Hist Fic Saturday...Crimson and Bone by Marina Fiorato

On Hist Fic Saturday let's go back in time...


To Victorian England and Italy in this Gothic Novel of Love and Obsession

Hodder&Stoughton
May 2017

First off, the book's cover drew me in, the beguiling figure of the woman promised a dark and rather mysterious tale and I'm pleased to say that the story lived up to my expectations.

The dark and gloomy Victorian underworld sits very comfortably with this story of obsession and possession which starts on Waterloo Bridge in London in 1853 and the saving of penniless prostitute, Annie Stride, as she stands with her arms outstretched about to leap off the bridge. The man who saves her from her untimely death is none other than proclaimed artist, Francis Maybrick Gill who inspired by Annie endeavours to educate her, whilst at the same time uses her as his muse and inspiration for a series of paintings.

The lure of obsession and the darkening grip of power fill this novel from the very beginning. At first it's a case of rejoicing as Annie is saved from harm but yet, her puzzling relationship with Maybrick hints that there is is perhaps more to this man than we, at first, imagine. Annie's entry into society as she  mingles with the artists and models of the pre-Raphaelite era is done with a fine eye for detail. I liked to see Annie attending soirees at the Royal Academy and exchanging gossip, with that other pre-Raphaelite muse, Lizzie Siddal.

In Crimson and Bone the author has combined classic Gothic gloom with the Victorian art world, and as it gets darker and darker, the story swaps effortlessly between London and Italy. Combining a dark and menacing story with the added excitement of never really knowing what's going to happen next made this a really fascinating story to follow.

I've read this author's work before and I am always excited by her stories, She writes historical fiction really well, controlling the narrative with a sure hand, so that there's always a palpable sense of authenticity. I think that this is her darkest story to date, and whilst there will be the inevitable comparison with that other classic Victorian Gothic, The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, I think that Crimson and Bone comes out very favourably against the comparison.

If you like dark and brooding Victorian melodrama, with a more than a hint of menace, and a generous dose of fallen woman, then Crimson and Bone ticks all those boxes !



More about the Author can be found here

My thanks to Bookbridgr and the publishers Hodder&Stoughton who provided my copy

 of Crimson and Bone to read and review

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Review ~ The Unseeing by Anna Mazzola

Tinder Press
2016

...A Good Lie always comes back to haunt you...

The Blurb..

Set in London in 1837, this is the story of Sarah Gale, a seamstress and mother, sentenced to hang for her role in the murder of Hannah Brown on the eve of her wedding. 

After Sarah petitions for mercy, Edmund Fleetwood is appointed to investigate and consider whether justice has been done. Idealistic, but struggling with his own demons, Edmund is determined to seek out the truth.

Yet Sarah, despite protesting her innocence, refuses to add anything to the evidence given in court: the evidence which convicted her.

My thoughts..

At this time in the year I had thought that I had compiled my list of favourite books only to have another come at me right out of the blue. It must be said that this book conjures up the dark and rather dismal world of the Victorian penal system like no other book I've read in  a long, long time.

The opening to The Unseeing is quite vivid and you immediately feel immense sorrow for a woman who you suspect is a victim, as yet unknown who, it must be said, starts the book off in a particularly macabre sort of way. The story, as it then develops, has a distinct Dickensian feel to it as both the plot and the content of the story are suitably dark. However, there is a thoughtfulness to the narrative which lulls you into a sense of security, only to have that safeness ripped away as snippets of clues are revealed tantalisingly slowly. From the start of the story I found that my allegiances slipped sideways and as I was taken further and further into a deep web of lies I became engrossed in trying to determine just who, if anyone, was telling me the truth.

The sights and sounds of Victorian London come alive in glorious detail and I think what makes the story so fascinating is that it is based on a true story and the author has obviously done considerable research in order to bring Sarah Gale's story alive, The snippets of information revealed at the start of each chapter come from actual journalistic writings of the time and there are authentic details of Sarah trial and subsequent punishment, which I won't reveal as that would spoil things !

This really is a commendable debut novel from an author who I am sure will only continue to go from strength to strength. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Best Read with ...A meat pudding and a pint of London ale...

About the Author

Anna Mazzola is a criminal justice solicitor, based in London. Whilst THE UNSEEING is her debut, it has won awards including the Brixton Bookjam Debut Novel competition and she came runner up in the 2014 Grazia First Chapter competition judged by Sarah Waters.

For more information visit the author's website by clicking here 

My thanks to Tinder Press for my review copy of The Unseeing.

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Review ~ Ayah by Thushani Weerasekera...

JMendelBooks
2015

A Tale of Survival, Love and Revenge

The opening chapter of this novel, set  in the port of Calcutta, describes the scene quite perfectly and as the sights ,sounds, smells and a mirage of colours emerge, so does a story that is rich in evocative detail.

Jemima is the Indian Ayah to the Hayward children,. She is a devoted nursemaid but her role in the household is ambiguous and she is often left feeling bereft of support and comfort. When the decision is made for Mrs Hayward and the children to return to England, Jemima is forced to travel with them, but plans for the family in London do not include Jemima, who is left alone and abandoned, with disastrous consequences.

What then follows is a haunting and troubled look at the social and moral differences which were all too rife in Victorian England. Jemima must learn to survive in a country which is very different from the one she has left behind, and with no money or support, she tries to exist as best she can. The underbelly of society becomes all too real for Jemima and even as she yearns for the warmth and colour of home, she quickly realises that to return to India is nothing short of an impossible dream.

I really enjoyed being taken into this world which the author has created so very well. It’s beautifully detailed; with a Dickensian richness which is evident throughout the whole of the story and such is the strength of the writing, that even though you sort of know that Jemima’s new life is going to be made up of heartbreak and broken promises, you really start to hope that eventually fate will intervene and some, hopeful, resolution will occur.

Best read with a cup of spicy Chai Latte and sticky, sweet cubes of Barfi, liberally laced with cardamom.

About the author

Thushani Weerasekera is a British-Asian actress and writer born in London and of Sri Lankan origin. Thushani lives in London.





Find Thushani on Facebook
Follow on Twitter @ThushaniWeeras1

Amazon UK

You can read an interview with the author here

My thanks to the author for sharing her book with me.

Review ~ Victorian Fairy Tales : Edited by Michael Newton

Oxford University Press
2015

I love Victorian Fairy Tales and this volume contains a selection of some of the finest stories. Nestled amongst the better known tales lie some hidden gems which fire the imagination and feed the soul and anyone who loves Victorian melodrama will be as beguiled as I was with the contents. There is a good selection on offer , from the well known by the great and the good of the Victorian literati, to some lesser known works, which sit equally as comfortably side by side with the greats.

The book has been thoughtfully complied with a fine eye for detail. The stories are mixed and varied and the  comprehensive introduction by Michael Newton places the stories into the context of their time. If you enjoy well written short stories which contain elements of mystery, pure melodrama and more than a hint of the paranormal then I am sure that you will find this beautiful book as intriguing as I did.

The cover is sumptuous and looks like it could have stepped straight out from a roll of William Morris wallpaper.It really is one of those books that you could find yourself dipping into and out of at whim and  it would be a stunning addition to any book shelf. 

My thanks to Oxford University Press and NetGalley for my copy of this book,




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