I have discovered a new author: Sarah Waters. Last week I came across an interesting article in the Times Literary Supplement about Waters's new book, The Night Watch, which is due to be published next month. What actually drew me in was the comparison of an earlier work, Fingersmith, with Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White (which I enjoyed immensely). The TLS gave her work in general very good reviews:
"At her best, as in Fingersmith, she builds plots which are gripping and which can convincingly accommodate the kind of stories she wants to tell. She is good at conveying interesting facts to modern audiences, without destroying the historical illusion. This isn’t easy: a large part of the historical novel’s attraction comes from the set design, the romance of period detail and antiquated language; but it cannot be too obtrusive. When Waters drops in a bit of thieves’ slang or explains how sovereigns were sweated to take gold off them, it seems completely natural."
This was enough to tempt me into a little Amazon order! It is always good to have fun mail to look forward to! Now I am off to read the last two chapters of The Ginger Man. Finally--the end is in sight. I think I will need to ruminate on this one for a day or two! I am only happy to be moving on very soon to #98 in the Modern Library list, James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice!