This is a substantial novel of nearly 500 pages which has been written in the style (or several styles) of a typical Victorian novel. The author also includes pastiches of newspaper reports, local guides, letters and other types of account which contribute to this nineteenth century tale. The author takes on various voices as he attempts ventriloquism for many of the characters that teem through these pages.
The story starts with report of two deaths which occur within several years of each other: that of Mr Henry Ireland, caused by an apparent fall from his horse, and that of Mr James Dixey who has had his throat torn out, seemingly by some wild beast. The two individuals are connected by family ties and, more importantly by Mrs Ireland, the widow. She has been gradually sinking into mental instability following the death of their only child and it is Mr Ireland's stated wish in his will that she should be kept at Mr Dixey's decaying home in the remote Suffolk countryside upon his death. This wish is carried out but the one thing that Mr Dixey, an amateur naturalist and ornithologer, lacks is ready money to carry out any repairs or maintain his estate.
A cast of minor characters appear before the reader: William, Mr Dixey's footman, and Esther, a newly arrived maid. Mr Pardew, a debt collector, and Mr Crabbe, a crusty old lawyer. Then there is Dunbar, a jack of all trades who acquires rare birds eggs for Mr Dixey, and Dewar, a down at heel former grocer whose wife is dying of consumption, who helps him out.
These various characters are connected by tenuous, and not so tenuous threads, and as the plot slowly and meanderingly plays itself out all their connections are explained. The vast stage and cast of characters is typical of several major nineteenth century novelists, most obviously Dickens and Wilkie Collins, as the author acknowledges in his epilogue.
The book is worth a read but may require a second reading to appreciate the full complexity of the story. It joins an impressive canon of historical novels, including A S Byatt's Possession (which I prefer, I have to say) which can take the reader on a convincing journey into the past and tackle subjects without some of the constraints of modern times.
