Pre-numbered label used for registration.

RELEASE NOTES:

Leaving the book in a phone box

A great novel set in foggy Victorian London. Well researched and engagingly written. Not as good as some period novels, such as Crimson Petal and the White, but a fun read never-the-less. Will be releasing at the September BookCrossing Meetup in London.

This one was destined for Wistfuldragon but I intercepted it before she could get her grubby little hands on it - after all she has enough books to read for the moment. But I will hand it on to her when I've read it.

I liked this book but ultimately it seemed a little flat. Set in London in 1849, with all its social problems of poverty, insanitry housing and raw sewer pumped into the Thames which, in turn, provides drinking water for much of the city’s population, Sweet Thames, almost inevitably features an outbreak of Cholera. In effect it tells two stories. One of Joshua Jeavons, an ambitious, young and newly-wed engineer-about-town, who has a plan to solve London’s drainage problems that will unite social reformers and capitalists alike by improving the sewers and making money at the same time. The second is of Joshua Jeavons, searching for this mysterious wife following her mysterious disappearance. Both are engaging, yet is the hard to see the connection between the two which creates the impression that Kneale had two strong ideas but not enough meat on either to create a rounded novel so role them both together. The result is engaging but unsatisfying. The mimicry of Dickens, or perhaps Gissing, in the descriptions of 19th century London, are masterly and evocative although its overuse becomes irritating towards the end.

It is the mystery story of Jeavons wife that sustains the novel, drawing the reader onwards, and there is a final twist in tale which, despite some other predictable elements, does provide a revelatory denouement; The writing is of course superb, as one would expect from Kneale, and his recreation of London compelling. Overall, however, both plot and characterisation are thin and, when matched against Kneale’s English Passengers, Sweet Thames seems a tad disappointing.

I will pass this book onto Wistfuldragon the next time I catch up with her.

RELEASE NOTES:

Passed on the Wistfuldragon earlier this evening.

Thanks Rivercassini - I hope to get this read before next Easter!

I enjoyed this book immensely, although I have to say the denouement was mostly not a surprise, as I had an inkling well before the end. Even so it was an enthralling read, although I could not sympathise too much with the main character, as he seemed a little too obsessive for my tastes. Not a book to read over a meal if you have a faint stomach, with much talk of foetid miasmas! On to the London Convention pile of boxes now!

Donated, via a somewhat convoluted route, to the Convention - thank you!

Picked up at the BookCrossing Convention. This was one of those books that just grabbed me at the last minute, even after I had decided not to go back to the table...! I do like Matthew Kneale's writing, and look forward to reading this one.