By page 500 of Steven Price’s mammoth (731 pages) novel, I was tempted to give up. The story of William Pinkerton hunting down a master thief, Edward Shade, through the alleys and sewers of London over a 100 years ago frustrated me with its slow pace and frequent flashbacks. The best character, Charlotte Reckitt, disappears from the novel for hundreds of pages at a time. I grew tired of the chase and the endless digressions. Yes, Price captures the foggy menace of London in 1885, but the demands of his lengthy story makes the trip an exercise in boredom. GRADE: C
Not surprising, I think. Based on what I’ve heard of it, an editor’s blue pencil was sorely needed.
Rick, you are so right! Hundreds of pages could have been cut from this tome!
A bit OT:
London must have been a terrible place in winter with all those coal burning chimneys. And even in the 20th Century it was bad – maybe you’ve heard/read about this (1952):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smog_of_London
Several thousand people died in the smog …
I still remember my first visit in the 60s when I saw that very room in the houses had their own chimney – of course they were no longer in use then!
Wolf, London in 1885 was a filthy place. The sewer scenes in BY GASLIGHT shocked me.
I’ll pass on this one. I’ve read some Victorian-era fiction and I like the setting, but the length alone would have put me off.
Jeff, I like the setting of London in 1885 but the interminable length makes reading BY GASLIGHT a chore.
I’ve read some Anne Perry books set in 19th Century London. It was great if you were rich. Otherwise, not so much. Ask Dickens and his father.
Jeff, I love the Dickens novels from the Victorian era. My favorite is NICHOLAS NICKLEBY.
Another long book I’ll never read!
Bill, you’re not missing much by skipping BY GASLIGHT.
Woulda been better reading The Great Stink by Clare Clark. Half the length.
Steve, I could have read three books in the time it took me to read BY GASLIGHT. I kick myself for spending so much time on a mediocre book.
I agree the length would put me off, though I have “read” long books on audio.
re: audio books: Have listened to J L Burke’s books recently. Will Patton reads them and totally captures (for me) what Dave Robicheaux and Clete Pursell sound like.
Maggie, I’m reluctant to read 700+ page books because I’ve been burned too many times. I like audio books, but not super long ones.
I’ve been put off Neal Stephenson’s books because of the length. They sound interesting but my TBR pile is just too big. Wish I could listen to audio books but I find my mind drifting after a few minutes and keep having to rewind.
Steve, with audio books the narrator is key. A very good narrator won’t allow your mind to wander!