This novel is about a group of characters centered around High Beach Private Asylum where Dr Matthew Allen and family lead their life around the insane. Two of the most prominent patients is poet John Clare and Septimus Tennyson, the poet Alfred Tennyson's brother. The novel opens with the Tennyson's coming to High Beach and Alfred deciding to stay in the area to be near his brother. In Jane Austin fashion, Hanna, Dr Allen's daughter, believes herself to be in love with Alfred Tennyson. It is only later that she falls out of love with him when she realizes there is really nothing between them. Then, Dr Allen starts a business scheme for a machine that will mass produce specialty ornamental carving. He sells the idea to the Tennyson family who invest a majority of their money in the scheme. Later, Allen loses all the money when the machine will not work.
I have not touched on my favorite parts of the novel which are the sections on both Mary and John Clare who are both patients. It was fascinating Foulds' idea about insanity and watching these characters unfold in their dementia. I think that the A story of the family and B story of the patients intersect well and I loved Foulds fast shifts of narrative. It is a great examination of people's personal deterioration and how deep the proverbial well is, financially and mentally. Of the three books I have read so far I like this the most. I can see how it didn't win the Booker though because it doesn't pack the punch of Wolf Hall. However, it is poetic, intense, and wonderfully creative. I would give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
You had me at insane asylum.
ReplyDeleteI just hope my library has this book. My waiting list is getting too long and the way it's going they'll all get here at once.