Read for #TheIrishReadathon
1878 - The Lyceum Theatre, London. Three extraordinary people begin their life together, a life that will be full of drama, transformation, passionate and painful devotion to art and to one another. Henry Irving, the Chief, is the volcanic leading man and impresario ; Ellen Terry is the most lauded and desired actress of her generation, outspoken and generous of heart ; and ever following along behind them in the shadows is the unremarkable theatre manager, Bram Stoker. Fresh from life in Dublin as a clerk, Bram may seem the least colourful of the trio but he is wrestling with dark demons in a new city, in a new marriage, and with his own literary aspirations. As he walks the London streets at night, streets haunted by the Ripper and the gossip which swirls around his friend Oscar Wilde, he finds new inspiration. But the Chief is determined that nothing will get in the way of his manager's devotion to the Lyceum and to himself. And both men are enchanted by the beauty and boldness of the elusive Ellen. This exceptional novel explores the complexities of love that stands dangerously outside social convention, the restlessness of creativity, and the experiences that led to Dracula, the most iconic supernatural tale of all time.
I first borrowed it at the library because it was about Bram Stoker, whose Dracula I recently read, because of the 19th century atmosphere, almost gothic with Jack the Ripper making a shadowy appearance and a couple of ghosts, because of the theater, which I love, and because I'd never read Joseph O'Connor, whose sister I know a lot better.
It is a big book, almost 500 pages, but I devoured it very quickly, enthralled right from the start.
I loved the characters, of course, wonderfully written, and there were such witty dialogues and depth. There are many references to Dracula, in the way the novel is written (sometimes letters, sometimes recorded sound, sometimes steno) but also the cut on Bram's neck (he cut himself while shaving !).
I loved reading about the three of them, Bram, Irving and Ellen, that twisted love triangle, twisted yet with deep affection for each other, whether they're showing it or not. Watching Bram with Irving talking was like watching an old couple bickering, they were endearing. Poor Bram who tried to achieve literary recognition and only succeeded once he was dead... and meanwhile, got no support at all from Henry !
This novel was deeply moving but absolutely not without humour :
"They really and truly don't mean to be idiots. But it's like a Roman Catholic person not wanting to feel guilt. Might as well ask water to run uphill. Except that might conceivably be contrived. With a pump."
I borrowed it from the library but I'm going to buy it and keep it.
Brilliant, I said ! What are you waiting for ? Go read it !!
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