The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor
The Anatomy of Ghosts is the new spooky and historical novel by Andrew Taylor, set late in the 18th century it’s a tale of ghosts, privilege and abuse in Jerusalem College, Cambridge. An old fashioned crime fiction novel, the plot is cleverly intertwined with a variety of sub plots throughout building to a crescendo at the book’s conclude.
The characters, as you would expect are plentiful and Taylor spends a great deal of time ensuring that the main characters have a wonderful colour and depth.
When I first picked up the book to review for Penguin, it took me a few chapters to find the true pace of the book and all its idiosyncrasies that comes with the old English style it is written in.
With this in mind I found the beginning a little confusing and had to revisit the first two chapters to make sure I understood what had happened!
Let me assure you this is far from a negative, I have never read a period book before and I’m certain the old style confused the left side of my brain!
John Holdsworth has lost everything; his wife Maria who drowned in the Thames, child Georgie and his business – the later ruined by candlelight fire destroying the majority of his valuable books. Taylor’s magnificent narrative captures the essence of period Cambridge, the sights, sounds and smells of the time truly coming alive. Forced to lodge with the Farmer’s in the house he had previously shared with his wife, Holdsworth struggles to come to terms with his predicament.
The Great Pond - Emmanuel College
Following publication of his very own “Anatomy of Ghosts” Holdsworth receives a curious offer from Lady Anne Oldershaw to rehabilitate her sick son Frank and to take stock of her late husband’s library. The offer sets in motion a thoroughly entertaining journey through, for the most part, Holdsworth’s eyes as he sets about restoring Frank Oldershaw’s sanity, solving a murder and disproving the existence of ghosts.
The bookseller is for all intents and purposes an 18th century Columbo! On discovery of the Holy Ghost Club, a secret society set at the college, he delves deeper into its history hoping to explain the unusual comings and goings at Jerusalem.
The Holy Ghost Club was founded in the 1750s by Morton Frostwick, full membership was restricted to the president known as Jesus and twelve apostles. To mark a disciple’s move to that of apostle the Holy Ghost Club marked the occasion with a deflowering ceremony by a willing virgin.
Taylor does a wonderful job of showing the distinction between the paying students and those not so well off and the lengths those of a certain standing go to preserve their place in society. Although a fictional college, Jerusalem’s geographical layout closely resembles that of Emmanuel College in Cambridge.
Atmospheric, dark and suspenseful, Andrew Taylor’s “The Anatomy of Ghosts” is a charming book set to the beat of 18th century Cambridge. A delight.
Published by Michael Joseph the book is available to buy from Amazon and Waterstones.
Great review, I can’t wait to read this one but I’m waiting until October before I buy any more books.
Andrew Taylor’s one of my favourite authors and I’ve loved practically every book of his I’ve read. Good to hear about the old English writing style. In The American Boy he read many, many letters and things by Victorians so when he wrote it it would feel Victorian – rather then 21st century author.
This is the first book I’ve read by Andrew Taylor, I may get chance to read The American Boy but I have a number to read first! I hope you enjoy it when you buy it next month Fiona.