The most prominent characters in this story are "Jem" -- a boy of maybe 16 -- and a girl of the same age by the name of Maggie. The story begins in a small village in 18th century England and very soon moves to London, where Jem's family moves to find work. Here, Jem meets Maggie, who shows him city ways but also comes to rely on his more stable and grounded personality. As I read this, I was appreciating Chevalier's research and thinking back to a couple of her other novels I've very much enjoyed, two of them being "Remarkable Creatures" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Her books make such engaging reading by including interesting historical details. In "Burning Bright", Chevalier describes how women in the small village of Piddletrenthide did "buttony" -- the making of delicate buttons, at the rate of up to sixty a day, which were then sold to a "button agent" for a bit of money. I also noted the details about the poet and illustrator, William Blake, who was included in the story as a neighbor, and this led me later to read more on the internet about him. All in all, an interesting and well-written tale, though not a tremendous amount of mystery or action here. Still, I enjoyed the read.

As with Chevalier's "Girl with Pearl Earring".. .this book is a YOU ARE THERE experience. I couldn't put it down and devoured it in a few hours one recent afternoon. Set in 18th century London, with William Blake as a main character, the story revolves around the children who live next door to him and how they experience growing up in a turbulent political time, as well as understanding their roles in society and as young adolescents. Chevalier makes it seem perfectly possible that William Blake and his wife would of COURSE come to the aid of one of the children in the story and the readers believes it utterly, also. The rich prose transports one to the market, the circus, the pea soup fog of London, the Thames River (before good sewer systems!) and the every day hardscrabble existence of those living on the fringes of society -- no middle class here, though one seems to be emerging throughout the story. Although this is the story of an ordinary family, there's nothing less than extraordinary about this writing.. another Chevalier triumph, in this reader's opinion!

Un romanzo storico
ambientato nella Londra vittoriana e basato sul concetto fondamentale dell'ambivalenza dell'animo umano. La Chevalier tratteggia le figure di Jem, Maisie e Maggie alle prese con i loro problemi e le avventure quotidiane. A fronte di una ricostruzione storica impeccabile (non sono un'esperta e non posso valutare la precisione, ma sicuramente l'autrice riesce a farci entrare in un'epoca lontanissima dalla nostra senza farcelo assolutamente pesare) ci sono però dei gravi difetti. Il primo è la mancanza di una trama, o di un qualsiasi avvenimento centrale che dia un senso alla narrazione. Il secondo è la caratterizzazione a mio parere abbastanza "vergognosa" dei personaggi: non solo sono abbastanza monolitici e poco complessi, ma addirittura l'autrice ci spiega ad ogni piè sospinto come si sentono e perchè fanno questo o quell'altro. Un bravo scrittore queste cose le fa vedere o percepire, non ha bisogno di esplicitarle. Senza contare il fatto che la presenza del signor Blake è proprio uno specchietto per le allodole. L'ultimo difetto è un finale stravagante: ad un certo punto infatti la storia si ferma, senza nessuna chiusura. il libro si salva dalla stellina singola solo grazie ad una prosa molto amabile che rende il libro scorrevole anche se non piacevole nè tantomeno avvincente.
Come primo approccio alla Chevalier non è stato molto felice, ma ci riproverò dato che mi sembra di capire che il libro in questione non è stato molto apprezzato neppure dai fan della scrittrice.

This is a very interesting book, which deals with the famous circus that performs in London in the 18th century and thrills all with its showmanship and courage as well as its depiction as having a hold over the poor who see it as a way of escaping the trials of everyday life. It is a spectacle that all are involved in, both performers and the public. As a foil to this, we are introduced to the quiet character, the poet and polymath William Blake, one of the greatest poets, artists and thinkers of the time who gains a different kind of applause which will gain greater fame than the circus. He and his wife are viewed in society as seditious because of his publications which show the degradation of children and adults in the 18th century. He is a gentleman, who is powerful in his chosen sphere not with money and spectacle, but by his efforts to make changes in society. The other central characters in the book are the young impressionable neighbours of Blake who are drawn to this strange couple and to whom his poems and printing press are a revelation, but do not understand what Blake's genius means. Through his 'Tales of Innocence and Experience', Blake plants seeds in their imaginations and to these children he becomes a powerful person in a way that their own peers are not. The story follows the son of a family which leaves rural England and comes to London to find work as chair makers and the daughter of a poverty-stricken family, a city girl child who lives on her wits and is the product of a society that lives by dishonest means. She takes the country lad in hand and reveals all aspects of London life, great and small to him. The whole vista of the 18th century is laid before the reader's eyes and the author uses the circus as the focal point of reference. The story is good and presents the reader with many things he or she may not have heard of before. A 5* book.

I enjoyed this slice of late 1700s London life. This follows a few young adults through a year in London. We get a taste of the times, no major drama, just a good feel for life in that year. The catalyst for the book seems to be the poet William Blake whom we meet as well through his friendship with these kids.

Set in England at the end of the 18th century, Chevalier crats a world and characters both alive and breathing. Chvaluer is an amazing storyteller that never disappoints.

UGH! I'm thinking I may have rated this book to high, but then again it wasn't that bad. This rating/grade is pretty much reflective of it's mediocrity. It wasn't good, it wasn't bad. Beautiful language, fun descriptions, interesting situations. No plot, random and half-developed characters. Those were the main pros and cons for this book that are popping up right now.

This book wasn't long but for some reason it felt like it took forever to get through and I think that was the main reason I didn't like the book as much. I believe the reason behind this book feeling like such a long read was that there was no clear thing carrying the novel along, not character, not story. It was disconnected and didn't flow so I was constantly wondering where it was going, what was happening? That could have possibly been remedied had I been attatched the characters but I wasn't. I didn't like any of them, they weren't interesting nor were they sympathetic.

But like I said, the book is mediocre. If you're still determined to read the book feel free, it's average and nothing special, at least for me, maybe it will be different for you.

Tracy Chevalier presents us with a real and vivid kaleidoscope of London in the late 18th century, complete with a visit to William Blake's work rooms. And it all makes for an interesting tale.

Jem Kellaway and his family move from Dorsetshire to London at the invitation of Philip Aspley of the circus fame as his father Thomas was a carpenter and Aspley wants to employ him.

The family then find themselves living next door to Blake and Jem, his sister and friend Maggie become friendly with the author/artist and his wife.

Circus life is fully explored as Thomas, with Jem as his assistant, become stage carpenters but there is all sorts of strife within the circus and the couple, plus sister Maisie, find themselves embroiled in it all.

Blake supports the French revolutionists and finds himself ostracised by fellow Londoners when he won't sign a petition but Jem and company take his side. And later when Maisie comes a cropper, Blake is there to help out.

Eventually Aspley moves on to Dublin for the winter, the Kellaways move back to Dorsetshire but Maisie stays behind. When friend Maggie discovers her hiding away she escorts Maisie back to her family for them to look after her. On arriving back at their village, Maggie delivers Maisie to her family and disappears but Jem is determined to find her ... he does so and, with presents sent by William Blake for them both, they enjoy the countryside together and dwell on the lessons learned from the great man himself.

J'ai été déçue par ce roman que j'ai trouvé beaucoup moins intéressant et riche que La jeune fille à la perle, ou La dame à la licorne. Tout reste un peu superficiel: la description de Londres, le personnage de William Blake, et l'histoire elle-même n'est pas très captivante. Je me suis un peu ennuyée à la lecture de ce livre, ce qui n'avait pas été le cas avec d'autres livres de Tracy Chevalier.

Great atmospherics in this tale about a family that moves from the county to the slums of London in 1792. As in the two other books of hers I read ("Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "Remarkable Creatures"), Chevalier is marvelous in her ability to immerse the reader in another place and time. Her cast of characters this time focuses on three young teens, siblings Jem and Maisey Kellaway, who are children of a furniture maker, and Maggie, a street-wise kid who befriends them, the daughter of a con man. The Kellaway's landlord is circus impresario Astley, who hires the Kellaway's father. Another tenant is the poet William Blake, who captivates the children with his poetry and art at a time when he is working on "Songs of Innocence and Experience." As the children negotiate many moral choices in the face of their budding sexuality and dangers from amoral adults of this world, Blake and his wife have an important impact on their choices. Conversely, the children are called upon to help the Blakes, whose radical sympathies with the French Revolution brings them much hostility from the community concerned about a parallel threat to the British monarchy.

A gritty, exciting, sometimes sad and often heartwarming take about three teenage children in late 18th century London. Jem Kellaway and his sister Maisie are new to London, having come with their parents from the Piddle Valley in Dorset shire, and are befriended by street wise, spunky and warmhearted London girl, Maggie Butterworth.
This is at the time of the French Revolution, and there is alarm, suspicion and tension in England as a result. Maggie and Jem become fast reins and become acquainted with there neighbor poet and social reformer William Blake, and his wife. While the Kellaways must live under their mean spirited and cruel landlady Miss Pelham

The John Anstey circus is established near bye and soon Anstey's cold blooded Casanova sun ruins lives as Maggie must struggle with her unloving parents and her evil older brother Charlie. The neighborhood will soon be terrorized by the
The Association for Preserving Liberty and Property against Republicans and Levellers. Our young friends Jem, Maggie and Maisie will be faced with a myriad and threats and problems. They will be guided helped by the kindly Blakes who are under threat from the Association. A tale of the tribulations and suffering faced by the English working class which exists to this day. A engaging adventure, sometimes sad and frequently heartwarming.

Girl with a pearl earring and The lady and the unicorn by the same author were really good so even though this was captivating enough, I also was somewhat disappointed.