I am impressed by the character development and the way Carey gives them such rich personalities. He has held an idealistic version of events in his mind, and he has trouble letting go of the ideal in the face of a different reality. He has committed crimes, but he also feels regret. At first, I thought Maggs would be the villain, but as I read further, I came to care what happened to him. The author skillfully reveals small bits and pieces of their backstories until it all comes together in a gripping conclusion. The plot is moved forward by Jack’s search for Henry Phipps. It is filled with deceptions, manipulations, and schemes. The dialogues are particularly well crafted. It is a dark tale, filled with realistic and flawed characters. The storylines are beautifully intertwined, the writing is sophisticated, and the plot is complex. We learn of their financial situations and romantic entanglements. We meet the other members of both the Buckle and Oates households. He is introduced to Tobias Oates, a novelist and mesmerist, who desires to uncover Jack’s history. He arrives at the house of Phipps’ next-door neighbor, Percy Buckle, where he joins the serving staff. It is initially a mystery as to why he is has returned, except that he wants to find Henry Phipps. In this Gothic tale set in Victorian times, protagonist Jack Maggs is a transported convict returning covertly to England from Australia.
0 kommentar(er)
