Mermaids and Mitfords
Jan. 13th, 2019 12:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
troisoiseauxWeekly book update is happening early, because I’ve been sitting at this airport terminal since 9:30, my flight has been delayed twice, and it looks like I’m going to be here for another three hours.
My most recently finished book was The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar, which is part historical fiction, part romance, part fantasy, and thoroughly enjoyable. Set in 18th century London, it follows the intersecting lives of Jonah Hancock, a merchant who finds himself suddenly minus one fortune and plus one mummified mermaid, and Angelica Neal, a courtesan back in London society after the death of the man who'd kept her as his mistress. I went in knowing one major plot point (i.e. who becomes the titular Mrs. Hancock) but besides that, the whole time I was reading I genuinely could not predict where the story was going next.
It has really interesting side characters and subplots, with a focus on the 18th century sex work industry, a historical niche I've learned a surprising amount about through Tumblr dashboard osmosis. The setting felt well-researched and well-developed. Personally, I found Polly – a mixed-race sex worker in an upper-class brothel (think Mrs. Quigley's, if you've watched Harlots) – the most intriguing side character, although I wish her subplot had gotten more focus/resolution. Maybe sequel material?
I'm currently reading Hons and Rebels, a memoir by the Mitford family's other resident author, Jessica. So far, I've gotten through her childhood and her elopement with Winston Churchill's nephew, with whom she ran off to the Spanish civil war and then to America. Interestingly, at this point her story crosses paths with Katharine "Kay" Graham, the first female owner/publisher of the Washington Post, whose own memoir I also read around this time last year!
My most recently finished book was The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar, which is part historical fiction, part romance, part fantasy, and thoroughly enjoyable. Set in 18th century London, it follows the intersecting lives of Jonah Hancock, a merchant who finds himself suddenly minus one fortune and plus one mummified mermaid, and Angelica Neal, a courtesan back in London society after the death of the man who'd kept her as his mistress. I went in knowing one major plot point (i.e. who becomes the titular Mrs. Hancock) but besides that, the whole time I was reading I genuinely could not predict where the story was going next.
It has really interesting side characters and subplots, with a focus on the 18th century sex work industry, a historical niche I've learned a surprising amount about through Tumblr dashboard osmosis. The setting felt well-researched and well-developed. Personally, I found Polly – a mixed-race sex worker in an upper-class brothel (think Mrs. Quigley's, if you've watched Harlots) – the most intriguing side character, although I wish her subplot had gotten more focus/resolution. Maybe sequel material?
I'm currently reading Hons and Rebels, a memoir by the Mitford family's other resident author, Jessica. So far, I've gotten through her childhood and her elopement with Winston Churchill's nephew, with whom she ran off to the Spanish civil war and then to America. Interestingly, at this point her story crosses paths with Katharine "Kay" Graham, the first female owner/publisher of the Washington Post, whose own memoir I also read around this time last year!
no subject
Date: 2019-01-13 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-14 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-14 07:05 am (UTC)The second series of Harlots was really good, especially if you liked Charlotte. She really shone, I thought.
Lol, my mum keeps telling me I should read Moll Flanders. Good to know that opinion is seconded!
no subject
Date: 2019-01-14 01:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-15 04:19 pm (UTC)(Also, I love library apps so much.)