I was disappointed with this, my second book by Chevalier. William Blake was a relatively minor character as was Astley & I found the story about Maggie and the Kellaways not particularly interesting.

Not as good as her others. The plot was rather weak I thought and none of the characters were all that likable. Was actually only going to give it 2 stars until it came to the last bit of the book that brought at least a few things into focus. Overall not one I would recommend.

Mehh, average.

Story:tt 3/5
Characters:t 3/5
Writing:t 3/5
Reread:tt Don't think so.t

I have truly liked other books by Chevalier, so I found this one a bit disappointing. I never got involved in the characters or felt like I knew them or cared what happened to them. It was far too much of an outside-looking in story for me. It seemed false to weave Blake into this novel, as if she couldn't proceed without a historic figure and she had picked him out of a hat.

My claim to fame is that I once shared tea and cake with Tracy Chevalier in a park by Highgate Cemetery, so I want to love this lady. And I have loved her books... until now. Started this last night. I'm a fifth of the way thru and bugger all has happened. The characters are all hideously cliched. The beauty of her writing has gone. I wondered if maybe it was me, but having read some of the other reviews, I find I'm not alone, and that I can safely despatch this book to the trash bin without missing a thing.

4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Loved this book, yet I feel that it ended too soon. What happens to one of the MC who is in active labor as the story ends? And what about Mr. Blake himself? So many unanswered questions are left hanging at the end. Loved the historical references in 1792 London and Dorsetshire; (especially the buttony) the amount of research the author must have done is evident in her tight writing. Thank you Ms. Chevalier for another great trip back into the smoky depths of history that feels fresh as today.♥️

3,25 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover
Mooi geschreven, maar haalt het niet bij Het meisje met de parel (van dezelfde auteur). Omdat ik dat vorige boek zo mooi vond, ben ik deze gaan lezen. Je wordt meegesleept in de gebeurtenissen van die tijd en het taalgebruik is mooi en helder, maar het was niet een boek dat ik in een paar avonden uitlas. Daarvoor was het te makkelijk weg te leggen. En daarna weer moeilijk om in te komen.
Toch vind ik het een mooi boek en voor de liefhebber van boeken over die tijd is het best een aanrader!

Easy going and engaging perfect night time read; and the added bonus of William Blake as one of the key characters

From BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime:
Tracy Chevalier's novel, abridged in 10 parts by Jane Greenwood, is set in London in 1792.

1/10. The Kellaway family, having arrived from Dorset to make a new life in Lambeth, find themselves living next door to the unconventional poet William Blake.

2/10. Jem and Maisie Kellaway and their new friend Maggie cross Westminster bridge to see the sights of London. They have two strange encounters with their new neighbour William Blake.

3/10. Jem and Maggie engineer a visit to the Blakes, where they are fascinated to find a full-size printing press on which the poet produces his own books.

4/10. When William Blake's mother dies, the children decide it would be a great adventure to follow the funeral party to Bunhill Fields burial ground.

5/10. After the funeral, the night closes in. Jem, Maggie and Maisie find themselves wet, lost and frightened in a maze of unfamiliar streets.

6/10. Maisie has taken a shine to John Astley, the local circus owner's son. A chance encounter leads the innocent girl into danger.

7/10. Maisie has been seduced by John Astley but Maggie enlists the help of the Blakes to save her from utter ruin.

8/10. When Lambeth holds a public meeting to demonstrate loyalty to King and Country, Maggie and Jem join forces to warn Mr Blake that he is to be targeted as a revolutionary.

9/10. Maggie confesses her guilty secret to Jem. Despite their growing closeness, when the Kellaways decide to return to Dorset he goes with them.

10/10. Maggie discovers that the pregnant Maisie has stayed behind and is being cared for by the Blakes. She takes charge of the situation and soon both girls are on the road to Dorset.

Read by Jenny Coverack.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008cqjt

4* Girl With a Pearl Earring
2* The Lady and the Unicorn
1* The Virgin Blue
2* Falling Angels
2* Burning Bright

This had all the ingredients for an excellent story set in 18th century London with both William Blake and Philip Astley's circus but this wasn't that story.
Tedious and dull with insipid characters who were underdeveloped or caricatures. The reader was teased with snippets of research such as the Dorset buttons but somehow they seemed forced into the story. The book concluded with an ending that was entirely unbelievable, especially given all the historical research that had obviously been done.
A frustrating read

3.5 ⭐️