Shadowplay
The Costa-shortlisted novel from the author of Star of the Sea
-
-
4.0 • 3 Ratings
-
-
- $15.99
Publisher Description
Discover the award-winning historical novel about Bram Stoker’s time in London’s theatre world and the inspiration for Dracula.
London, 1878. Bram Stoker arrives from Dublin to manage Henry Irving’s Lyceum Theatre. Stoker is struggling with his writing career but the city stirs his imagination as he encounters dark rumours about Jack the Ripper. Soon, the eerie tale of Dracula begins to emerge, but if he is going to achieve his ambitions Stoker must resist both Irving’s demands and the allure of the brilliant and bold actress, Ellen Terry.
Winner of the Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year
Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2019
A Richard & Judy Book Club pick
'Breathtaking... A hugely entertaining book about the grand scope of friendship and love' Guardian
'A novel I'd recommend to anyone: a rollicking and moving story' James Naughtie, Radio Times
'Ingenious...hugely impressive and utterly haunting' Sunday Mirror
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
O'Connor's high-spirited latest (after The Star of the Sea) puts ample flesh on the bones of the little-known story of the theatrical m nage involving celebrity actors Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, and Irving's business manager, Bram Stoker. Composed (like Dracula) in epistolary style from diary entries, letters, recording transcripts, and the like, the narrative follows Stoker as he moves with his family from Dublin to London in 1879 to help Irving establish his Lyceum Theatre. Over the next quarter century the two indulge in a frequently bitter love/hate relationship Irving drives Stoker mercilessly and cruelly taunts him for his literary ambitions. Via commentary from Terry on Dracula, O'Connor's narrative suggests that Stoker likely channeled the personality of Irving and the drama of their contretemps into his tale of the imperious vampire scourge. O'Connor's characters are magnificently realized and colorfully depicted by the virtues that define them: Irving's egotism, Terry's feminism, Stoker's stoicism, and for the brief time he appears Oscar Wilde's witticisms. The repartee O'Connor imagines between them is priceless, in particular when they refer to each other by their nicknames ("Chief" for Irving, "Auntie" for Stoker), and he fills the tale with numerous rib nudges that readers of Dracula will recognize. This novel blows the dust off its Victorian trappings and brings them to scintillating life.
Customer Reviews
Play it again
Author
Irish. Writes both fiction and non-fiction. Cowboys and Indians (1991) was shortlisted for the Whitbread (now Costa) prize. Voted Irish writer of the decade (this decade) by Hot Press magazine (whatever that is).
Precis
Abraham 'Bram' Stoker (1847-1912) was a Dublin clerk and aspiring writer in the late 19th century. His major work, the gothic horror novel Dracula (1897), did not capture the popular imagination until after he died. While trying to write, he moved to London with his new bride Florence to take up a position with celebrated actor and theatre director of the times Henry Irving ('the Chief'). He ends up managing Irving's Lyceum theatre, which he manages to save from bankruptcy. In the process, he becomes friends with the indomitable Irving, the Mick Jagger of his day according to some, and his frequent leading lady Alice 'Ellen' Terry, the greatest star in the firmament in 1870s and 1880s apparently. The evolving relationship between the three provides the substance of the tale told, like Dracula, in the form of a host of documents (diary entries, unpublished manuscript fragments, news clippings etc) left to Ellen by Bram. London of the time, with Jack the Ripper lurking its streets, and Oscar Wilde its parlours and cafes, features prominently.
Writing
Convincingly Victorian style including brief chapter introductions of what's to follow. The prose flows beautifully. Mr O'Connor is clearly a master of his craft. The descriptions of London and the way the author captures the mood of the city are stand out features. Some reviewers have disputed the historical detail, to which I say, it's fiction. Duh! Given my prior knowledge of the three protagonists was minimal to non-existent, I thought it was interesting.
Bottom line
High quality genre fiction, which would probably suit theatre history buffs best, but has something for everyone. (For me anyway.) The audiobook is better than the text version IMHO, the chief narrator Finlay Robertson superb.