' s life , and Hawke ' s version of how Shakespeare might have gotten his start in the theater is at once respectful and funny. Tuck is an interesting, likeable and resourceful protagonist. This fast , light-hearted romp will delight lovers of Shakespeare and things Elizabethan Lisa Sweeney
The Duchess of the title is Diane de Poitiers , one-time mistress to the King of France, Fran~is 1, and thereafter, full-time mistress to Henri Il Extremely beautiful , well-bred and well-educated in all things royal , from languages to hunting. Diane was also rambunctious and defiant of authority.
Diane ' s life in and out of court is inspirational. Her character and personality are both well developed It is clear that the author, a retired businessman, is passionate about his subject matter, and he successfully transports us back to the early sixteenth century . The main problem I've found with
self-published novels, of which this book is an example, is in the editing There are innumerable punctuation errors that do not really detract from the story , but nevertheless are annoying.
Other than that, I enjoyed this novel immensely and recommend it.
Ilysa Magnus
TAIKO: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan
Eiji Yoshikawa (tr William Scott Wilsonabridged), Kodansha USA , 2000, $32 (£20) ,hb , 928pp , ISBN: 4-7700-2609-9
This book spans a period between 1536 and 1583 , and is essentially the story (very well-known there) of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's rise from street brat to general , and at last, through a series of battles and a!Iiances , as much by clever strategy as much as force of arms , to the highest nonhereditary post available , that of Taiko.
In Western terms , Hideyoshi is rather like a combination of King Arthur and Odysseus: he is famed for his cleverness and deviousness , as well as being revered for his role in unifying Japan during a time of anarchy and chaos.
While the story itself is interesting, the telling of it is marred by a rather pedestrian and extremely literal translation that makes no concession to readers unfamiliar with medieval Japanese culture Even in this abridgement the book is over 900 pages of very small type, and the book seems at times to consist of little more than the iteration of an endless series of nearly-identical battles, whose stakes and outcome are opaque to the reader Readers not already intimately familiar with and enthusiastic about this period and the culture may find this substantial volume rather slow going
Rosemary Edghill
US/CANADA: 17TH CENTURY
THE SEA HA TH SPOKEN
Stephen Lewis , Berkley Prime Crime, 2001 , $5 99/C$8 99 (£3.71) , pb , 28lpp , ISBN 0-425-17802- l
In this 3rd in a Colonial New England crime series , Quaker sister and brother Jane and Richard Whitcomb arrive from England, landing at the coastal town of Newburv The local Puritans are suspicious (the Q~~ers ' unwelcome arrival is foreshadowed by the finding of a drowned sailor from their ship) and hostility is soon aroused by Jane ' s odd behavior and Richard ' s religious outspokenness When Richard is found dead,
midwife Catherine Williams , a voice of common sense among much intolerance and hypocrisy, investigates with help from aloof Indian , Massaquoit.
The town and its inhabitants needed more flesh on their bones - perhaps this was done in previous novels of the series (The Blind in Darkness was reviewed in Issue 13) But the story had good pace, keeping me guessing right to the end. And the arthritic but astute Catherine made an appealing sleuth . Sarah Cuthbertson
Robert Nye, Arcade, 2000 , $23 95 (£14.91) , hb , 216 pp , ISBN 1-55970-552-3
This is Anne Hathaway ' s story , written years after her husband has died Her daughter Susanna has given her a beautiful book of blank pages , covered in ivory-colored vellum, complete with silver clasp , lock and key. She feels destined to write her story in it, 'the true history of how it was between me and Mr Shakespeare. ' She sets out to write about her one and only trip to London to see her husband. Intertwined with this story we learn about her daughters , her in-laws , her worthy son-in-law and her ne ' er do well one her feelings about her husband, and eve~ the mysterious second-best bed, told in a very frank and conversational manner
While it might be a bit sharp to handle in person , it is very refreshing to listen to as she describes her life since meeting Mr Shakespeare She is always cognizant of the needs of her readers , frequently addressing us directly , but has to temper these needs by her insistence on telling the truth, however upsetting it might be.
Robert Nye provides a brief afterword in which he notes the sources from which certain components of his novel come , which helps to sort fact from imagination I am not a Shakespeare scholar, but I had great fun finding elements of his work in her story My view of him will be forever slightly altered by reading this engaging book.
Trudi E. Jacobson
US/CANADA: 18TH CENTURY
PRELUDE TO GLORY, v. 1: Our Sacred Honor
Ron Carter, Bookcraft, 1998 , $19 95, hb , 602pp , ISBN 1-57008-431-9
Ron Carter is a deeply religious individual who intends his multi-volume work on the Dunson family of Boston to serve as an example of the central role the Christian God played in the success of American patriots during the American Revolution The result is a mammoth work populated with characters who behave more as symbols of American heroism than real people with normal emotions. The writing is ponderous and can be almost stilted at times The author ' s inability to move the action along at a brisker pace and the transparent saintliness of the rebels is a deadly combination for all but the most determined reader
In all fairness , Carter has done his homework. The tension between rebel Bostonian and Royal officials is accurate and reasonably well described The problem does not lie with the research . It lies with the writing. The Dunson clan largely triumph, over the many challenges faced by British occupation. They play their parts in Lexington, Concord, and the slaughter at Bunker Hill while dealing with crises of family life and a daughter who falls in love with a British officer The novel takes the family saga to the British withdrawal from Boston. The question remains: after 602 pages of plodding detail , does the reader care?
John R Vallely
THE OLD AMERICAN
Ernest Hebert , 2000 , University Press of New England, $24 95 (£15 62) , hb , 287pp , ISBN 1-58465-073-7
This wonderful story fictionalizes the real life captivity of Nathan Blake, an English settler who was taken prisoner during a French raid on a New Hampshire settlement. The captor, an elderly Native American named Caucus-Meteor, is a purely fictional character created by the author. The story winds along with the ever-evolving relationship between these two men, both of whom suffer from a deep lack of fulfillment.
Reviewed in Issue 14 (December 2000) , UK section.
Hebert ' s style is as inviting as a fine wine His humor is dry , his metaphors subtle and smooth , and his dialog crisp and clean.
Nathan Blake suffers the ignominy of captivity because it is preferable to the unfulfilled existence he left behind But he never loses his pride or his religious beliefs His personal demons fascinate
Caucus-Meteor, and hls work ethlc ano stoicism earn him the respect of his captives. He, m tum, begms to see the ·savages ' as they really are: a truly magnificent people 1 enJoyeo Uus t>ook unmensely ano look forward to visiting Keene, New Hampshire , the town that grew from the Nathan Blakes settlement.
Tlus romantic novel of manners set m J760s Montreal was originally written in 1864 As such, mooem reaaers will neeo to accustom themselves to old-fashioned phrasings and ornruc1ent first-person narration, but once tlus point is past, the story flows easily enough. Antomette oe Mrrecoun, the aaugnter ot a wealthy country landowner, has a hfo-changmg expenence dunng her first v1s1t to Montreal. Canada has recently become part ot the t.ng11s11 Lrown, ana the Jugllest rankmg (and wealthiest) French Canadians have wasted no tune m retummg to France. Antoinette's older married cousin, Mrs 0 'AuJnay, organizes events at w!Ucll the seventeen-year-old girl is introduced to a succession of possible swtors These are all members of the English military and therefore, at least accoramg to Antomette·s aotmg tatller, unsuitable husband material. With Mrs lJ'Aulnay's active encouragement, however , Antoinette enters into a dangerous situation wlllcll slle all too soon regrets
The reader will sympathize with Antomette's situation wh!le at the same time marveling at her naivete Fortunately for the reaoer s pat.Jenee, she matures cons1aera1>1y as the story moves on. The solution to Antomette's d!lemma 1s hurly contnved, though as this is a romance, it's not wholly unexpecteo I Ile 01a1ogue 1s witty, ana tne language used overall is not all that dissimilar from that of today's Kegenc1es . Jn aJJ, I recommend it for readers interested in learning at>out (Juet>ec 's early lllstory.
Sarah L. Nesbeitt
LAST REFUGE OF SCOUNDRELS: A Kevolut1onary J ale
Paul Lussier, Warner, 2000, $26.95/C$37 95 (£16.!!7) , hb, 313pp, ISHN 0-446-52342-9 Somewhere far to the south of history as we know 1t ues tile truth. Ano somewhere not too far south of that lies this intriguing story. Luss1er ' s version of the Amencan Kevolut1on gives credit to the oddest couple history has ever seen: a plantation owner s son nameo John Lawrence and a very patriotic prostitute named lJeborah Simpson. The character I t1r. .ru;:, l VKJLAL l°"V V tL:'>
Lawrence 1s l>asect on a Justoncal personage by ilie name of Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens. Srrnpson 1s a composite based primarily on Deborah Sampson, a cross-aressmg patnot who actually tougllt with ilie Continental Army as a man. Tlus couple 1s burdened with more emotional baggage ilian any ten soap operas comt>meo. 1ogetller tlley manipulate a decidedly unworthy group we know as the •Foundmg Fathers mto bnngmg about the revolution iliat changed history The auilior pamts tile now-tamous teaoers on l>Otll s1aes of the war as self-serving, ill-mannered buffoons who wanted nothmg of the pnnc1ples on which the Constitution was supposedly 1>ase<1. I Ile eye-opener here 1s tllat Uus witty and enjoyable novel rings closer to the truth than any version of lustory to date . Mark F Johnson
PUSH NOT THE RIVER
James Conroyd Martin, XJ1bns, 2000, $25hb, $16, pb, 608pp, ISBN 0-7388-3141-7 J'ush /Vot the 1<1ver 1s 1>ase<1 on the real wary of Polish countess Anna Maria Berezowska . It follows her hfo dunng four of the more turbulent years of Polish history , I 791 to 1 /'J4. Len an orphan at age I t. slle moves m with her aunt, uncle and cousin. While there she meets and falls m love \\Tith their handsome neighbour, Count Jan Stelnicki , but tllerr retauonsrup 1s scuttleo t>y Iler cousm Zofia wiili devastating results . The family moves to Warsaw after her uncle's death and Anna Maria's marriage to Zofia's former swtor. Anna Mana never torgets Jan_ who fights for Poland's independence , but their love must wrut as each deals with the turbulence in ilieir personal lives.
I Ile story 1s well paceo ana compeumg, ilie historical detail plentiful yet not overwhelrrung, and the characters engagmg and true to the period . In addition the author accurately conveys the spmt ot t'ot1sn national pride The writing in places is a little awl,vard and could have benefited from an editor's red pen. I really would have appreciated an autllor·s note. tellmg me what was t1ct1onal and what wasn't, as the diary upon which ilie story 1s based 1s not pubhcly avrulable. The heroine's many adventures seem almost too much, yet trutll 1s otten stranger tnan tlctlon . This novel reminded me of a Polish Gone With the Wind with a reversal m roles, as the heroine is closer to being Melanie while Zofia 1s much like ::,cartett. tiotll novels cover turbulent periods of history, invading forces, and women lefl to fond for themselves who rise to meet the challenge with strength and courage. 1 recommena It to all, especially those of Polish heritage.
At o t:, pages , Uus 1s a whale ot a novel, t>ut even if you aren't already intrigued by this penod, or particularly moved by the solemn face iliat stares from American's most common paper l>Lll. you w111 tma yourselt caught up in the insistence of this historically accurate narrative The structure 1s remmiscent of Gore Vidal's Burr. In 1802, we are mtrooucea to a wou1a-1>e wnter who 1s dispatched by his uncle, a staunch partisan of Thomas Jetlerson, to wnte a story wluch will 'show Washington wiili all his warts .' I Ile eyewitnesses ·mterv1ewe<1 mctuae all classes We hear ilie narratives of slaves, Jndlans and soldlers who were occasional actors in Washington's early, ill-fated military torays on tile tronuer I here are more oov1ous ·sources,' such as his wife, Martha, and his personal phys1c1an . Other voices mclude the Marquis de Lafayette, John and Abigail Actarns. Joseph Keeo, ana Atexanaer Hamilton. Surviving letters of the period are occas1onally paraphrased mto ·narrative ·1he strongest tlrread of recollection belongs to the cyrucat uncle. who llveo tllrougll tile t rencll & Indian War under Washington's command The politics of land and trade (as ever) dominated ilie era All sides of the American equation are neatly renaerea. attllougll tile leaps from voice to voice are sometimes rrntatmg, especially m the later sections, which are heavily broken up As for those ·warts. you wont , m the ena. tma many Citizen Washington shows us a man who truly does grow mto lus legend
Juliet Waldron
MUTE WITNESS
Charles U ' linen, P01soned Pen Press , 200 I , $23.95 , hb , 325 pp, ISBN l-890208-62-0 Anne Laruer 1s a sometrrne actress ano puppeteer, and teacher of the deaf in London Anne s steptather, Antome lJubo1s, hves m Paris wiili his lover, Lelia Laplante, and both are mvotveo m the theater as well. A week before Anne ' s birthday , in August, 1785 , Antome sits down to wnte lus beloved stepdaughter a birthday greeting But Anne never receives tllat Jetter.
Many months later, Anne learns that Antome has dled under susp1c1ous circumstances. Has Antoine murdered Lelia ana commmeo swc1ae t>y Jumpmg out tile theater window? Or is there a conspiracy afoot?
This series introduces us to an attractive cast ot characters m pre-Kevotutlonary trance. Anne Cartier is a complex creation, compassionate and k.md, not merely an
accomplished actress and talented detective , but a woman at the forefront of a new system for the education of the hearing-impaired. Anne is so natural and personable that the many facets of her personality are not a stretch of the imagination She and her friends are forced to take action in a system so corrupt that it is no surprise that the French people found revolution the only possible solution to their problems but a short time later The maps of Paris and its environs are indispensable
A happy beginning to what I hope is a long and fruitful relationship with Anne Cartier and her comrades
The Siege of Isfahan takes place in the early 1700s. It is a familiar period to readers of historical fiction , if the Western world is the setting. In this novel , however , one looks at Europe through a side door, and finds oneself in another neighborhood entirely The action takes place in parts of the Middle East and Asia that are virtually unexplored by novelists It also covers a lot of ground Isfahan was the capital of Persia from 1598 to 1722 The events surrounding the latter date provide the impetus to the plot, but the narrative moves from Persia to Russia .to Afghanistan back to Isfahan for the climactic closing scenes
The Abyssinian , the author ' s highly praised first novel , is separate from this story, but there is an impulse to read the earlier adventures of the characters . The author writes in his afterword that a historical novel reconstructs the hills of history and restages what actually happened . ' An adventure novel (which he calls his work) takes place more in History ' s valleys It fills in the unknown and provides a reality where we have no knowledge at all.· He then carefully distinguishes what is historical in his narrative and what is not, so the reader concludes his scholarship is sound
The Siege of Isfahan is a fast moving action story The assorted characters and odd customs are fascinating . Peter the Great makes an appearance My favorite part deals with the Swedish exiles in Russia who dress up their native wives in wigs and gowns in a macabre attempt to ease their homesickness. The author, whose work is translated from French, does a terrific job of interpreting these times and historic events for the modem reader.
Mary K. Bird-Guilliams
SCANDALMONGER
William Safire, Simon & Schuster, 2000, $27/C$39 (£ 16 71 ), hb , 496pp, ISBN 0-684-867 I 9-2
Scrupulously based on original sources , this is the story of James Callender, America's first muckraking journalist. On the run from Scottish sedition law, he lands at Philadelphia toward the end of the 18th century Establishing his own newspaper and getting on the payroll of Thomas Jefferson., he publishes leaked documents relating to a financial scandal involving Jefferson s arch-rival , the Federalist Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton Hamilton outwits him., but Callender ' s attacks on both Hamilton and President Adams lead the Federalist party to enact its own freedom-of-speech-curbing sedition law, under which the ' scurrilous scoundrel Callender ' is unfairly convicted The resulting public outcry helps Jefferson to victory in the 1800 election. The new President pardons Callender then., finding him too much of a hot potato, drops him without reward . Broke and angry the newsmonger (as journalists were then called) wields his vitriolic pen in vengeance , exposing a scandal in Jefferson ' s domestic arrangements
Safire deftly picks his way through the complicated intrigues of his large cast of characters to make a riveting tale Only occasionally do awkwardnesses of phrasing show that the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and former Nixon speechwriter isn ' t finding the transition from journalese to fiction all that easy Telling the story mainly though dialogue (much of which is adapted from original letters) , he shows the major political figures of the young United States to be a mixture of high ideals and all-too-human foibles And above all he demonstrates , with touches of ironic humor , that media intrusion into private lives and manipulation of the press by politicians are nothing new
Sarah Cuthbertson
CAPTAIN MARY, BUCCANEER
Jacqueline Church Simonds, Beagle Bay Books , 2000 , $16 .95 (£10.61), tpb , 301pp , ISBN 0-9679591- 7-9
When most people think of pirates, they think of men, but some women - Anne Bonny and Mary Read, to name two - dared to thwart convention by turning to piracy Captain Mary is a fictional composite of these two women , and she is just as ruthless and daring When the story begins in 1721 , Mary is already a legendary pirate hunted by the navies of several nations. She commands her own ship (the Fury) , has created a financial empire, and has established a safe haven for all pirates on Cache Island . Freeing a traitorous doctor
from a captured French ship and havmg an affair with him complicate Mary's life She must evade the French who hound her, while dealing with her three lovers and keeping her crew from mutinying.
This is a well-researched tale that paints a harsh and dangerous way of life At no point does the author glorify or romanticize piracy, a refreshing change from most pirate tales. Some readers may find the violence a bit too gruesome Others may be uncomfortable with Mary ' s choice of lovers , who also include a former slave who ·s now her pilot and a woman who was a hostage but now runs an upscale brothel. This isn ' t a story where the reader will warm up to any of the characters Captain Mary, Buccaneer is for those seeking adventure on a rolling ship , the thrill of the chase and sea battles between the hunter and the hunted, or to be pirates in search of treasure.
Cindy Vallar
PERFUME
Patrick Siiskind., Vintage International , 200 I , $13/C$20 (£7 99*) , tpb , 255pb , ISBN 0-375-72584-9 Trans John E Woods from Das Par/um (Alfred A. Knopf, 1986)
' Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances , emotions , or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs , it fills us up , imbues us totally There is no remedy for it. '
So asserts Patrick Suskind in this bizarre, literary horror novel. The story centers about Grenouille, a man whose uncanny sense of smell dictates his actions Pulling himself out of squalid eighteenth-century Paris alleys , Grenouille becomes an apprentice perfumer. But jasmine, violet. and lavender cannot satisfy his obsessive nose . His yearning to possess the scents of young women turns him into a murderer He also yearns for power, and ignores the attendant consequences until it is too late .
Although this novel has almost no dialogue, the story moves well Its horror is mitigated by a sprightly authorial voice and allegorical hints The author marshals an army of details to create a marvelously authentic setting In fact , I would suggest this novel as a study on how to deftly use detail. I thought the ending a little unbelievable , though the natur.: of the story leads one to accept just about anything
An international bestseller, Perfame will certainly ensure readers pay more attention to odors
Claire Morris Bernard
US/CANADA: 19TH CENTURY
PALE TRUTH
Daniel Alef, Maxlt Publishing, Inc., 2000 , $27/C$40 (£16 90), hb , 588pp, ISBN 0-9700174-1-3
This is the first in a projected series of three books the author is titling The California Chronicles Covering 1829 to 1853 and taJcing the reader from Georgia to Missouri to Ohio to Panama and finally to the gold rush days in San Francisco, it is ostensibly the story of a mulatto slave , Mary Ellen, educated and freed by her owner ' s wife and passing for white . However, it really is the story of San Francisco, its nineteenth century vigilantism, commerce, fires , and induction into statehood.
Alef has clearly done his research, and oftentimes the characters ' development takes a back seat to a litany of historical facts . Tantalizing storylines are introduced and then dropped . A former failed Tammany Hall politician comes to San Francisco to seek political power there , and although successful in his public life, he is cowed, filled with guilt, or filled with hope when a beautiful singer comes back into his life It remains unclear which emotion he is feeling , and there is no resolution to that storyline Similarly, Mary Ellen, the purported heroine of the story , never fully comes to life
An early chapter is devoted to her learning voodoo arts in New Orleans for a specific purpose, but it was difficult to discern that purpose when all further references consisted of a few perfunctory remarks about using it to keep her employees in line Historical details are fine and in fact, the strength of the book. His characters, however, tend to be painted in black and white with few shades of gray Ellen Keith
KELLY AND THE THREE-TOED HORSE
Peter Bowen, St. Martin's Press , 2001 , $23.95 (£14.99) , hb , 326pp , ISBN 0-312-24106-2
Based on the real-life adventures of the legendary Luther ' Yellowstone ' Kelly, or so it's claimed, this is the third book in the series. On the basis of this sample, I'd be obliged to say there's more legend here than real life
By the late I 800s , civilization was gradually working its way westward, but Wyoming was still a wild and woolly frontier , not really a safe haven for tourists or for rival groups of dinosaur hunters , one of which hires Kelly, the renowned adventurer and scout. There is a third party involved , the delectable sexually-overcharged Alys de Bonneterre, who claims Kelly as her own There is much
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
movement back and forth across the countryside, as well as to Boston and back, to no great import. Complicating matters is a crazed homicidal Cheyenne named Blue Fox, a graduate of Dartmouth plus an Arabian prince with an entourage of elephants
But by this time, any hope of a coherent plot is long gone. A farce of grt:at magnitude , narrated by Kelly himself in semi-illiterate vernacular - this is a story that gets less and less interesting as the book goes on Read with caution The opinions of others may vary Steve Lewis
MRS. JEFFRIES WEEDS THE PLOT
Emily Brightwell, Berkley Prime Crime, 2000 , $5 .99 (£3 75) , pb , 214 pp , ISBN 0-425-17745-9
This is the latest in the many-volume Victorian Mystery series , starring Mrs . Jeffries Housekeeper to Inspector Witherspoon, her detective skills far outweigh his , and she and her staff are kept busy solving his mysteries without Jetting him know they are assisting . In this volume, the independent Annabeth Gentry is a murder target, and Mrs Jeffries takes the lead in the investigation ; the cook, maid, footman, coachman, and assorted hangers-on (including Fred, the dog) discover a tangled tale of dead bodies , vengeful relatives , and cross-Atlantic finances.
Brightwell ' s previous work in romance writing shows through in several scenes between Smythe, the coachman, and his fiancee Betsy, the maid, though their reason for postponing their wedding their avid interest in ' snooping,' as they call it is unconvincing Also unfortunate is the need to have Inspector Witherspoon as a cover for the group ' s mystery-solving Portrayed as bumbling and at times incoherent, one has to wonder how he has made his way in the world at all, even with the help of Mrs. Jeffries In terms of setting, there are some realistic Victorian details , though inconsistent attempts at the common language usage of the time detract from the atmosphere
The Johnstown Flood of 1889 in Pennsylvania was one of the worst disasters in American history : over 2,200 people died, including 99 whole families Kathleen Cambor has taken this tragic event and woven an engrossing tale around it, including both real and fictional characters , and in the process has created a microcosm oflate Victorian society .
The South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club was founded near Johnstown in 1879 as a pleasure retreat for wealthy industrialists and their families It included the three-mile-long Lake Conemaugh and the structurally unsound South Fork Dam. Although concerns were expressed from the outset by the local residents , the issue of the dam ' s safety was largely ignored by the club ' s members , and this attitude of neglect and general unconcern for the local population contributed mightily in the events which followed
With her excellent use of period detail and elegantly written prose , Cambor is able to involve us in her story through her characters The presence of such historical personages as Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Mellon and his doomed Laura , and Andrew Carnegie adds authenticity and depth to the author ' s narrative
Even though we know the final outcome of the story , the author skillfully makes us care for her characters and their lives. Cambor ' s well-paced style and beautifully crafted sentences reveal her characters layer by layer. She deftly creates a sense of urgency and maintains some modicum of suspense as to who will survive and who will die when the dam ultimately gives way In Sunlight , In a Beautifal Garden is a realistic portrayal of a particular place and time , peopled with vivid characters and strong emotions , all shattered forever in the aftermath of a disaster that should never have happened . Michael I. Shoop
(Originally published as A Woman of Destiny by Berkley in 1984.)
The story takes place between 1819 and 1919 and is a fictional biography of Dinah Kirkham, a woman who was central in the growth and stability of the Mormon Church It seems that if Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were the heads of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , then Dinah Kirkham was its heart
This remarkable woman was forced into three marriages , one for love and the others for convenience or power. Within these other marriages , Dinah was never really given what she needed and was forced to support ideas she did not believe She did what was expected of her while supporting the church through a time of great doubt.
This is a very well written and engaging story, at times evoking tears and at others , anger. That Dinah existed and lived through these trials and tribulations is amazing . A prophetess rebuked by the future president of the church , Dinah perseveres. At times she is
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
the only voice and support of the women of the Mormon Church, and as such, Dinah creates the very fabric that holds the Church together
The Wide World Dreaming tells the story of Napoleon's life , beginning with his childhood on Corsica. Told in the first person from Napoleon's point of view, this novel follows him through his years at a military school in France and as a young army officer during the French Revolution He tells the story of his campaign in Egypt ; his rise to power as First Consul and, a few years later, as Emperor of the French; his disastrous invasion of Russia ; and his fall from power and his exile , first on Elba , then , after his escape and defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, on St. Helena.
There is much that is compelling in this novel. Particularly vivid are the descriptions of Napoleon's campaign in the deserts of Egypt , his coronation as Emperor, and his retreat from Moscow through the fierce cold of the Russian winter Although it takes some getting used to , the present tense verbs give a sense of immediacy to the historical events
Unfortunately, there is also much that is disturbing In the very first chapter, the five-year-old Napoleon sees a little girl raped by her grandfather Napoleon also has several homosexual affairs throughout the novel , and he has a sexual desire for his sister Pauline; the sex is quite explicit at times . I wish the author had told us what sources she used 1n general , there was too much emphasis on Napoleon's sexual adventures , especially since some very important events of his life were omitted The author says nothing of his Italian campaign or about the coup d'etat that brought him to power in 1799 Because of these omissions , and because of some very disturbing scenes , I cannot recommend the book as highly as I would like
Vicki Kondelik
property, Gabriel's resentment grows and is fueled by the blatant prejudice he encounters because he is an African American It takes glimpses of a lone Indian and cowboys attempting to turn stampeding cattle for him to believe that ' adventure was skirting the edges offering occasional glimpses that tempted with promises more mythical than the thin tales of cheap novels .'
Mr. Durham captures the blandness that is Kansas with such clarity that Gabriel's emotions seep into the reader as muddy rain seeps through a soddy. The old adage ' Be careful what you wish for ' permeates this coming-of-age story , for Gabriel tastes adventure, but not in the way he expects. This is not a ' Hollywood ' western, but a realistic portrayal of the hardships , rewards, and violence - made more vivid by what is left unsaid - inherent in living in a place where the forces of nature and man can wreak devastation in the blink of an eye
Evangelina Cisneros is a political prisoner in a women ' s prison in Ha vana in 1897 when Charles Duval arrives ostensibly to interview her for his American newspaper In reality, his name is Karl Decker, and he has been sent by William Randolph Hearst to rescue her from the clutches of the evil Spanish empire In the states , Evangelina has become a cause celebre among the upper class ladies , a symbol of innocent Cuban womanhood crushed by the heavy hand of the Spanish overlords. This is the story of her rescue , and the relationship that grows between her and Karl.
GABRIEL'S STORY
David Anthony Durham, Doubleday, 2001 , $23 95 (£14 99) , hb , 294pp , ISBN 0-385-49814-4 ' I reckon we ' re nowhere. ' This declaration comes from Gabriel Lynch at his first sight of 1870 ' s Kansas , a flat prairie with few trees and soddies , houses built from dirt cut from the earth. Raised in Baltimore, Gabriel is angry that his father died, his mother has remarried, and she has brought his brother and him West to farm When reality fails to live up to his stepfather ' s description of their
The novel is based on the true story of Evangelina Cisneros , whom Ephron considers a forgotten a heroine of the Cuban revolution The story is told in short, vi vid chapters from many points of view. 1n the course of the story we meet Charles and Evangelina in the prison We also meet Charles ' wife , Katherine , waiting patiently in the states for her husband to return from yet another of his mysterious assignments . We meet Evangelina ' s father , Augustin Cossio, a leader of the revolution revered more for his age than his ideals We meet Carlos , Evangelina ' s fiery and idealistic fiance Amidst the stories of these people, we learn of the aims and ideals of the re volution : to drive the Spanish out of Cuba without becoming pawns of the Americans Evangelina finds herself tom between Karl Decker and his powerful American resources and Carlos ' fear of the Americans.
I found myself wishing we were told more about Katherine Decker and her struggles in
the states I wanted to know in more detail what Karl and Evangelina were feeling The short chapters , while vivid, were static, the story seem as if it were told in snapshots There was never enough time to really get into the characters , especially with the bouncing point of view. Perhaps the original stories appearing in Hearst's newspapers would make more interesting reading
Alexandra Ceely
AMERICAN WOMAN
R Garcia y Robertson, Forge , 2001 (cl998 ), $15.95 (£9 98) , tpb , 349pp, ISBN 0-312-87629-7
This novel ' s finale will come as no surprise : on June 25, 1876, General George Armstrong Custer led the soldiers of the 7th Ca valry to their deaths at the Battle of the Little Big Hom. Despite this fact, this novel , beginning three years earlier, hardly follows a predictable path The narrator is American Woman, born Sarah Kilory, a blonde Quaker from Pennsylvania who originally headed west to convert the natives to Christiani ty. Her plans suddenly changed when she fell in love with a Lakota warrior and medicine man and soon after became his second wife . Through her eyes we see the events leading up to the Little Big Hom from multiple viewpoints As a member of the Lakota tribe , American Woman struggles with her identity as an outsider whose sister-wife takes precedence in all but their husband ' s heart . She also sympathizes with the plight of the Indians at a time when the buffalo are near extinction and the railroad threatens their open lands. Still moving well in white circles, she befriends and pities Libbie Custer. However , the Lakotas are the clear protagonists , as Sarah is now more Indian than white Throughout her ordeals the narrator is practically fearless , approaching dangerous situations with poise (not to mention humor and sarcasm) ; her own survival is never in doubt. However, that of her compatriots on both sides is less certain American Woman, through the author, brings a fresh voice to this familiar story This novel is for those so-called discriminating readers who insist they don ' t like westerns ; if this exciting, moving exploration of a lost way of life won ' t convince them otherwise , chances are that nothing will.
This is an action-packed western. The story tells of two men : one, a freed slave who took advantage of the Underground Railroad to escape during the Civil War, and the other, a ISSUE 16. MAY 2001
man whose family helped the black man reach Canada The black man is looking for a sister who was sold off during the years before the war, and the white man has lost his inheritance and become an aimless drifter
The story takes place in the years shortly after the Civil War and is set in a series of western mining towns. No specific state is given, but the reader is given a general impression of the Southwest. The two men find themselves in a position to save a town besieged by an outlaw band Afterward, they travel in separate ways solving their problems on their own. When they are reunited, the situation is very dangerous , and allies are few and far between.
A quick read with fast-paced action
Don
E. Hill
MURDER MOST CONFEDERATE
Martin H. Greenberg, ed ., Cumberland House, 2000 , $19.95/C$29 95 (£12.48) , hb , 275pp, ISBN l-58182-120-4
Murder Most Confederate is the second volume of the Murder Most series. It is a compilation of sixteen short stories by various authors , all murder mysteries set within the Confederate Army or southern states during the Civil War.
'Mystery' may be too deep a word to describe many of these stories In most , the solution can be easily deduced in a matter of pages, leaving the reader with a taste of disappointment. Most of the plots are weak , and the characters tend to be mere whispers of people
The one outstanding gem in Murder Most Confederate is Ed Gorman's The Face This is a disturbing yet uplifting tale of the effect one young man ' s face had on his battalion. This story in particular holds a quiet spiritual quality that truly describes the horror of the American Civil War
Kristine Scheid ' s contribution Valuables, a story of two very different but loving brothers , is her first published work This is a nicely snug and polished tale, and I look forward to reading more from this promising new author.
Other than the above-mentioned contributions, I was let down by Greenberg's endeavor Wendy Zollo
THE JEW OF NEW YORK
Ben Katchor, Pantheon, 2001 (cl998) , $15/C$23 (£9.39) , tpb , 97pp , ISBN 0-375-70097-8
A complex story , difficult to describe in any other way than ' Vonnegutesque,' The Jew of New York is the rich and varied story (in the form of comic strip panels) of Nathan Kishon , a Jewish man trying desperately, like all
Tiffi HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
others , to make his way and fortune in 1830s New York City
Unable to continue his life as a peddler of non-Kosher goods , deeply concerned with the lot of his people, Nathan is swept into a grand pilgrimage, absorbing for himself as much as he can from the lives which touch his Along the way, he meets a cast of funny , quirky and ultimately sage souls , each of whom has a different view and wisdom to impart. In the process learns a great deal about the culture he has taken for granted.
Profound in content, and superbly illustrated, Th e Jew of New York expertly depicts the rich interweave of lives and their motives, business savvy and dreams of progress on a grand scale Detailed reference to the anatomy of the city and its residents provides a strong sense of backdrop More than a just a city, the sum of the buildings, those who dwell in them , and their activities meld to become what is , in essence , a living thing Hilarious and at times almost ribald, the journeys of Nathan and his compatriots illustrate the connection between people and their lives , values, interests and purpose, as well as the common links through history that truly make all people one.
Jesse Dubuc
A
KILLING AT BALL'S BLUFF: A Harrison Raines Civil War Mystery
Michael Kilian. Berkley Prime Crime, 200 I , $21.95/C$30 99 (£13.67), hb , 372pp, ISBN 0-425-17804-8
Ball ' s Bluff was a relatively insignificant affair when compared with the carnage at Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg Civil War historians and enthusiasts know it chiefly as the battle in which Abraham Lincoln ' s good friend, Senator Edward Baker, was killed in action leading a doomed Union force This defeat spurred the creation of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War by Congress and this politically active group would grow to play an increasingly powerful role in Federal decision-making. Michael Kilian, a student of the Civil War and the author of the well-received Murder at Manassas , uses Ball's Bluff as the setting for his second Harrison Raines novel.
Raines , a Virginian whose allegiance lies with the United States and not with the rebellion, is a Washington gambler and horse trader who was enlisted in the Union secret service by Allan Pinkerton. The devious Pinkerton coerces Raines to try and protect Senator Baker When he can not prevent his death (or murder?) at Ball's Bluff, Raines must use all of his guile and intelligence to free himself from suspicion as the killer On the way to solving the riddle of Baker ' s death, Raines must deal with Confederate
sympathizers in the North , go undercover behind rebel lines m Virginia , and simultaneously try to win the heart of a woman who loves John Wilkes Booth. Kilian does his usual workmanlike job of integrating .fictional and historical characters with .fictional and real events . He has a ' feel' for the time period and is at ease in painting pictures of urban and rural life in 1860s America While I would suggest reading Murder at Manassas first , this mystery can stand alone This looks like a very fine series. Essential for Civil War fans.
John R. Vallely
FAKING
James King, Simon & Pierre (Canada) , 1999 , C$18 99 , tpb , 214pp , ISBN 0-88924-275-2 Thomas Griffiths Wainewright ( 1794- I 84 7 or 1852) was an Englishman, a historical figure and , approximately, a Man of Letters who tried, in the best Regency mode, to invent himself and did a damned poor job of it. He was trained as an artist and had genuine talent, but he fell into art forgery (and a bit of pornography, the ultimate fakery) He never became good enough at fakery of any kind to become truly notorious not even to make an indecent living. Abetted by his ice-cold wife , Eliza , he tried insurance fraud , and probably poisoned his inoffensive but moderately wealthy uncle and mother-in-law-- but he was taken up and convicted not for murder but for forgery and was transported to Australia , where eventually he died This is the unprepossessing tale James King tells , using as a fictional device the dubious skills of a modern clairvoyant, a female ' editor ' who channels and narrates the word of the principals in the Wainewright saga.
King , a Canadian, is himself a professional biographer with an established track record, and Wainewright's unsavory life is laid out using a fair number of the reconstructive skills a good biographer would naturally employ King should know the period, having done a life of William Blake, and this knowledge is usually apparent. The reader may wonder why a biographer would leave his ordinary (and difficult enough) scholarly track to venture into the strange terrain of a vaguely supernaturally charged fiction. The book is, in any event, in the main a skillfully written but odd , often coldly repellent story one of little people, perpetually short of cash and increasingly bereft of status, oflhandedly doing awful things to one another The ' feel' of the book is so perverse that it almost becomes amusing , a chilly jeu d ' esprit of falseness and fakery of every kind, from artistic to social to sexual. Faking is a faintly rebarbative antidote to so-called ' Regency ' fiction of the ordinary
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
kind and, as such, has a certain grim and quirky attraction. Those looking for the other sort of Regency novel should be prepared, in the words of the Pythons: ' And now for something completely different. '
Dean Miller
Ed's note : See also page 54 for review of Wainewright the Poisoner
LONGING
J. D Landis , Harcourt, 2000 , $26 00 (£16.27), hb , 446 pp , ISBN 0-15-100453-6 J D Landis ' second book is the story of Robert Schumann, the 19th century German composer, and his wife, Clara Wieck, a world-renowned pianist. Yet this ' novel ,' studded with footnotes , muddies the line between biography and fiction so thoroughly that it left this reviewer at a loss Can I blame the author for the uneven story and its plodding pace - or are those faults due to Landis ' efforts to be true to the historical record? More importantly, whom could I blame for the irritatingly high-minded and self-absorbed protagonist? How much of him was Schumann, how much Landis?
After much sputtering, the novel begins among bratwurst-fed boys in the smoky wombs of Leipzig ' s biergartens . These artistes, Schumann among them, spend an inordinate amount of time making earnest declarations about life , love , art and politics. It is here that young Schumann realizes that pianists ' become so celebrated for technique ' that the music they write is compromised by the need to show off that technique . ' There is no more grievous thing,' he avers, ' not war and famine and plague and natural catastrophe ' than to be ' forced to live in a time of squalid art .' To avoid such temptation? He mutilates his own hand Of course
Oh, how I longed for the fresh wind of reason to blow away this romantic fog! It finally comes in the form of Schumann ' s doctor (one of many) who advises the neurotic musician to take a wife In comes the celebrated Clara Wieck, and with her, the only part of the book with narrative drive She marries him , and for the next sixteen years she bears him eight children and endures two miscarriages , all while earning the greater part of the family income by performing all over Europe. Schumann proceeds to write music only a handful of people can understandmusic that leaves the paying masses bewildered. Ultimately, the music , so we are told, drives him mad.
J. D Landis has a vast and detailed knowledge of the era He paints exquisite portraits of the luminaries of the time (Paganini, Chopin, Liszt , Wagner, Brahms , etc.) He also manages to do what would seem
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impossible - he translates into words the essence of music. Yet none of this prodigious talent could redeem a novel with a protagonist so selfish and self-destructive tha't this reviewer found herself cheering his tedious descent into madness and death
Lisa Ann Verge
FORTUNE'S BRIDE
Victoria Malvey, Sonnet, 2000 , $6 50/C$8 99 , pb , 312 pp , ISBN 0-7434-0334-7
Lady Alyssa Porter is determined to look after her younger sister and to save enough to give her a London season after their cousin, who has inherited the family estate, leaves them destitute These basics of the plot will sound familiar to readers of Regency-era books (though this book is set in 1835) , yet Malvey's book is anything but pedestrian Lady Alyssa first becomes known to society as Madam Zora , the gypsy fortune-teller It is in this guise that she meets Mr. Ian Fortune, a self-made man . Ian fears he may have put Madam Zora ' s ability to support herself at risk and is determined to apologize Add a domineering, interfering grandfather to the mix, and sparks fly
Malvey ' s characters came alive for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and unusual situations (such as the plague of frogs) the characters create or in which they find themselves.
When you think of American Civil War battles, you probably think of the well-known ones which took place in Tennessee, Pennsylvania or Georgia. You're not likely to think of the New Mexico Territory as a battleground area at all, but it was The year was 1862 , when rebels invading from Texas clashed with Union troops supported by volunteer regiments from California and Colorado, among others.
In Glorieta Pass , Nagle's first book of three on this rather obscure subject in American history, the story centered directly on the battle of Valverde, which the Confederacy won In the process , the Rebels captured a major prize, a battery of heavy Union artillery With dwindling supplies , the Texans make a strategic retreat.
In this sequel to Glorieta Pass, the primary concern, obligation and duty of the Texans is getting their guns back home . This is all a matter of historic record Nagle's focus as a writer, however, is at the human level. The romance between Laura Howland and Captain Alastar O'Brien of the Colorado Volunteers often takes precedence over several
other plot lines These subplots seem to involve characters who appeared in the preceding book - all of which makes the first half of their continuing adventures rather hard to get into for a reader starting only with this novel.
Even more of a challenge for the uninitiated is untangling and following the ensuing military strategies as they develop For a first-time Nagle reader, without having experienced the impact of the battle itself, only this, the aftermath, it takes about 200 pages for this novel to get all the baggage from the past squared away It is only then that the novel is ready to stand on its own .
By that time, though, if Nagle has gotten you hooked, you're in for one heck of a ride
You stop reading the novel , and start living it. War is a nasty business It brings out the worst and the best in anyone living through it, and neither side has a monopoly on either villainy or heroism. Each is easy to distinguish, though, and Nagle will definitely have you rooting for the good guys
Steve Lewis
TREASURES OF THE NORTH
(Yukon Quest. I)
Tracie Peterson , Bethany House , 2001 , $11.99 (£7.51), tpb , 380pp , ISBN 0- 7642-2378-X
This is a remarkable book of the gold rush in Alaska , and the adventures of a young lady who is running from a suitor. Grace Hawkins' hand is promised in marriage to a man that she does not know, one with cruel tendencies who threatens to do her harm
Her flight to Alaska corresponds to the opening of the Chilkoot trail , at a time when Canada has placed restrictions on men who try to reach the gold fields . The young girl and her companions are given positions as managers of a trading post. In doing so, they encounter the wilds of Alaska and the goldseekers' greed, which encompasses more than just 'gold fever'
Forced to defend themselves and elude the advances of the cruel suitor, they are assaulted from all sides A very good story that causes the reader to cheer, cry and despair for the miners and the heroines.
Don E. Hill
SECOND CHANCES
Andrea Pickens , Signet, 2000 , $4.99 (£3.47), pb , 216pp , ISBN : 0-451-19821-2
There is a little bit of a mystery involved with this recent regency romance , just enough to add some zest to a rather mild but enjoyable romp in the past. When Allegra Proctor is hired as a tutor to young, precocious lad in northern Yorkshire, she does not realize that it was the boy who did the hiring, not his father , the Earl of Wrexham What the widowed earl
does not realize at first is that the tutor his son has engaged is a woman.
Allegra and the boy get along fine It is the father whom she seems to have displeased. But she is a woman of intellect and spirit , and gradually the earl's hard facade begins to weaken. It is at this point that young Max makes an unexpected discovery in his teacher's room : a pistol , a length of rope , and men's clothing.
Allegra's secret is soon pried from her by the boy There are risks involved, but with a joyous sense of adventure, she is now no longer alone against the world. While this is perhaps not a very realistic portrayal of life in Regency England, it's only the most jaded reader who could fail to join in on the fun.
Steve Lewis
THE CIIlNA BRIDE
Mary Jo Putney, Ballantine, 2000 , $21.95 (£13.74), hb , 3 IOpp , ISBN 0345433351
Troth Montgomery was born to a Scottish father and a Chinese mother and grew up in Macao When her father dies she goes to live with one of his trading associates , who employs her as an interpreter and forces her to live as a man. Her dreams of escape to Scotland appear about to be realized when handsome Viscount Kyle Renboume appears and begs to take her to the forbidden city of Peking and beyond But is all goes horribly wrong , and Kyle ends up in prison under sentence of death and Troth ends up becoming his wife in a traditional Scottish handfasting ceremony. What will his aristocratic family make of his foreign wife , and will her own family be glad to see her when she goes to visit them in Scotland?
I particularly enjoyed Putney ' s descriptions of life in 1830s China and wished that the story had lingered longer there. Once back in Britain, the story settles neatly into the tramlines of a typical 19th century romance . Nevertheless, this is an entertaining although not particularly memorable romance (apart from the first few chapters) that would have done better without some episodes towards the end of the book that appeared to belong to another story altogether. If the whole tale had taken place in China, I feel it would have been more successful instead of being yet another romance that describes the Scottish Highlands, castles, mountains , accents and all Rachel A. Hyde
Reviewers should be as forthcoming and honest as possible in all their writings In keeping with that principle, I will state that I
TI-IE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
am no enthusiast of American westerns When I saw Edwin Shrake's novel was about the early days of the Republic of Texas , I gave up any thoughts of pleasure and began the novel with a strong sense of dread I must say I was absolutely mistaken. The story of the Texas of 1839 and the movement of the capital from Houston to Austin is peopled with some of the most intelligently drawn characters and the most weIJ crafted plot developments that one will find in any type of novel. The writing is crisp and approaches elegance at times. Descriptions of Comanche life , the trials of the immigrants, and the nature of the raucous political machinations mesh quite weIJ with the fictional lives of Captain Matthew Caldwell of the Texas Rangers and the half-Cherokee Romulus Swift. Imaginative and entertaining, The Borderland is an arresting introduction to Texas history and the saga of the American West told in microcosm
John R. Vallely
GOINGHOME
Richard S Wheeler, Forge , 2000 , $23 95 (£14.99) , hb , 315pp, ISBN 0312873107
This novel opens at the tail end of the Rendezvous of 1832 Englishman Barnaby Skye has to make a choice His job as a camp tender with the Rocky Mountain Fur Company has been eliminated Unless he wants to go back to trapping, a job he isn't keen on, Skye is without a livelihood But he has another option Officials with the Hudson Bay Company have arranged for him to receive a pardon for deserting the Royal Navy six years earlier. The catch: he must return to England to get this favor and they can't employ him without it. It's a gamble, but if he succeeds , he could recover his good name and reunite with his family before returning to work for the HBC
But where is home for Skye? And what will become of his Crow wife, Victoria, ifhe pursues this course? While wrestling with these and other considerations on the journey to Fort Vancouver, the Skyes are adopted by a strange, yeIJow dog, and assume the added responsibility of herding an eccentric naturalist named Professor Nutmeg They manage to make it to their boat to England on time, but the story doesn't end there by a long shot.
This is an enthralling, weIJ-told , adventure story with convincing , likeable characters Wheeler deftly mix.es historical figures with fictional ones. In addition, he explores the meanings of home and honor. Are these things bestowed on man by circumstance of his birth or does he earn them by his actions? If the former , is this enough? If the latter, does it mean the same thing? I enjoyed Going Home
very much and would like to read the prior two novels in the series as well .
Alice Logsdon
ROYAL BRIDE
Joan Wolf, Warner, 2001 , $6 99/C$9.99 (£4 36*), pb , 408pp , ISBN 0-446-60695-2 Joan Wolf, author of regencies , historical romances , and historical mysteries, has imagined a small country of Jura in which to set this novel. Jura was occupied by French forces under Napoleon, but was declared an independent state in the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna However, this state of independence is threatened. Jura controls a strategic port on the Adriatic, one which neighboring Austria would like to have the use of Indeed, Austria would like Jura to become part of the Austrian Empire The prince of Jura travels to England to conduct negotiations to give Great Britain use of the port, and to find a British bride from a noble family with strong ties to the government (no eligible royal British princesses being available at the moment) to bolster the treaty
While this novel follows the conventions of historical romances , the political machinations stay sufficiently in the foreground to give a sense of the jockeying that went on amongst European nations during the 19th century I found that this dimension enhanced my pleasure in the book, as it might for others who look for history in their historical romances
Lost Daughter of Happiness is a historical novel written in a film editor ' s style , relating events and depicting the characters through a camera ' s eye Shifts of focus and interweaving of the modem with the period setting challenge the reader but flow in short film-like segments , creating natural pauses The narrator has no more certainty of truth than the reader, only more knowledge, as she sifts through the written and photographic evidence of one Chinese woman ' s appearances in late 19th century San Francisco
The images are more important than the words used to draw them. 'When Chris is listening to an Italian farmhand playing the violin, you are putting on earrings. Although you are looking at different things, your eyes meet. ' The author, self-described as a Chinese immigrant of a later time period, speaks to Fusang, the Chinese prostitute, as if the book were a quest for meaning and validation in this ancestress ' life Fusang has mystique that allows her to survive and even transcend the cruelties of her life Her contemporaries think
she is merely stupid. The love between her and a younger white Californian boy changes their lives and endures the annihilating effect of the cultural hatreds of the period This is not an easy book to read, but it is full of cultural insight and vivid portraits
Mary K. Bird-Guilliams
US/CANADA: 20TH CENTURY
AFTER THEW AR
Alice Adams , Knopf, 2000 , $25 (£15 65) , hb , 306pp, ISBN 0-375-40683-2
After the War takes place during and after World War II in a college town in North Carolina The novel follows the characters from A Southern Exposure James Russell Lowell Byrd, a principal figure from the first novel , keels over from a heart attack before he has a chance to sleep with every woman in town. One he didn't miss was Cynthia Baird, a transplanted Yankee who moved her husband and daughter to the South so she could be near her favorite poet.
Racial and social mores of the 1940s provide the primary interest of the novel. Adultery wafted through the town like the pine-scented breeze off the mountains , and far fewer of the townspeople were allergic A seemingly improbable plot device involves characters constantly espying each other in various stages of the act of love, but upon reflection, it may have been more implausible if they weren't stumbling over each other. The invariably idealized Black characters (a Harvard quarterback studying to be a college philosophy professor , a naval war hero , a domestic with a genius for folk art, etc ) understandably avoid sex with the local Whites, although some have to fight off the daughter of a New York Jewish Communist famil y
The war lurks in the background, opening up romantic opportunities through o verseas postings and taking them away with travel restnct.tons . Cynthia's husband becomes involved with a British noblewoman named Lady Veracity, and she ruminates on the affair . ' How cheap of him, how trite American Naval Officer and His Lady It's the dumbest story I ever heard of, and I wish it were someone else's. ' In a more self-reflective novel , this might have been taken to show the heroine criticizing the author for betraying her with a mere stock character
The carefully constructed plot makes the book worth reading Relationships build in interesting and unexpected ways as the characters deal with military service, refugee work and an uncertain future. After V-J Day,
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characters still ask themselves what they're going to do after the war
Reading A Southern Exposure first is recommended After the War recapitulates some of the plot of its predecessor, but involvement of the characters increases if you know more of their history .
Set against the rich backdrop of India during the Raj , sweeping across time and space, this is a wonderful story in all senses of the word When Satya is unable to give her husband children, he marries 16-year-old Roop and brings her into the house that has become Satya's kingdom Satya wishes her husband to be happy, and Roop wishes to be a sister to Satya but their relationship is doomed from the start When Roop's children are given to Satya to raise , the rift between the two women widens. But despite the war between them, Satya unwittingly gives Roop the strength she will need to survive as Partition rips India and Pakistan apart
What the Body Remembers is a sumptuous , exotic novel, weaving the personal and political into a seamless narrative. It's hard to put down and difficult to forget. India Edghill
THE CAT ASTROPlllST
Ronan Bennett, Scribner, 2000
$13.00/C$19 25 (£5 59*) , tpb , 322pp, ISBN 0-684-87036-3
Ronan Bennett takes us to the Belgian Congo during the struggle for independence in 1959. His present tense, first person narrative about James , the bemused lover, and Ines , the object of his pursuit, draws dark lines of detail and fills in with splashes of color Both characters are writers ; James is apolitical and Ines is passionately involved
Keeping the main narrative in present tense, Bennett explores flashbacks in simple past. He uses experimental language , torquing the words for new meanings . For example : ' She exists me .'
James and Ines are at a garden party when, across the river, whites retaliate for a stone-throwing riot. Bullets fell several insurgents as the colonials continue their tennis match, their black servants equally indifferent. James sees a corpse floating in the river among the water hyacinths. Black soldiers throw in several more bodies Waterskiers cruise by for a better look. James senses he is losing Ines to her ideals . ' But I will not give up When disillusion sets in I will still be here for her .'
Bennett stacks up all the characters and conflicts, and then he knocks them tumbling in a climax His fatalist of the title walks a tightrope between life and death. A clown can become a hero , and a leader a martyr Today when the president of the Congo is rumored to have been assassinated, this troubled African nation still struggles to find a leader
In this novel Bartle Bull has created a world filled with mystery and intrigue Set in North Africa in 1942 , the main character, Wellington Rider, son of Anton Rider (the main character in Bull ' s previous book Cafe on the Nile) is an English hussar fighting against Rommel ' s Afuka Korps The battle to take the port of Tobruk is not the only battle being waged The streets of Cairo are also full of danger, as other players shift their allegiances in a web of espionage designed to protect themselves , and the world appears to spin out of control. At the center of the war in the streets of Cairo is the Cataract Cafe and its proprietor Olivio Alavedo Alavedo ' s daughter Saffron becomes entangled with Wellington Rider in a romance that could be as deadly as the battlefield. With constantly shifting alliances and characters that are willing to deceive even the most firm loyalties , every page leaves the reader wondering how the novel will end Shannon Wally Steffen s
GANGSTER
Lorenzo Carcaterra, Ballantine, 200 I , $25 95/C$35 95 (£16 25) , hb , 376pp, ISBN 0-345-40100-X
Angelo Vestieri is a gangster in every sense of the word In 1996 , he lies dying in a hospital bed, but through the two people closest to him, we learn his fascinating and terrible story He was born to an Italian immigrant in 1906 and was raised on the mean streets of lower Manhattan He became a gangster at an early age , hardened by adversity and smart enough to be a survivor. He became one of the biggest crime bosses America had ever seen And he lies dying a lonely and bitter man
This story is very well written and told with an amazing degree of evenhandedness . Even though he is the protagonist of this story, and a person for whom we feel some compassion, Angelo Vestieri is still a cold-blooded murderer, a mob boss , and an utterly ruthless individual . Lorenzo Carcaterra never sugar-coats our view of Angelo It is only the narrator , Gabe , who does that, because Angelo took him in and raised him to be his successor. 1bis is just as much Gabe ' s ISSUE 16 MAY 200 I
story as it is Angelo ' s, a contrast between a hard, cold story of death and violence , and a touching story of a boy coming of age . The interesting thing about this novel is that Carcaterra has created an archetype gangster who is a cross between the type featured in James Cagney movies in the 30s, and the Godfather, Don Corleone, of the 60s. And yet Angelo is not a stereotype He is as real to us as any of the mob bosses we read about in the newspapers and history books He has depth and character. He is frightening and hard, yet we feel for him. I find it fascinating that Carcaterra never once mentions or even implies the existence of the big syndicate crime families . Angelo is a loner He does not want or need a family , not even the Sicilian variety This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in gangster psychology , or who just wants a good, fast paced, action-filled read with well-rounded characters and a great story
A series of interwoven vignettes detailing the life experiences of three generations of Arab women and the men in their lives, this short novel helps fill a too long vacant gap in the history of trauma in the Middle East from 1948 to the present day There ' s no nationalism or religious fanaticism here, just the suffering caused by the combination of those two ideals Strip away religious beliefs, political posturing, patriotic slogans, and racial hatred and what you are left with is misery on a grand scale. Whole lives are spent in the pursuit of simple, day-to-day survival. Cooke ' s novel drives that point home without taking sides , without religious justification, and without any sense of acceptance by those who suffer the most.
This story is too short by half, however . There seems to be so much more to tell, so much more detail and character development, the lack of which leaves the reader with little sense of kinship with the storytellers The architecture is exceptional and unique, but the project remains a half-finished frame, leaving the reader wondering why such an exceptional work was left incomplete.
Mark F Johnson
WHAT REMAINS
Nicholas Delbanco, Warner, 2000 , $24 95/C$34 95 (£15.54) , hb , 200pp, ISBN 0-446-52416-6
A German Jewish family escapes to England for the duration of World War TI After the war, Karl , an aspiring artist, takes his wife and
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
children to a new life in America; his brother, Gustave , maintains the art gallery he established in London Neither their mother, Elsa, nor Karl's wife , Julia , feels comfortable in England Elsa seems not to understand why they fled from Hitler, while Julia yearns to feel more than tolerated To her young sons , Jacob and Benjamin, the move to America is simply an adventure
This novel is neither plot-driven nor chronological. Portions of it take place in the 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s The style may not appeal to some : frequently sentences run on, and appear unconnected to preceding ones Yet the author ' s confident prose successfully conveys the family ' s dislocation, and the effect this has on its various members . Anyone who values heritage and mourns its undermining will appreciate What Remains Claire Morris Bernard
OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME
Pat Cunningham Devoto, Warner, 2001 , $23 95/C$29 95 (£14.91), hb , 409pp , ISBN 0-446-52751-3
This Southern adventure starts like Hafl)' Potter, with a little boy on a train platform, but his journey carries him not into magic but into servitude The sheltered rich boy, whose mother has died, is going to live with Aunt Nelda and Uncle Luther, an Alabama sharecropper On the train, John befriends a kindly banker and his wife The banker is called Judge because he routinely makes life and death decisions when he advances money and supplies to the sharecroppers of Lower Peach Tree . Put to work in the cotton fields , John struggles to survive sunburn and whipping from his brutal uncle Like Justice , Judge Vance is blind, but he and Mrs . Vance sympat:hiz.e with the boy Running errands for the Judge, John meets his assistant Tuway, an intelligent black man, who was raised by an herbalist in the swamp Mama Tuway is the matriarch of a community at the Bend, where runaway farmhands await their chance to hop a freight train north to Chicago, their promised land. John observes Tuway ' s secret activities and sees a chance for himself to join the exodus . In the pre-Civil-Rights-era South, he learns prejudice and loses his own
Devoto alternates her scenes between John in Lower Peach Tree and Mama Tuway at the Bend, using the best witness viewpoint, in imagistic, colloquial language She wrestles with large themes of the human condition , work, country vs city, faith and family In writing from a child ' s point of view, irony is a natural byproduct: the reader knows what the child cannot. Devoto handles this well , taking us back to a time before we knew why adults
act the way they do Exotic locale , political intrigue and an element of fable spice this heady gumbo
Marcia
K. Matthews
THE BINDING OATH
Sybil Downing , University Press of Colorado, 2001 , $24 95 (£15 62) , hb , 200pp, ISBN 0-87081-607-1
The Binding Oath seeks to shed light on the activities of the Ku Klux Klan in a time and place in which most people don ' t realiz.e the organization was especially active It ' s Prohibition-era Denver, and Liz O ' Brien is bored with her job as society reporter for a local newspaper. She longs for the hard news assignments that her male colleagues are given . When she uncovers a Klan plot that involves bootlegging, blackmail and a murdered girl, she turns detective Predictably, her editor is incredulous of her theories at first , but he turns out to be a good sort and lets her go after the story . The characters are formulaic. Even the heroine seldom ventures out of a stereotypical ' Nellie Bly ' persona . She draws inferences that aren ' t supported by the evidence in front of her, yet she ' s always right. Secondary characters often don ' t have clear motivations for their actions Although he ' s a cliche, the newspaper editor emerges as the most genuine and likeable personality
Assuming this novel has some basis in fact , it's quite an education in the history and methods of the Klan It's also redeemed somewhat by the author ' s meticulous attention to historical detail. Ms Downing does a fair job of evoking an atmosphere not unlike what we would expect to find in the early twentieth century American West. However, flaws in character and plot development exacerbated by ungainly prose diminish this work considerably
Kelly Cannon
CONEY
Amram Ducovny , Overlook, 2000 , $26 .95 (£16 87), hb , 320pp, ISBN 1-58567-067-7 Hafl)' Catzker is a Jewish boy growing into adulthood on Coney Island during the 1930s. His life is intertwined with a cast of characters that vary from the unusual to the criminal. Hafl)', New York , and the world sit on the brink of traumatic change
New York has its ' private parts ,' its business end, its reaching arm, and its eye on the world This book exemplifies that concept perfectly There is no apology when Ducovny weaves a tale of a boy, his family and the environment that was New York in the thirties. Starring freaks, immigrants, and gangsters , this tale is in its characters their good points and their bad points and the
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
characters are the epitome of New York. The setting is evecything the reader imagines New York to be in the 193 Os to the point of perhaps being a touch stereotypical. This book is without a doubt a coming of age story. However, it is not just that simple. It also shows the coming of age of a city more famous for its vices than its virtues The real point of the story is in the unexpected rather than the assumptions.
This story is a wonderful portrait of life in early 20th century New York. Its author brings to it a solid background in the city and in Jewish life While the somewhat jumpy style and the story will not appeal to everyone , the plot is well written, fluid from start to finish, and an example of excellent historical fiction
Beyond his several authorial specialities, mystery-suspense writer and antiquarian book dealer John Dunning is perhaps even more renowned as one of the country ' s greatest experts in the field of ' Old-Time Radio .'.
Here he combines his two main loves into one giant blockbuster of a novel , an espionage murder-mystery thriller m which Jack Dulaney, the protagonist, takes refuge working in a New Jersey radio station
The year is 1942 , and the East Coast is crawling with German infiltrators, or if not, it's certainly overflowing with rumors Mysterious killers are on Dulaney ' s trail, or are they always one step ahead of him? And at the same time, he is searching for Holly Carnahan, the girl he lost but wishes he hadn ' t. Working for WHAR, however, he also discovers an inborn talent for writing dramatic radio, on page 239 described as ' the most intimate medium that will ever be devised. ' The owner of the station later fears that ' it's being trivialized in its frenzy to sell deodorant soap and milk of magnesia .'
Well , we know what radio is in the US today : ' a theater of babbling deejays and bloated, self-important talk show hosts .' But Dunning takes us back, shows us what radio was , and what it still could be , if anyone but a handful of enthusiasts really cared The murder mystery? That's another matter. There are a number of striking scenes, and the characters are deftly drawn, but the plot is held together by the barest of guy wires and good hopes.
Better to not let the details get you down. Sit back, relax and travel back in time to another era, characterized by wartime jitters and general paranoia , superbly re-created by an author who cares.
Steve Lewis
Tiffi HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
MURDER IN MONTPARNASSE
Howard Engel, The Overlook Press, 2000 (cl992) , $14.95 (£9.36), tpb, 300pp, ISBN 1-58567-094-4
This mystery is set in 1925 Montparnasse, where it is possible to meet most of the artists who would later become icons - Hemingway, Joyce, Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein This is what happens to Michael Ward , a Canadian journalist stationed in Paris. A serial killer is targeting young female models. When one of his friends is murdered, Michael doubts she is a random victim and suspects a link to the writing of a roman a clef
Despite the attraction of the setting, this book was a major disappointment. Its main problems are continuity, credibility and an overabundance of facts The tenuous mystery winks in and out, disrupting the reader's focus Nothing much happens A group of people drifts from bar to bar, and when there is some action, it defies plausibility Although the book is written in the first person, it has a detached, documentary feel that makes it impossible to connect to the characters, who are too numerous and superficially drawn.
The historical aspects are well researched but read mostly as a rather boring litany of artists , landmarks , bars , streets and drinks The descriptions are vivid: ' He had a face that hadn ' t been lived in, the male equivalent of a virgin at a bacchanal .' However, they fail to perk up the general flatness of the book.
Engel should have abided to his own advice on writing : 'You make your sentences experience the thing you are talking about rather than let them simply describe what is going on from a distance. Your narrator is close to the story, but you must not leave him a cipher Make him opinionated, smother him in the action .' Unfortunately, he did not.
Nicole Leclerc
WHEN I LIVED IN MODERN TIMES
Linda Grant, Dutton , 2001 , $23.95 (£12 .79*) , 260pp, hb , ISBN 0-525-94594-6
I was absolutely bowled over by this book, which won the British Orange Prize for Fiction. It is the story of Evelyn Sert, a Jewish woman of 20 whose mother has recently died and who has no reason to stay in her native city, London It is April , 1946, and Evelyn decides to sail for Palestine . The British still rule in Palestine, but it is a time of great change, not only for the country that will become Israel, but for Evelyn herself She begins her stay in the country on a kibbutz, but quickly realizes it isn ' t the life for her She soon settles in Tel Aviv , a sparkling new city built in the Bauhaus style. She finds work as a hairstylist, a trade she learned from her mother. Many of her customers are the wives of British officers , and she is puzzled to fmd
herself more at home amongst fellow countrymen who profess a languid anti-Semitism than she is with other Jews , both immigrants and native-born. Evelyn witnesses events connected to the struggle for independence, and eventually becomes more involved than just as a witness The issues and struggles of the time are vividly presented The press release for this book describes it as ' a coming of age story unlike any other told through the eyes of one of the most unforgettable heroines in contemporary fiction .' In the case of When I Lived in Modem Times , this is not hyperbole
Trudi E. Jacobson
PERLMAN'S ORDEAL
Brooks Hansen, Picador USA , 2000 (cl999) , $14/C$21.99 (£8.77), tpb, 229pp , ISBN 0-312-26765- 7
Set in London during one September week in 1906, Brooks Hansen ' s third novel charts the struggle of hypnotist Dr August Perlman ' s battle to save Sylvia Blum, an hysterical teenager brought to his office It appears that another girl 's personality is living inside her, and if Perlman cannot treat it, it may pose a threat to Perlman ' s reputation of always curing his patients through his pioneering treatment of ' clinical suggestion.' As the girl's other personality becomes stronger, she begins telling an astonishing story resembling the great myth of Atlantis . Is she truly a reincarnated princess or simply an unwell young girl?
Along the way, the great doctor meets and becomes friends with Madame Helena Barrett (spiritualist and, coincidentally, sister of Perlman ' s musical idol) who becomes entwined in the unfolding drama of the battle for Blum ' s soul
Hansen magnificently transports readers back almost a century (and beyond) while portraying a monumental struggle between science and art . Portions of both settings are so beautifully written that the readers could almost believe they had dreamed the story themselves Although the book is set in Edwardian London, a major portion of the action takes place in the world created by Blum's other personality. Readers searching for an Edwardian story may find this fact frustrating , but for anyone wishing to take a flight of fancy and explore the what-ifs of mythology will be pleased. Anyone craving an all-around great read would also be happy escaping into Brooks Hansen ' s Perlman 's Ordeal.
Dana Cohlmeyer
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
A STUDENT OF WEATHER
Elizabeth Hay, Counterpoint, 2001 , $24 (£15 02) , 364pp, hb , ISBN 158243123X. Pub in Canada by McClelland & Stewart, 2001 (c2000), $17 .99 , tpb , 376pp, ISBN 0771037902
Maurice Dove, a botanist and student of weather, journeys from Ottawa to rural Saskatchewan in the mid- l 930s to analyze the climate of the Canadian Great Plains His attractive presence stirs up a whirlwind of romantic dreams in the two Hardy sisters The elder, beautiful blonde Lucinda , her father's favorite , takes pride in her impeccable housekeeping and graceful manners
Norma-Joyce, the plain, dark-haired younger sister, always tries to get her own way
Though Maurice seems attracted by Lucinda's many charms , it's the eight-year-old Norma-Joyce who stirs his curiosity. The sisters' rivalry surrounding Maurice extends throughout most of their lives.
The strengths of this novel are in its characterizations and language Lucinda, trying so hard to be perfect, is easy to admire but harder to like. In return, Norma-Joyce's brutal honesty , in her unabashed attempts to capture Maurice for herself, makes the reader root for her despite her faults.
Hay's prose has not a word out of place. Her world is one of passionate yearnings and stormy weather, both physical and emotional Though far from your typical romance, A Student of Weather is a sensual exploration of the power of love in its many forms Absolutely not to be missed by anyone who simply loves good writing
Sarah L. Nesbeitt
BEULAHIDLL
William Heffernan, Simon & Schuster, 2001 , $24 .00/C$35 .50 (£14 .95) , hb , 30lpp, ISBN 0-684-86226-3
The subject of rural race relations with its undercurrents of mob violence, police brutality, and class conflict is usually assumed to belong in the fictional accounts of Southern life Vermont seems a curious setting for an historical novel dealing with the tension between whites and blacks . William Heffernan accidentally came across evidence of a Vermont unknown to most and has used this knowledge to provide us with a riveting tale of murder, racism, and personal redemption
Set in the 1930s in a small and isolated Vermont community made up of descendants of blacks who had remained in Vermont after settling there in pre-Civil War times, the plot centers around an investigation of the murder of a white racist. The town police officer, Samuel Bradley, is a ' bleached ' Vermonteran offspring of black and white ancestors His assignment to find the one responsible for the
Tiffi HISTOR1CAL NOVELS REVIEW
grisly murder is complicated by the reactions of whites and blacks who are uniformly hostile to one another and intolerant of any search for common ground Officer Bradley is a decent and honorable man who, in turn, is uncertain of his relationship with a black woman named Eliz.abeth and with a Vermont policeman sent to aid him in his work The introspective Bradley definitely has his work cut out for him as he pushes forward against a rising tide of internal conflict and external pressure The reader is instantly drawn towards Bradley He is a very sympathetic character in a world populated by irrational and unthinking thugs The setting is finely crafted, the characters are multidimensional, the writing is intelligent - a fine sample of an historical whodunit.
John R Vallely
IN THE MOOD FOR MURDER
M.T. Jefferson , Berkley Prime Crime, 2000 , $5 99/C$8 .9 9 (£3.74), pb , 216pp , ISBN 0-425-17670-3
The author of The Victory Dance Murder continues her series on the exploits of amateur detective Kate Fallon with a murder mystery set in a small city outside of Philadelphia during World War II Fallon, a worker in a factory devoted to war work, is a member of a local women ' s group called the Molly Pitcher Society The women begin to get threatening letters , and the hate mail is shortly followed by murder. Baffled by the crimes , the local police chief calls in the indomitable Fallon In her best Miss Marple manner, the young Fallon probes into the backgrounds of each of her friends to find a thread which will lead to the murderer. As she moves along, the town and its citizens become increasingly caught up in the tension and uncertainty
While the storyline is reasonably interesting and the setting of a town besieged from without by the ever present threat of war and from within by the immediate menace of a murderer is inspired, the author consistently fails to supply the suspense necessary to sustain a murder mystery Rather than entertain, the story simply plods along from one scene to the next Historical errors also intrude : the 8th Army was a British force , not an American one, General Eisenhower was stationed in the UK after the Allied landings in North Africa, not before , etc A disappointing work.
John R Vallely
IN THE COMPANY OF ANGELS
N.M. Kelby, Hyperion, 2001, $21.00/C$30 .00 (£13.08) , hb , l64pp, ISBN 0-7868-6666-7 Germans were bombing Belgium in 1940, and the small border town of Toumai was no exception Marie Claire, a young Jewish child, lives alone with her grandmother, Paulette,
after the brutal death of her parents. Paulette teaches her how to grow and graft , and together they create a silken black iris that will make their garden truly unique A German invasion interrupts their tiny floral cosmos After a riot of violence, Marie Claire, suddenly alone , seeks safety in her home ' s root cellar. She is rescued days later by two nuns , Mother Xavier and the postulant Anne , whose religious habits remind her of chocolate : cocoa brown gowns with 'white chocolate horns ' as their headdress Belgium being the best place in the world for chocolate, Tournai is a city infused with the scent of chocolate, an indulgence in life second only to devotion to God It was said that angels visit the earth because ' chocolate is one thing they cannot get in heaven ·
Mother Xavier ' s mission is to seek orphans of the war because she believes a child saved becomes an angel of God Events that follow confirm that Marie Claire has exceptional gifts The lives of all the characters are ironically intertwined. We learn their history from flashbacks of memory, yet the novel flows smoothly and the reader follows eagerly.
Kelby ' s novel is a stirring story about war, and not a little horror, but also about hope and love, as well as chocolate and roses This author has written a lyrical , abrupt and compelling novel of life
Tess Allegra
ROUGH CIDER
Peter Lovesey, Soho Press , 2001 , $13 (£8 . 14), tpb , 206 pp , ISBN l-56947-228-9
The narrator breaks the fourth wall , addressing the audience : ' In 1964, you meet me at the self-assured age of 29. ' Then Dr Theo Sinclair meets a young American, Alice She is a bold interloper who demands that Theo tell her about a murder case he witnessed in 1943 when he was nine years old. It was as a result of that murder case that Alice ' s father , Duke Donovan , was convicted of murder and hanged
Theo recalls the apple harvest in Somerset where he was sent during the Blitz Farmer Lockwood used to season his cider by dropping a leg of mutton into each cask. Farmer Lockwood's daughter, Barbara, flirted with American G I. Donovan Barbara then committed suicide after being raped by a local ne'er-do-well
A year later, a hogshead of Somerset cider served in a pub causes food poisoning. After it is drained, the hogshead is found to contain a human skull with a bullet hole The victim is identified as the ne'er-do-well. Suspicion moves from the farmer to the G I. after a U.S Army .45 is identified as the murder weapon. Premeditation is alleged on the theory that the
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
rape was over when Duke returned to the farmhouse for the gun Now, years later, Alice wants to clear her father's name.
As the two sleuths close in on the real killer, suspects and motives multiply, as does the terror Rough Cider delivers laughs and chills. Peter Lovesey challenges our assumptions and makes interesting points about memory.
Marcia K. Matthews
THEJNVENTORY
Gila Lustiger, Arcade , 2001 (cl995), $24.95/C$36.95 (£15.62), hb, 294pp, Translated from the German by Rebecca Morrison, ISBN l-55970-549-3
Less a unified story than a collection of glimpses into the lives of Germans and Jews before and during WWII, The Inventory deals with the insidious, creeping nature of Nazi propaganda and how its ideals affect ordinary people. All too often when we look back on history, we forget that each face in the crowd has its own story, and that each of those stories touches myriad others. It is this unity which Nazi politics would seek to and ultimately would destroy forever.
Lustiger's style clearly illustrates these ideals and the almost schizophrenic status quo they created among the populace. In her depiction of the rapid social shift of old social ideals to Hitler's new order, she effectively captures the confusion and fear of the moment, painting an uncertain future, even when we are able to look back through history and know the outcome.
Rather than confining her focus to one specific group, the author shifts between all strata of society, from the rich and privileged to the destitute and desperate , and from the indifferent and oblivious to the fearful and hunted. Clearly iJlustrating the dense social layering and the separate norms of behavior and thinking associated with each, tlus work directly and piercingly challenges preconceived notions of social privilege and their rude introduction to the 'real world' An excellent reminder of the power that politics may wield.
Jesse
Dubuc
THE STRANGENESS OF BEAUTY
Lydia Minatoya , Norton, 200 I , $14 .00/C$20.00, tpb, 383pp, ISBN 0-393-32140-1
See Issue 12 (May 2000), UK section.
FRIDA
Barbara Mujica, Overlook Press, 2001, $26.95 (£16.87), hb, 363 pp Frida recounts the major points of artist Frida Kahlo's life. These include her childhood bout
1HE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
with polio, her education, the tragic bus accident that left her crippled and in excruciating pain for most of her life, her tempestuous marriages to muralist Diego Rivera, her numerous affairs, her revolutionary political views, her pride in being Mexican and her artistic development. It is also a psychological profile of her sister, Cristi, the unexceptional one, who was more complex than anyone guessed.
In the process of recounting the details of her sister's life, she reveals much about her~lf. Over and over she professes to love and admire her sister, yet is so obviously jealous and resentful of the attention circling her These darker emotions are the ones that lead her to betray her sister with Rivera
I was drawn into this novel very quickly A warning to those on a diet: Frida is full of references to food By the time I settled into my second or third reading session, I was craving mole poblano, empanadas, enchiladas, warm tortillas, chile verde ...
Alicelogsdon
OUR FATHERS
Andrew O ' Hagan, Harcourt, 2001, $13/C$19 (£6.99), tpb, 289 pp , ISBN 0156012022
This beautiful story set in post WWII Scotland is about the •coming of age ' of Jamie, a young boy growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father and a weak, ineffectual mother. One day, after a brutal beating of his mother by his drunken father , thirteen year old Jamie realizes he can no longer tolerate his home envrronment and moves in with his father ' s parents, who have provided the only source of stability throughout his young life. Jamie remains with his grandparents until he finishes school and then moves to England to strike out on his own. He returns to Scotland ten years later for an extended visit when he learns that Hugh, his grandfather, is dymg. As he and his grandfather reminisce about the past, Jamie thinks to himself: ' Once upon a time it was Hugh that had shown me, a young, saddened boy, how to grow up , how to make use of the past, and live with change. And now I was here: I would try to show him .' Ultimately, this is a story about forgiveness In going through this process with his beloved grandfather, Jamie comes to the realization that his parents too were victims of their own persona] torments and did the best they could with what they had to work with at the time - which is all any of us can do.
Pat Maynard
OTY OF ANGELS (Shannon Saga, 1) Tracie Peterson and James Scott Bell, Bethany House, 2001, $11.99 (£7.51), tpb , 376pp , ISBN 0-7642-2418-2
This novel, set on the cusp of the women's rights movement in the first years of the 20th century, is about a young woman who defies the mores of the times and studies law It is quite evident that the practice of trial law at that time is changing, and that this change is for the better is something to be welcomed
Kit Shannon, the heroine, is an orphan and law student at a prestigious woman's college in New York, then is rescued from poverty by her prosperous great aunt in Los Angeles She is introduced to the pecking order of the city at a party given by her aunt. In the process of learning the lessons of this male-dominated society, she almost loses her position due to the advances of an older man. She is in dire need of rescuing when help comes from a source quite unexpected
This story angers and saddens at first, but ultimately it bolsters the reader's faith in humankind
Don E. Hill
REBELLION
Joseph Roth, trans . Michael Hofmann, Picador USA, 2000 (cl924), $12 (£6.99*), tpb , 143pp Andreas Pum is a war veteran. We meet the recovering amputee after the end of WWI Rather than being depressed or agonized by his condition, Andreas is upbeat. After all , the government will provide for him. He isn't just an invalid he is an invalid with a medal . At first things go as planned. He gets a permit to be an organ grinder, he finds a woman to marry, his life is all that he could want it to be He is smug, content, and even takes pride in his virtuosity on his instrument. What he doesn't count on is crossing paths with Herr Arnold
This is a slim but well constructed novel. Hardly a word goes to waste Just as quickly as Pum's star descends, the star of his ne'er-do-well fiiend, Willi, is on the rise. How can this be'! Would a just God let this happen'! Rebellion is well worth reading It contains page after page of pithy observations on humanity, nature , faith and loss Unlike other novels with similar themes , it is approachable because it doesn't rely on a surreal or overly contrived plot development. Andreas Pum could be any one of us , really, and any one of us could be Herr Arnold.
Trans. Alan Brown (1979) from Ces en/ants de ma vie ( 1977)
Gabrielle Roy, beloved of the Canadian literary establishment, died in 1983 . Ces en/ants de ma vie was her last novel.
The narrator, a young schoolmistress, teIJs the stories of her early teaching years in three parts Two of her posts are in poor prairie villages, the other in a town enlivened by immigrants . The reader eventually learns that these anecdotes occur during the Depression years in Manitoba . These anecdotes, centering about various pupils, constitute the entire novel. Much is left untold Roy offers almost no glimpse of her narrator ' s background, the communities in which the narrator teaches , or the world beyond. I suspect this was intentional , and certainly it emphasizes the isolation of the inexperienced outsider teacher, and the desolation of the times. But as a reader who delights in references to concrete places and events , I struggled with this aspect of the novel.
The unnamed teacher ' s influence on the lives of the children appears like a light in a lake of dark drudgery And their influences on her, especially those of the unforgettable Mederic , push back the tedium of everyday adulthood she so fears. As she learns about life, she shares poignant observations One example: ' Keenness and fire are not lasting things Life snuffs them out the way you bury a prairie fire. ' Gems like these lift this novel into prize-winning echelons . Small wonder it netted Canada ' s Governor General ' s Award for Fiction
Claire Morris Bernard
THE SONG AND THE TRUTH
Helga Ruebsamen , (trans. Paul Vincent) , Knopf, 2000 , $26/C$40 (£14 99*), hb , 356pp, ISBN 0375402616
This novel is told in the voice of a young child whose stories of dreams and reality are so intermingled that the reader often wonders which part is song, which is truth It is the story of Lulu, a young Jewish girl growing up in Indonesia and in Holland during Hitler's reign
As Lulu grows and life changes, the images she remembers become more real . Cold Holland comes as a shock to someone who grew up in the warm climate of Indonesia. Even colder are the people she meets Things get tougher still as Lulu and her family face Hitler's rule and the effects of the war.
Ruebsamen teIJs Lulu's story as if the child is slowly waking from a dream to face the cold realities of life. The story, like the child, begins with a warmth and vitality that
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
seems to slowly ebb away to cool listlessness. The strength of this tale lies in the powerful images of Indonesian life and culture shown through the eyes of a child.
Nan Curnutt
THE FLOATING LADY MURDER: A Harry Houdini Mystery
Daniel Stashower, Avon, 2000 , $5 99 (£3.75), pb , ISBN 0380800578
This sequel to The Dime Museum Murders is second in a mystery series featuring struggling young stage illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini (1874-1926) and his brother and publicist, Dash Hardeen. Interestingly for an entry in the ' celebrity detective ' genre, Dash (the first-person narrator) seems to be the brains of the detecting, while Houdini comes off as a bit oblivious to all but his career.
When Harry and Dash go to work for famous illusionist Harry Kellar (also a historical character) to attempt to perfect the Floating Lady illusion, the last thing that they expect is that it will kill KelJar's assistant nor that she will have died by drowning
Slight but amusing, more for mystery fans than historical novel readers . A lot of tidbits about period magic but not a huge amount of period color.
Rosemary Edghill
JERUSALEM VIGIL
Bodie and Brock Thoene , 2000 , Penguin, $13/C$19 (£8.14), tpb , 318pp, ISBN 0-14-029856-8
The first of the Thoenes ' three-book Zion Legacy series starts with the declaration of sovereignty by David Ben-Gurion on Friday, May 14 , 1948 and continues through Sunday, May 23 . Through the eyes of various combatants on both sides , the reader is thrown up-close-and-personal into the various skirmishes and personal battles being waged throughout Jerusalem.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this story is that a battle of such monumental impact was fought on such a small scale, with no large-scale military maneuvers , high-tech weaponry, or discernable battle plan on either side. The battle for Jerusalem was fought almost entirely by ragtag bands of poorly equipped mercenaries . While personal agendas and in-fighting amongst the leaders of the Arab forces prevented their combined superiority from annihilating the outnumber Jewish fighters , the Jewish forces were able to overcome factional prejudices and work together effectively.
While the authors briefly mention the massacre of Arab civilians in the village of Deir Yassin by ' Jewish terrorists ,' the overall theme of the story is decidedly pro-Jewish, describing in brutal detail the slaughter of
50
Jewish settlers by the Arab forces It is against this backdrop of brutality that the fascinating history of Judaism in Israel is laid out: hope intertwined with the desperation of the battles raging everywhere .
Mark F Johnson
SLAPSTICK
Laura Mazzuca Toops , Xlibris, 2001 , $16 (forthcoming), tpb , 203pp, ISBN 0-7388-6096-6
In 1927, movies gained a voice and many stars lost their careers Slapstick chronicles the faIJ of silent screen comic genius Harold Gilbert, whose inability to adjust to the new world of talking pictures leads to his destruction
While Slapstick is competently written, it lacks the rich local color I'd hoped for , seeming more like a contemporary novel than a historical . By this , I mean it seems very much like a novel that was written at the time it's set, rather than creating a vision of a lost past for a twenty-first century reader And while the author has done a fine job of research, Gilbert's refusal to adjust to the new world that sound creates for the movie industry often makes him seem less like a tragic hero than a Tinseltown Luddite India Edghill
NINE BELLS FOR A MAN
Peter Unwin, Simon & Pierre (Dundum Group, Canada), 2000 , $18 99/C$18 99, tpb , 268pp, ISBN 0-88924-294-1
Robert Pachal is a farmer from Saskatchewan who agrees to accompany his late brother-in-law's body back to Ontario, after the latter dies mysteriously on the prairie. Having never been far from home before, the journey is an adventure filled with wonder until he boards the small boat that will take him to his wife's hometown of Combermere. There he meets a group of traveIJing salesmen, an elderly woman and his wife's uncle and his friends . Together they will share an entirely different sort of adventure , one marked by both tragedy and survival.
Based on a true story and set primarily in pre-WWI Ontario, Canada, this novel immerses the reader in the period The author drops tidbits of historical events and characters throughout the narrative His image-laden prose is a joy to read and savour while the well-rounded characters draw you deeper into the story ,
Two minor problems detracted from my reading pleasure. First, the initial two chapters confused me slightly as they bounced me around in time Second, r was a little disappointed when some of the other characters took over too soon as narrators . I'd come to care for Robert and would have liked ISSUE 16 MAY
to see more of his reactions as the plight of the boat became clear.
All in all, though, this book is well worth reading for the fascinating slice of small town Ontario life in the early 20th century and the beautiful prose. Especially recommended for Canadian members of the HNS
Teresa
Eckford
THE FORGER
Paul Watkins , Picador USA , 2000, $25 (£9 99*) , hb , 322pp, ISBN 0-312-26593-X
David Halifax , a young American painter, accepts a scholarship from the Levasseur Committee for Fine Arts The scholarship intrigues him, as he had not even put in an application Eager to begin a three-month study under noted Russian artist Alexander Pankratov, he travels to Paris
Halifax learns that the Committee has recruited three trainees from which a painter will be selected to duplicate masterworks of the Paris museums. The much sought after approval of his painting comes with the announcement that he has been chosen as the forger. The extraordinarily talented Alexander Pankratov will alter these copies to appear as aged masterpieces. The fakes will be bartered off to Hitler ' s art dealers and the originals hidden away for safekeeping, thus achieving the Committee ' s goal. Constant dread of discovery permeates the novel.
This historical novel is set during the anxious times prior to and during the Nazi occupation of France I was quickly drawn into a daring scheme to deceive the enemy as the Committee members lived amidst the cruelties of war. This style of writing was so realistic that it left me wondering whether or not someone had actually carried out this scheme
In parts The Forger delivers up enough fear , shock and suspense to resemble the writing style of Stephen King. Readers and critics will follow Paul Watkins ' work with a thirst for more
Jetta Culpepper
THE PROMISE OF LIGHT
Paul Watkins , Picador USA , 2000 (cl992), $13/C$19 .99 (£5.99*) , tpb , 27lpp , ISBN 0-312-26766-5
It ' s the unusual death of Ben Sheridan's father that stalks him throughout this novel. Sheridan ' s search takes him from his small Rhode Island town to the Ireland of 1921, throwing him forcefully amidst the fledging IRA to unravel the threads of his past.
Watkins aptly displays the confusion, terror and passion for Irish independence, while gently weaving in a young man ' s bewilderment regarding his heritage and
future . I found Watkins' dialogue light and passionless compared to the symphony of his descriptive passages Nevertheless, I was spellbound by this simple yet discerningly stirring story of both Sheridan and Ireland ' s individual yet mingled struggle for independence .
Wendy Zollo
MORTAL SINS
Penn Williamson, Warner, 2000, $23.95/C$32 95 (£14 99*), hb , 416pp , ISBN 0-446-52154-X
New Orleans ' reputation for political corruption and urban violence serves as an intriguing backdrop for the outlandish behavior and Mardi Gras mayhem also associated with this most un-American of all American cities. Williamson ' s novel is a gritty and violent introduction to the New Orleans not discussed by travel agents. Set in 1927 , the plot revolves around homicide detective Daman Rourke ' s investigation of the brutal killing of a prominent New Orleans attorney The main suspect is Remy Lelourie, a beautiful Hollywood actress who had been Rourke ' s lover. Rourke, a man haunted by his past and ill at ease with the world in which he lives , doggedly pursues his search for justice in a city where truth is cloaked by moral ambiguity
All of the characters are deeply flawed, and most are haunted by the family secrets that continually intrude on their everyday existence. The uncertain and often baffiing relations between whites and blacks crop up throughout the police investigation. The author ' s description of the social life and customs of the New Orleans of the Roaring 20s is a richly detailed and accurate representation of this world . Williamson obviously spent many an hour on her research This is not a novel for the faint of heart The blood begins to flow on the first page and never truly stops until the last.
If one is uncomfortable with this style of writing , Mortal Sins should be avoided at all costs. If, on the other hand, one enjoys the rough realism of such police stories , then Williamson ' s novel will be a delight.
John R Vallely
A SMALL DEATH IN LISBON
Robert Wilson, Harcourt, 1999, $25 00 (£4 79* pb) , hb , 440pp , ISBN 0-15-100609-1
Reviewed in Issue 10 (December 1999), UK section. SI
CROOKED RIVER BURNING
Mark Winegardner, Harcourt, 2001 , $27 00 (£16.81), hb , 56lpp, ISBN 0-15-100294-0
Winegardner ' s insightful and witty novel of Cleveland from 1948 to 1969 documents the decay of a great city and reveals much of what was best and worst in American cities during that period. The crooked river is the Cuyahoga which divides Cleveland in two , east and west, and which has in fact burned more than once in recent history. Though Cleveland is Winegardner ' s main focus , Crooked River Burning is also the story of unlikely lovers David Zielinsky and Anne Honest and uncompromising , warm and humorous, Crooked River Burning is a gem. This highly inventive and enjoyable novel is in a class of its own
Jean Langlais
GABRIEL'S WELL
Blaine M Yorgason, Shadow Mountain, 2000, $17.95 (£11.23) , hb , 160 pp , ISBN 1573456411
Cluvarous Jones' father is a prosperous businessman and County Recorder for their rural Western town A mysterious man, Carlos De Ortega, who claims to represent an oil company in the East , approaches him late one night. He also claims to have discovered an oil deposit on land owned by an aged couple, Gabriel and Keziah Jane. The townsfolk believe these elderly folks are Indians ; and, since it is illegal for Indians to own land, de Ortega asks Cluvarous' father to help him gain control of the land. Mr. Jones refuses to participate in the scam Mr de Ortega begins to rally the townsfolk with promises of the oil wealth that they can claim if Mr Jones will nullify the claim
Through the eyes of eleven-year-old Cluvarous, the tale vividly describes the downward spiral of the town as mob rule takes over
Mr Yorgason writes a story that combines elements of history, morality and fantas y. His descriptions of a ' modem ' tum-of-the-century small town tom apart by greed are very well done . The language and details of the story vividly envoke the period
Kathleen Sullivan
US/CANADA: MULTI-PERIOD
SO FAR BACK
Pam Durban, Picador USA, 2000 , $23/$35 99 (£ 14 40) , hb , 259pp, ISBN 0-312-26869-6
For generations , the women of one black Charleston family have served the Hilliards first as slaves , later as servants When a flood disrupts the contents of Louisa Hilliard Marion ' s ancestral home, she is forced to sift through old family artifacts In coming across the 1837 diary of Eliza Hilliard, an early mistress of the house, Louisa learns of the harsh conditions to which the plantation' s slaves were subjected - and, in so doing, she stirs up a ghost.
The moral of the story, one ' s inability to escape the past, is a bit too obvious, as is the social commentary on slavery that inevitably follows. It is as a historical novel, however, that So Far Back truly excels It follows a predictable path, and as such the conclusion is not all that unexpected But even so, one is left with the distinct impression that the story between the black and white inhabitants of Charleston is still not quite over.
Sarah L.
Nesbeitt
THE FAMILY ORCHARD
Nomi Eve, Knopf, 2000 , $25 , hb (£12.99* pb) , 316pp, ISBN 0375410767
Nomi Eve's first novel is a lyrical and poetic Jewish family history, from 1837 to present day. The story is told in two voices : the voice of Nomi Eve Sepher Starr and that of her father , Eliezer Sepher While her father ' s story is brief and matter of fact , Nomi ' s telling is richly descriptive , full and intimate Eve ' s narrative is interspersed with many illustrations-prints, drawings and charts of Jerusalem, fruit trees , family trees and other tidbits , all relevant and interesting.
Nomi traces her family from the time her earliest ancestors , Rabbi Yochanan Shine and Esther Sophie Herschell , immigrated to Palestine from eastern Europe The novel for the most part is comprised of their love story and subsequent love stories in the family history, grafted to life in Palestine during those turbulent years and in particular revealed through the care and tending of the family orchard.
Like listening to beautiful music, reading The Family Orchard absorbs and lifts the reader beyond time and place. It is unique, an experience rather than a book , involving details of Jewish life, family joy and tragedy , and the city of Jerusalem . Highly recommended.
Jean Langlais
SILENCE AND SHADOWS
James Long , Bantam, 2001 , $23 .95/C$35 95 , hb , 320pp, ISBN 0553108638
For review, see Issue 15 (February 2001) , UK section.
THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS
Simon Mawer, Little, Brown, 2001, $24 95/C$34 95 (£12 79*) , h b, 336pp ., ISBN 0-316-09750-0
Set primarily in the present, The Gospel of Judas revolves about Leo, middle-aged priest and expert in ancient texts Leaving Rome for Jerusalem, he deciphers a scroll recently discovered : Judas Iscariot's account of the life of Jesus Predating the earliest extant gospels , this scroll threatens to undermine both world Christianity and Leo ' s own faith, already bruised by his attraction to Madeleine, wife of an English diplomat.
Parts of the story show Leo after this discovery Dubbed Judas the Betrayer by his colleagues, he is no longer in touch with Madeleine, no longer a practicing priest, instead developing an attachment to the enigmatic Czech artist, Magda The principal story line follows his relationship with Madeleine , and his work on the gospel of Judas . Then there are flashbacks to 1943 , when Rome and World War II collide . Leo ' s mother, wife of a German diplomat , makes choices that shape the man Leo becomes Betrayal and tragedy thread the story parts together, as do references to Mary Magdalene, Jewish heritage , Moravia , and England Erudite and brilliantly constructed, this complex novel abounds with etymologies and unusual adjectives. It conjures up ' what-if scenarios from the first century ; it paints a touchable picture of two Romes , fifty years apart . It also insightfully explores the matter of faith What is it based on? Are heritage and belief linked? What happens to individuals who lose their faith ? Or those who cling thoughtlessly to it?
Claire Morris Bernard
RANDOM PASSAGE
Bernice Morgan , Breakwater Books (Canada) , 2000 (cl992) , $17 95/C$17 95 , tpb , 269pp , ISBN 1-55081-051-0
WAITING FOR TIME
Bernice Morgan, Breakwater Books (Canada) , 1999 (cl994) , $17 95/C$17 95 , tpb , 232pp, ISBN 1-55081-080-4 Both forthcoming from Mentor Books UK, £7 .99 each
These two novels , relating one famil y' s struggles and triumphs in Newfoundland from the early 19th century until the present , were originally written as one book. Not surprisingly, in order to get the fullest appreciation for the characters (and because it
ends with a cliflbanger) , readers of Random Passage will be compelled to read the sequel.
Random Passage begins as members of one large extended family, the Andrews, are forced to make their way from Weymouth, England to unknown prospects in the remote , uncivilized, God-forsaken place known as Newfound Land There, on the island of Cape Random, the Vincent family introduces them to their new way of life Lavinia Andrews , the pensive seventeen-year-old daughter, records their experiences in her journal.
The story of the family's settlement is gritty and utterly unromanticized Only the strong survive, but in this story , even great strength isn't always enough . The storyline jars at first as Morgan attempts to tell the story from too many different viewpoints , but it soon settles into easy, fascinating reading
Waiting for Time is the story of Mary Bundle, who at seventeen has barely escaped a life of thievery by finding passage on a ship to Newfoundland Her life spans nearly a hundred years Events formerl y seen through others' eyes in Random Passage are retold from Mary's point of view , and the difference is at times remarkable Many events hinted at in the earlier book are finally revealed
My one complaint is that I was left wanting more I wanted to read of Mary's great-granddaughter Rachel , introduced in the latter book , and of the lives of other Andrews and Vincent descendants With its impressive characterization and unique setting, this is far from your average famil y saga Essential reading for Canadians and non-Canadians alike
A beloved colleague's abrupt death propels travel writer Kathleen de Burca into a quest for personal and historical truth
Work weary and world weary at 49 , Kathleen takes a leave of absence from work. During that time she will research a Victorian-era divorce case in her native Ireland, in preparation for writing a fact-based novel. For years she has been intrigued by the incomplete history of Marianne Talbot , an English landlord's wife , and her lover William Mullan, a worker on the estate Eager to explore this ill-fated, incongruous love affair during the Famine, Kathleen departs for County Mayo By doing so, she ends a stubborn , self-imposed exile from Ireland. Kathleen's story unfolds partly as memoir, as she reviews her own past, and partly as detective story. Her search for the truth about
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
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unlikely lovers leads her in unexpected directions .
Woven in with Kathleen's adventures and ruminations are sections from her historical novel, based upon her speculations about the errant Marianne's love for William Malian. But the facts of the case reveal themselves in unexpected ways, and Kathleen's satisfying and promising encounters with her new lover force her into a difficult choice.
The combination of lyrical, effective wntmg, absorbing and poignant characterizations, and the determined quest for historical truth, will appeal to readers of contemporary and historical fiction alike A moving and memorable novel , and highly recommended .
Generations of the Redd family, divided into the white Redds and the black Redds , people this novel. China, the character from whose point of view the story unfolds, spans the years when events took place and keeps alive the family history When she sees an object such as abalone earrings , layers of meaning turn that object into a trope. The symbol opens up to a story that resonates through each generation.
The cotton plantation in North Carolina, its crumbling mansion, and the house across the road built by the descendants of slaves , are all powerfully evoked. Roseberry , the big house , claimed China's life work from the time she was 14
By choosing this protagonist , the author sets herself a difficult task. China is not someone who goes out and resolves her problems She waited on the white Redds and now that the last scion of the family is gone, she waits to die Within the limitations of her life, she maintains an enviably simple existence.
As Peacock revisits this territory over the years, adding layer after layer to the symbols, the repetition lends a mythic quality to the story The problem with this is predictability: the outcome is preordained. The story has a strong rhythm, and characters who evoke emotions that have nowhere to go I came away with an appreciation for the deep, deep game and long-term determination of the oppressed
Marcia
K Matthews
THE DISCOVERY OF CHOCOLATE
James Runcie, HarperCollins, 2001 , $25/C$37 95 (£12.99*), 262pp, hb, ISBN 0-06-018481- 7
For review see page 24, UK section.
A HOUSE NAMED BRAZIL
Audrey Schulman, William Morrow, 2000, $23 (£14.40) , 302 pp, hb , ISBN 0-380-97799-0
When Fran Mourne was seven, her father left home . At 16, her mother abandoned her . At age 19, however, Fran was forced to reexamine her life when her mother unexpectedly called with the sole purpose of passing on oral recitations of the family history. These stories, relayed through a series of evening telephone calls from a secret location, ultimately helped Fran discover her own abilities and finally come to terms with her parents' strange behavior.
Schulman's technique of flipping between Fran's present, youth, and family stories effectively conveys the frustration Fran feels as her mother doles out the tales in no apparent order while being quite stingy with the details of her own life. The interaction between Fran and her mother and Fran's introspection tend to be less engaging than the family stories. As we learn more about the family's history , these sections make more sense , but they never really stir the emotions The family tree and photographs are included between chapters , making it easy to follow the winding tales Readers interested in peeking into an eccentric and rather dysfunctional family of the 19th and early 20th centuries will enjoy this book.
Suzanne Sprague
CANE RIVER
Lalita Tademy, Warner Books , 2001, $24.95/C$32 .95 hb , (£10.39* pb) , 432pp , ISBN 0-446-52732- 7
This is a stunning family saga mixed with incredible historical detail and honest , yet brutal and painful , descriptions of five generations of black women struggling to survive America ' s darkest days of racial inequality. The novel spans one hundred years and five generations of black women in rural central Louisiana from the slavery of the 1830s, through the Civil War and the end of slavery, to the harsh segregation of the 1930s. Although Tademy does admit to changing a date, name, or place for the purpose of narrative flow , the story she crafts is -all the more riveting because it tells a true tale. By including family photos, she greatly increases the dramatic impact of her ancestors by allowing readers to pair faces with her words on the page
Anyone wishing to explore this rarely presented viewpoint in America ' s racial history or simply looking for a well-written work with incredibly well developed characters and compelling narrative should find a copy ofLalita Tademy ' s Cane River as soon as possible
Dana Cohlmeyer
US/CANADA: TIMESLIP
THE ANGEL GATEWAY
Jane Adams , Pan Macmillan Australia , 2000 , AU$26 , pb , 373pp, ISBN 0-333-90170-3
For review, see Issue 14, UK section
US/CANADA: FANTASY
THE WOLF KING
Alice Borchardt, Ballantine , 2001, $25.95/C$38.95 (£11.99), hb , 375pp, ISBN 0-345-43526-5
Although some readers may want to read Ms Borchardt's two previous novels , The Silver Wolf and Night of the Wolf, The Wolf King can stand on its own as an engaging romp into the overlapping days of paganism and Christianity. Although set in the time of Charlemagne, and main figures of the era such as Lombard King Desederius and Pope Hadrian appear, it should not be classed as a solid historical novel. The title , too , is somewhat of a misnomer since it's hard to say to whom or what it refers.
However, the cast of leader Maeniel , his wife Regeane , the gloriously diverse members of the werewolf pack, and their human friends in alliance with Charlemagne against their enemies is fast paced, imaginative and just plain fun.
Borchardt's talent is such that she left many cliffhangers in the lives of her werewolves and events, but the quick, absorbing reading leaves her fans avidly awaiting the next installment of her supernatural series
Suzanne Crane
GENPEI
Kara Dalkey, Tor, 2001, $25 95/C$36.95 (£16 .25),hb , 445pp , ISBN 0-312-89071-0 Imperial Japan in the twelfth century is the setting for the newest historical fantasy by the author of the Blood of the Goddess trilogy and The Nightingale The end of the Heian era is a time of tremendous upheaval nine
ISSUE 16 MAY 2001
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
emperors ruled between 1123 and 1184 with two rival clans , the Minomoto and the Taira, struggling for ascendancy. This is the story of their rise and fall , ending in the beginning of the Japanese Shogunate.
What Dalkey does with this outline (for the historical sources are sketchy and sometimes contradictory as to the details) is to bring it alive , populating it with a host of sympathetic (if not always likable) characters and fleshing it out with lore and legend. Scheming and skirmishes abound as the clans and their leaders attempt to navigate the treacherous waters of Imperial politics Interwoven amongst these events are the actions of various spirits , some hostile, who know that the time of the End of Law is coming and who are each using humans as pawns as they work towards their own ends
In hands less deft, this profusion of characters and events as well as the extended timeline would be confusing , but Dalkey's characterizations are rich and easily distinguished from one another, and the story is clearly told Although it never attains the complex cultural flavor found in works such as Yukio Mishima's Spring Snow, this is a delightful tale that captures the spirit of twelfth century Japan and brings to vivid life the end of an era
Tracey A. Callison
US/CANADA: NON FICTION
NAPOLEON AND MARIE LOUISE
Alan Palmer, St. Martin's Press , 2001, $25 .95, 288pp, hb , ISBN 0312280884 For review, see 28, UK section.
FINGERPRINTS: The Origins of Crime Detection and the Murder Case That Launched Forensic Science
Colin Beavan, Hyperion, 2001, $22 .9 5/C$32 .95 (£14.29), hb , 256pp , ISBN 0-7868-6607-1
This is a fascinating look into the history and use of fingerprints in crime detection Beavan begins the book by recounting a terrible double murder in Deptford, London, in 1905. From this point, Beavan backs up and briefly explains what had constituted ' evidence ,' starting with medieval France and continuing up to the 1800s, though this term itself was not used until the time of Henry VIl The bulk of the book looks at the key players who explored and used fingerprinting for a variety of uses-as a more secure form of a signature, to try to discover a ' biological coat of arms by a man interested in eugenics , and of course as a forensic tool- and the progress fingerprinting
TI-IE IBSTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
made in apprehending criminals and as acceptable evidence in courts of law This book will appeal to historical mystery readers It should also appeal to all readers who enjoy a well-written, absorbing tale
Trudi E. Jacobson
UNWISE PASSIONS : A True Story of a Remarkable Woman - And the First Great Scandal of Eighteenth-Century America
Alan Pell Crawford, Simon & Schuster, 2000 , illus ., $27.50/C$4 l .OO (£17 . 13), hb , 329pp , ISBN 0-684-83474-X.
This is an engaging, thought-provoking biography that provides fascinating insight into an old scandal that wreaked havoc among several of the oldest families in post-Revolutionary War Virginia. Crawford, vividly relates the story of lovely , privileged Nancy Randolph of Tuckahoe and her cousin and brother-in-law, Richard Randolph of Bizarre. Their story involves not only their large extended family , but enmeshed such famous figures as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and John Marshall
Unwise Passions , with its elements of true crime , romance, intrigue , treachery, and colorful personalities, played out against an already decaying plantation culture, is a biography that reads like the best historical fiction . A helpful family tree , pertinent illustrations, and notes are included
Michael I. Shoop
W AINEWRIGHT THE POISONER
Andrew Motion, Knopf, 2000, $26 (£20*), hb , 276 pp , ISBN 9-780375-402098
Thomas Griffiths Wainewright began life in a household of leisured literati and ended, through attempts to maintain that life , as convict number 2325 in the penal colony on Tasmania. This book does not belong among the reviews of historical fiction, but it isn't orthodox biography , either. Mr Motion has chosen to tell the tale of this enigmatic creature in the first person and in a poetic style evocative of the period: ' the fingers of Aurora grip the summit of the hills to the east, and that ever-new Goddess appears blushing with the delicious effort of her elevation. ' There is , the author warns us , no better way to surmount the difficulties of piecing together the fragmentary documents of this life
Footnotes take up as much space as the ' auto ' biography itself, and must be read if one is to understand the evidence that exists to convict or exonerate (of forgery and murder) a man who of course , speaking in the first person will deny everything and accuse everyone. Motion is correct: this is an interesting, perhaps the only , way to illustrate something Wainewright's first biographers , including Dickens and Wilde, could not
believe : that intelligence, taste , artistic talent and good breeding could flourish on the same branch as evil
Many great contemporaneous names are found in these pages : Coleridge, Blake, Byron, Dickens again But in the tale of a man consumed with himself, the characters of even the nearest and dearest do not come alive . That delight of historical novelists , the scene set, the action played, is missing. Dialogue is nonexistent. On its own terms , however, I enjoyed the experimentation I enjoyed the work as the biography of a man I'd never heard of before I enjoyed the lurid look into what often comes across as the chaste Romantic Movement.
Ann Chamberlin
THE
DISASTROUS MRS. WELDON: The Life, Loves, and Lawsuits of a Legendary Victorian
Brian Thompson , Doubleday, 200 I , $26 (£16 27) , hb , 344 pp , ISBN 0-38550090-4
The subject of this unusual biography was born Georgina Thomas, daughter of a delusional , cruel , and pretentious Briton who later assumed the He expected her to marry a ' ten-thousand-a-year man .' In 1860, she eloped with a penniless lieutenant , Harry Weldon Enraged , her father never saw her again
Undaunted by her barrenness , Georgina relied on her talents as vocalist and ex-ploited her remaining social, artistic , and musical connections Her lilting soprano enchanted the renowned French composer Charles Gounod, who moved into his muse's chaotic residence and attempted to compose great works, The relationship soured; they parted acrimoniously , and litigiously Afterwards , she devoted herself to her ' orphanage,' which doubled as musical academy. When her husband and mother conspired to commit her to an asylum, she transferred her orphans to France, with typically disastrous results. Her later involvement in lunacy laws , and the use she made of the Married Women ' s Private Property Act, was historic , but in her pursuit of justice she in variably made herself ridiculous
Brian Thompson pokes at his subject's inflated self-portrait to reveal a deeply flawed, wrong-headed woman with an unquenchable appetite for publicity and activity: the antithesis of a proper Victorian matron A readable and entertaining life of an eccentric who probably deserved to be forgotten , but was too compelling and vital to lie quietly in her grave
