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The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock IMOGEN HE GOWAR 9781911215721 Books

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The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock IMOGEN HE GOWAR 9781911215721 Books

I can't recall where I first heard buzz about this book but all of a sudden it was talked about often and glowingly. Published early this year in England, it was not yet being offered in the United States. Thank goodness for world commerce on the internet.

It has been a long time since I read a novel as immersive as this. Gowar uses rich visuals in describing scenes and attire, olfactory cues both pleasant and less so, and most deliciously language appropriate to the period. Keep your smart phone handy for a quick google of things like "frumenty." (It is a dish not entirely unlike Cream of Wheat.)

Best of all are the layers upon layers of narrative. There is the surface story of a merchant of moderate means and the infamous prostitute with whom he is besotted. There is the underlying examination of the station of women in the late eighteenth century; of the cheapness of life and the possibility of being nudged into prostitution. There is even, to my delight, the sprinkling of the mystical in the form of mermaids, both real and figurative. Watch for parallel narrative arcs of mermaids and characters.

I am torn between wanting to hand this book off to friends so they can enjoy it or keeping it all to myself for fear of not getting it back. I will be reading this one again. Five stars.


Tags : The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock [IMOGEN HE GOWAR] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.,IMOGEN HE GOWAR,The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock,Random House Uk,1911215728

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock IMOGEN HE GOWAR 9781911215721 Books Reviews

Overall a beautifully written historical fiction/fantasy novel featuring a whore/courtesan, a merchant, and a mermaid set in London in the 1700s. Completely absorbing and could not put this one down! 7/10

The good this book is written so so beautifully. Parts of it are almost lyrical the way things are worded. There is also great character development throughout and by the end, I liked all of the major characters in this novel. An engaging plot that keeps your attention is also a positive but the writing is the biggest highlight of this book.

The bad I had a bit of a difficult time getting into this novel in the beginning. Also had a lot of stress going on at work so that could have been a component but I didn’t feel attached until about 100 pages in. The biggest negative was the ending for me. I don’t want to include any spoilers but I will say that there is a lot of momentum in the second half of the book that feels like it is building up to something. Then, all of a sudden, the book is over and I felt a bit let down. I feel like there either needed to be a more concrete ending or another fifty pages were warranted to tie up everything. The other negative for me was Angelica- though I ended up liking her in the end, I did not like her character initially and could not fathom Mr. Hancocks feelings towards her. Seeing her growth throughout the novel was a strength though and you can’t help but like her in the end.
Overall, highly recommend this book, but be prepared to be swept away!
Loved this book. The depiction of the bordellos in Great Britain in the 1800s and The main characters were well drawn. It made be laugh and cry. So easy to read.
I'm not going to lie, the first thing I noticed about this book was the fact 'mermaid' is in the title. Although not my favourite mythical creature, I do have a soft spot for mermaids and their plight. But then what intrigued me more was the hint of the different sides of 18th century London Imogen Hermes Gowar was planning to explore. So I dived into this novel fearlessly and was enormously rewarded by it. Thanks to Vintage, Harvill Secker and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It wasn't until the very end of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock that I think I finally understood the message of the novel. Most books end up discussing that greatest topic of all, the human condition, the why and wherefore of human existence. Thankfully there is no answer or solution to that topic, hence why we keep getting new and brilliant novels. In the end, The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is a novel about, as the blurb says, 'curiosity and obsession'. What happens when you spend your whole life chasing something, a dream, a cargo, a house, a position in society, and then you don't get it? And what if you do? Are there possibilities you're not seeing, consequences you're not imagining, adventures you're not undertaking, just because you're obsessed with a certain plan or idea? It wasn't until the end of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock that I saw that all the novel's different story lines come together to pose this question. And the way in which Gowar does so makes the journey across her novel's pages all the more worth it. Diving into her characters, into 18th century London was an experience!

What I love about the title of this novel is that it doesn't give much away, but once you've read the novel you realise it's a perfect representation of the novel. On the one hand there is the fantastical and the magical, both of the mermaid and of the surface lives of some of the characters. It all seems charmed and beautiful, until you look below the surface. And then, on the other hand, there is the hard, historical fact of the lives of the novel's characters. The fact is that, despite the constant development and "improvement", living in the 18th century in London was no fun for most. Gowar addresses the conflicting roles of women in London's society, how delicate their position is, how easily they are taken advantage of, how far they can fall. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock moves between the narration of different characters, each of whom show their own stories through the third person. Whether it's the courtesans, the businessmen or the servants, each get a chance to tell their story and share their view. For some the pace of the novel may be too slow, or the plot may be too broad, but if you take your time with this novel, if you let it work its magic, it will be an incredibly worthwhile reading experience.

One of the major pluses of this novel is Imogen Hermes Gowar's writing. From the moment you start The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock you feel utterly immersed in 18th century London. The amount of detail that Gowar works into her writing without making it obvious is astounding. There is truly a sense that you can smell the cakes and the streets, feel the heat of fires and cold of winds, hear the rustle of gowns and carriages rolling past. Historical Fiction has the difficult task of mixing history with fiction, but Gowar manages to give you both without betraying either. Her research shows itself in how effortless she imparts knowledge to you. The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is enormous, nearly 500 pages long, and in part this is because Gowar takes her time. The plot meanders at times, there are subplots that aren't necessarily relevant to the main story of the mermaid or Mrs. Hancock, but each does bring something to the reading experience. I would have liked some more closure on one or two of them, to see the story either clearly brought to an end or finished enough to allow the reader to imagine an end for themselves.

I adored The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock. It is a sumptuous novel that takes you on a stroll through 18th century London while showing you a set of characters trying to do their best. Gowar's writing is gorgeous and her characters are rough and real. I can't wait to read her next book! I'd recommend this to fans of Historical Fiction and those willing to work for their Magical Realism.
I can't recall where I first heard buzz about this book but all of a sudden it was talked about often and glowingly. Published early this year in England, it was not yet being offered in the United States. Thank goodness for world commerce on the internet.

It has been a long time since I read a novel as immersive as this. Gowar uses rich visuals in describing scenes and attire, olfactory cues both pleasant and less so, and most deliciously language appropriate to the period. Keep your smart phone handy for a quick google of things like "frumenty." (It is a dish not entirely unlike Cream of Wheat.)

Best of all are the layers upon layers of narrative. There is the surface story of a merchant of moderate means and the infamous prostitute with whom he is besotted. There is the underlying examination of the station of women in the late eighteenth century; of the cheapness of life and the possibility of being nudged into prostitution. There is even, to my delight, the sprinkling of the mystical in the form of mermaids, both real and figurative. Watch for parallel narrative arcs of mermaids and characters.

I am torn between wanting to hand this book off to friends so they can enjoy it or keeping it all to myself for fear of not getting it back. I will be reading this one again. Five stars.