Garner (Nightdancing, 2003) returns with the tale of a mysterious,
talented boy living in 19th-century England.The night Edgar Jones
is born, a meteor shower lights up the skies above Oxford
University. His father William dotes on him, while his mother
Eleanor worries about the innate wildness she sees in her only
child. The author can't seem to decide on a protagonist, leaving
readers without intimate knowledge of or empathy for any one of the
Joneses. Curious, precocious and determined, Edgar takes on an
almost devilish quality as he grows up, parlaying an apprenticeship
at an iron forge into a position at the university, where his
father works as a night watchman. The professor who shepherds him
into Oxford has dubious intentions, but Edgar falls in love with
the ironwork involved in creating the professor's pet project, a
museum of natural history. Meanwhile, Eleanor, feeling isolated
from her husband and son, starts a sewing business with the help of
a benefactress. As the business becomes profitable, she acquires a
new sense of independence, though the trials Edgar's mischief
brings her, as well as her relationship with an increasingly angry
and erratic husband, are endless sources of angst. Garner doesn't
fully explore the motivations of her characters, who seem like
caricatures. Edgar is certainly bizarre, but he is neither
interesting nor likable. He is not scary enough to frighten, clever
enough to admire or kind enough to champion. Choosing iron as the
source of his inspiration poses a brave challenge, but the theme is
painfully over-romanticized, and the fantastical elements require
too much suspension of belief, especially at the end. Striving for
attractively old-fashioned lyricism, the prose seems instead
fabricated and childish. There are some thrilling scenes as the
plot twists nicely toward the finale, but by then most readers are
unlikely to care much anymore.Disturbing, but not compelling.
(Kirkus Reviews)
Set in nineteenth-century Oxford, and shot through with a powerful
sense of magic, Elizabeth Garner's new novel will appeal both to
fans of historical fiction and to the huge Susanna Clarke/Philip
Pullman fanbase. In nineteenth-century Oxford, an extraordinary
child is born - Edgar Jones, a porter's son with a magical talent.
Though his father cannot see beyond his academic slowness, his
abilities as a metalworker and designer are quickly noticed, and
become a source of tension within the family. When Edgar comes to
the attention of a maverick professor at work on a museum of the
natural sciences, Edgar is at once plucked from obscurity and
plunged into the heart of a debate which threatens to tear apart
the university. Edgar's position is a dangerous one - will he be
able to control the rebellious spirit that fires his inventiveness,
but threatens to ruin him, and to break up his family once and for
all?
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
bundle available
(1)
(1)
