What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock
One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock finds one of his captains waiting eagerly on his doorstep. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid.
As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society, where he meets Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on... and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course.
What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the legendary destructive power a mermaid is said to possess?
As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society, where he meets Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on... and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course.
What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the legendary destructive power a mermaid is said to possess?
487 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2018
About the author
Imogen Hermes Gowar
7 books460 followersImogen studied Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History at UEA’s Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts before going on to work in museums. She began to write small pieces of fiction inspired by the artefacts she worked with and around, and in 2013 won the Malcolm Bradbury Memorial Scholarship to study for an MA in Creative Writing at UEA.
She won the Curtis Brown Prize for her dissertation, which grew into a novel titled The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. An early draft was a finalist in the MsLexia First Novel Competition 2015, and it was also one of three entries shortlisted for the inaugural Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers’ Award.
Imogen lives, works, and walks around south-east London – an area whose history she takes a keen interest in – and her first novel, The Mermaid & Mrs Hancock, was published in 2018.
She won the Curtis Brown Prize for her dissertation, which grew into a novel titled The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. An early draft was a finalist in the MsLexia First Novel Competition 2015, and it was also one of three entries shortlisted for the inaugural Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers’ Award.
Imogen lives, works, and walks around south-east London – an area whose history she takes a keen interest in – and her first novel, The Mermaid & Mrs Hancock, was published in 2018.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,861 reviews
January 8, 2018
In this historical novel, Jonah Hancock, a widowed merchant, comes into possession of a dead mermaid. While trying to find a way to make money of this, he crosses paths with Angelica Neal, a courtesan whose protector has unexpectedly died.
My thoughts on this are very complicated. I don’t think I have been this unsure how to rate a book this year yet. Therefore, here are my thoughts, first in list form and then more elaborate:
Pros:
- mesmerizing language
- wonderful description
- immersive setting
- unpredictable plot
Cons:
- glacial pacing
- characters
- meandering plot.
This is one of the most beautifully written books I have read this year. Imogen Hermes Gowar has a brilliant way with words and I love how immersive her setting is. I could picture every single thing she describes, from the shipyards, to the brothels, to the houses of the rich and the houses of the merchants, to the parks and alleys. The dresses and the way people looked came alive in her description and this made for a vivid reading experience.
However, the pacing was glacial and the plot meandering. Told in third person from numerous perspectives, I am quite unsure what the main story was supposed to be. (Jonah Hancock and his niece and sister and their relationships are one focus of this work, Angelica Neal and her confidante another, her relationship with another suitor the third, Mrs Chappell and her prostitutes another, then there is a the subplot of Polly, one of Mrs Chappell’s black prostitutes and how she is treated for being such, then the search for another mermaid and so on and so forth.) While plenty of these perspectives could have been interesting we often did not spend enough time with these people for them to come alive. The two main protagonists, Jonah and Angelica, also stayed undefined for me. Especially Angelica was hard to root for in the first half of the book, although she did grow on me in the end. I wish the plotting had been tighter or (and I cannot believe I am saying this about a 500-page long book) the book longer. I would have liked more closure on some of these storylines (especially Polly’s!).
Ultimately, what will stick with me is the unbelievably beautiful writing. While long stretches were excruciatingly boring there was never a moment where Imogen Hermes Gowar was not in perfect command of her language. This alone is enough for me to be excited about what she will do next.
I received an arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Harvill Secker in exchange for an honest review.
My thoughts on this are very complicated. I don’t think I have been this unsure how to rate a book this year yet. Therefore, here are my thoughts, first in list form and then more elaborate:
Pros:
- mesmerizing language
- wonderful description
- immersive setting
- unpredictable plot
Cons:
- glacial pacing
- characters
- meandering plot.
This is one of the most beautifully written books I have read this year. Imogen Hermes Gowar has a brilliant way with words and I love how immersive her setting is. I could picture every single thing she describes, from the shipyards, to the brothels, to the houses of the rich and the houses of the merchants, to the parks and alleys. The dresses and the way people looked came alive in her description and this made for a vivid reading experience.
However, the pacing was glacial and the plot meandering. Told in third person from numerous perspectives, I am quite unsure what the main story was supposed to be. (Jonah Hancock and his niece and sister and their relationships are one focus of this work, Angelica Neal and her confidante another, her relationship with another suitor the third, Mrs Chappell and her prostitutes another, then there is a the subplot of Polly, one of Mrs Chappell’s black prostitutes and how she is treated for being such, then the search for another mermaid and so on and so forth.) While plenty of these perspectives could have been interesting we often did not spend enough time with these people for them to come alive. The two main protagonists, Jonah and Angelica, also stayed undefined for me. Especially Angelica was hard to root for in the first half of the book, although she did grow on me in the end. I wish the plotting had been tighter or (and I cannot believe I am saying this about a 500-page long book) the book longer. I would have liked more closure on some of these storylines (especially Polly’s!).
Ultimately, what will stick with me is the unbelievably beautiful writing. While long stretches were excruciatingly boring there was never a moment where Imogen Hermes Gowar was not in perfect command of her language. This alone is enough for me to be excited about what she will do next.
I received an arc of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Harvill Secker in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2018
What a surprise! What a discovery! The novel is truly amazing regarding the plot and the language. I felt like I was reading a book written in the 18th century. The period details, tea bowls and coffee shops among others, are marvellous, which does not surprise as the Author has worked for several museums. But what really swept me off my feet (sofa) was incorporating a shell-grotto which reminds me of famous Pope's grotto at Twickenham. This novel is simply outstanding!
January 3, 2018
This debut atmospheric historical fiction by Imogen Hermes Gowar is an enthralling tale set in 18th century London, where much is in flux with the world irrevocably changing culturally and so much that is new is being introduced to society such as the tantalising strange foods. It should be made clear the fantasy element suggested by the mermaid in the title stays in the background until the latter stages of the story. It is 1785, and John Hancock, merchant, frets over the possible loss of one of his ships. A captain of one of his ship's informs him excitedly that he has sold his ship to purchase a 'mermaid', a dead thing with the tail of a fish and the body of a monkey. Initially Hancock feels it is of precious little value only to find he is mistaken and off the mark.
There are widespread rumours and curiosity for the weird 'mermaid' and people are willing to pay to see it. Hancock finds himself in a scenario he never expected to be in, he comes to enter a wider society and connects with elements of London he has no experience of. He meets the most famous courtesan in London, Angelica Neal, and an unconventional romance blossoms between the odd couple. However, their path to true love is littered with obstacles. It is said that the power of mermaids is to destroy, but is this so? The role and magic of the mermaid becomes central closer to end of the novel. Gowar's prose is beautiful, overflowing with wonderful descriptions and rich period details. London is evoked brilliantly with its changes in society, the theatres, the brothels, the coffee houses, the villainy, the dangers, the dirt and the stench. This is not a perfect book by any stretch of the imagination, but I loved reading it, finding myself immersed in the world created by Gowar. A great read! Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
There are widespread rumours and curiosity for the weird 'mermaid' and people are willing to pay to see it. Hancock finds himself in a scenario he never expected to be in, he comes to enter a wider society and connects with elements of London he has no experience of. He meets the most famous courtesan in London, Angelica Neal, and an unconventional romance blossoms between the odd couple. However, their path to true love is littered with obstacles. It is said that the power of mermaids is to destroy, but is this so? The role and magic of the mermaid becomes central closer to end of the novel. Gowar's prose is beautiful, overflowing with wonderful descriptions and rich period details. London is evoked brilliantly with its changes in society, the theatres, the brothels, the coffee houses, the villainy, the dangers, the dirt and the stench. This is not a perfect book by any stretch of the imagination, but I loved reading it, finding myself immersed in the world created by Gowar. A great read! Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
December 30, 2019
The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock, the debut novel by Imogen Hermes Gowar is set in London in the year 1785.
Mr Hancock is a mild mannered widower and moderately successful merchant.
As the novel opens he’s very worried. His ship, with full cargo, has not returned from a trading voyage. After a long, tense period of waiting there is a knock on the door. His ship’s captain, in a state of great excitement explains that the ship is no more. In his travels about the globe Captain Tysoe Jones made the dramatic decision to sell the vessel to raise money for an extraordinary purchase - the desiccated, twisted, frightening remains of a mermaid!
This amazing curio, never before seen, will surely make Mr Hancock’s fortune - so agues the Captain. Mr Hancock is extremely sceptical and extremely angry, but without any other options, decides to make the best of a bad job and attempts to raise money through this strange and otherworldly object.
The scene is set for a picturesque romp through the teeming wharves, poverty stricken alleyways, gentrified squares and quaint rural areas, all of which we now know as inner London! The sights, sounds and smells of the time roll off the page.
The theme of mermaids and how they lure sailors onto the rocks seems to chime with the plight of some of the women in the novel who, in these deeply misogynistic times, use their femininity to lure men to gain influence, riches or simply to survive.
Angelica Neal the grand but fickle courtesan is a wonderfully flawed and nuanced character and a key player in the story.
Part gritty and realistic, part whimsical and magical, this story of eighteenth century life is well told. There are touching moments, lots of humour, some beautifully colourful writing and characters that I became attached to.
The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock is a long novel and the story meanders a little, but once I entered its finely wrought world I didn’t want to leave.
Mr Hancock is a mild mannered widower and moderately successful merchant.
As the novel opens he’s very worried. His ship, with full cargo, has not returned from a trading voyage. After a long, tense period of waiting there is a knock on the door. His ship’s captain, in a state of great excitement explains that the ship is no more. In his travels about the globe Captain Tysoe Jones made the dramatic decision to sell the vessel to raise money for an extraordinary purchase - the desiccated, twisted, frightening remains of a mermaid!
This amazing curio, never before seen, will surely make Mr Hancock’s fortune - so agues the Captain. Mr Hancock is extremely sceptical and extremely angry, but without any other options, decides to make the best of a bad job and attempts to raise money through this strange and otherworldly object.
The scene is set for a picturesque romp through the teeming wharves, poverty stricken alleyways, gentrified squares and quaint rural areas, all of which we now know as inner London! The sights, sounds and smells of the time roll off the page.
The theme of mermaids and how they lure sailors onto the rocks seems to chime with the plight of some of the women in the novel who, in these deeply misogynistic times, use their femininity to lure men to gain influence, riches or simply to survive.
Angelica Neal the grand but fickle courtesan is a wonderfully flawed and nuanced character and a key player in the story.
Part gritty and realistic, part whimsical and magical, this story of eighteenth century life is well told. There are touching moments, lots of humour, some beautifully colourful writing and characters that I became attached to.
The Mermaid And Mrs Hancock is a long novel and the story meanders a little, but once I entered its finely wrought world I didn’t want to leave.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 15, 2018
This was my pick for the September 2018 Book of the Month box!
DNF @ Page 149/496
“Its appearance is unbeautiful. It is not what people expect of a mermaid.”
Friends, life is just too short to read books that feel like a chore. On top of racist comments, use of slurs for Romani people, questionable antisemitic speech, slut shaming, and other gross things because of “historical accuracy!” Miss me with all that, please. And the last chapter I finished (14) literally had a questionable orgy going on so that men could fulfill their fantasy of having sex with mermaids. Life is too short, friends. Way too short.
But this is a book set in 1785 London, where a merchant named Mr. Hancock receives a dead mermaid. Said dead mermaid is shown at local exhibit and the entire country goes wild over it. I didn’t get far enough to actually see who becomes the new Mrs. Hancock, but I pity her anyway.
I will say that this book probably does get better, because it was shortlisted for The Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018, but I just can’t keep reading this. I hope if you pick this one up that you’ll have more enjoyment than I did. Happy reading, friends.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Youtube | Twitch
Buddy read with Destiny at readingmydestiny! ❤
June 14, 2018
What a wonderful, whimsical book! I admit I found this novel very daunting because of its size and because of its plot which has to do with mermaids and is in addition historical fiction. For that reason, I was hesitant to pick it up, and I let it stay put on my bookshelves for several weeks.
One day, however, I decided it was time to read it, and from the very first chapters I knew that this was not at all the daunting story I was expecting. Instead, it started out with the most intriguing plot, written in a perfectly accessible language, that had me want to keep going and not put down this novel.
“The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock” is about Mr Hancock who is one day told by one of his hired captains, that the captain has sold his ship in trade for a mermaid. What is one to do with a mermaid? That is was Mr Hancock sets out to find out. Meanwhile, we follow Angelica who works in a whorehouse and has no scrupples when it comes to men and her own reputation.
The mermaid in this book serves more as a gateway to the lives of Mr Hancock and Angelica, so that the mermaid - who is actually the focal point of the story - is also put very much in the background throughout most of the novel.
I loved the character development in this beautifully crafted book. I loved how it was written in a way that convinced you it was set in the 1700s, but at the same time it has some scenes that are so candid and honest that you can’t help but be surprised and enthralled.
“The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock” is one of those books that had so many memorable scenes in it that, at one point, I had to stop my reading and write them down. I am still perplexed at how much this book took me by surprise, and I believe that it is a beautifully crafted and whimsical story from beginning till end.
One day, however, I decided it was time to read it, and from the very first chapters I knew that this was not at all the daunting story I was expecting. Instead, it started out with the most intriguing plot, written in a perfectly accessible language, that had me want to keep going and not put down this novel.
“The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock” is about Mr Hancock who is one day told by one of his hired captains, that the captain has sold his ship in trade for a mermaid. What is one to do with a mermaid? That is was Mr Hancock sets out to find out. Meanwhile, we follow Angelica who works in a whorehouse and has no scrupples when it comes to men and her own reputation.
The mermaid in this book serves more as a gateway to the lives of Mr Hancock and Angelica, so that the mermaid - who is actually the focal point of the story - is also put very much in the background throughout most of the novel.
I loved the character development in this beautifully crafted book. I loved how it was written in a way that convinced you it was set in the 1700s, but at the same time it has some scenes that are so candid and honest that you can’t help but be surprised and enthralled.
“The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock” is one of those books that had so many memorable scenes in it that, at one point, I had to stop my reading and write them down. I am still perplexed at how much this book took me by surprise, and I believe that it is a beautifully crafted and whimsical story from beginning till end.
January 18, 2018
Keeping in mind the name of the book, this is the rough experience of me reading it:
10% --- hm, super curious. No mermaid, no Mrs Hancock. What is to come of this?
20% --- yes. The mermaid. Still no Mrs Hancock though. But there are other interesting things going on, so no matter!
50% --- o....kay. Back to square one. But I'm attached to the characters by now! There's still half the book... WHY is it called that though??
75% --- it seems everything is settled! At least we've got Mrs Hancock now. Never you mind that mermaid. But what could still happen?
85% --- err, okay. Well at least the name works out. Kind of wish it didn't though... #feels
91% --- oh... again, did not expect this. Although it's a nope from me. Y U do dis, characters?? You could just be happy instead, maybe??
100% --- right. Alright. I can settle on that.
Read the rest of the review and my thoughts on it here on my blog.
Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
10% --- hm, super curious. No mermaid, no Mrs Hancock. What is to come of this?
20% --- yes. The mermaid. Still no Mrs Hancock though. But there are other interesting things going on, so no matter!
50% --- o....kay. Back to square one. But I'm attached to the characters by now! There's still half the book... WHY is it called that though??
75% --- it seems everything is settled! At least we've got Mrs Hancock now. Never you mind that mermaid. But what could still happen?
85% --- err, okay. Well at least the name works out. Kind of wish it didn't though... #feels
91% --- oh... again, did not expect this. Although it's a nope from me. Y U do dis, characters?? You could just be happy instead, maybe??
100% --- right. Alright. I can settle on that.
Read the rest of the review and my thoughts on it here on my blog.
Read Post on My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
October 24, 2018
4 lyrical stars to The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock! 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️
In 1780s London, Jonah Hancock is a merchant and owns a ship. A captain knocks on his door urgently with the news he’s sold Hancock’s ship in return for a mermaid.
Word of the mermaid spreads quickly like sensational things do, and everyone wants to lay eyes on the sight. This mermaid is the key to Hancock climbing into high society, and that he does, with speed.
It is at a most prestigious party that Hancock meets the alluring Angelica Neal. Two ambitious minds have now collided, and their futures are full of intrigue.
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is a big, larger-than-life, smart story. It spotlights those strange curiosities of the time and is full of atmosphere. The writing is lyrical and stunning setting up a vivid sense of time and place. I found it immersive and all-consuming.
You should know there is not as much true magic or fantasy in the story as one might think, given the title, and the fact that a mermaid is most definitely present (but in the background). The story goes far beyond the oddity, including how humans are always grappling for more: more stature and wealth, more attention. It ends on a magnificent note, and I was most satisfied with the story from start to finish!
Thanks to Harper for the electronic ARC. I also purchased a hard copy from Book of the Month. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
In 1780s London, Jonah Hancock is a merchant and owns a ship. A captain knocks on his door urgently with the news he’s sold Hancock’s ship in return for a mermaid.
Word of the mermaid spreads quickly like sensational things do, and everyone wants to lay eyes on the sight. This mermaid is the key to Hancock climbing into high society, and that he does, with speed.
It is at a most prestigious party that Hancock meets the alluring Angelica Neal. Two ambitious minds have now collided, and their futures are full of intrigue.
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is a big, larger-than-life, smart story. It spotlights those strange curiosities of the time and is full of atmosphere. The writing is lyrical and stunning setting up a vivid sense of time and place. I found it immersive and all-consuming.
You should know there is not as much true magic or fantasy in the story as one might think, given the title, and the fact that a mermaid is most definitely present (but in the background). The story goes far beyond the oddity, including how humans are always grappling for more: more stature and wealth, more attention. It ends on a magnificent note, and I was most satisfied with the story from start to finish!
Thanks to Harper for the electronic ARC. I also purchased a hard copy from Book of the Month. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
March 10, 2018
This is by far the best read of the year for me so far and will be an all-time favourite. Click here for the full review
Astonishing storytelling and highly atmospheric, surprising to believe it's a debut novel. Has a few flaws here and there but I loved it so much wouldn't let anyone say anything nasty about this book!
The story is set in late 1700's London. Mr Hancock, a wealthy merchant, acquires a mermaid unwillingly to compensate a loss in trade. Although he considers himself no showman, he is tempted to display the mermaid in hopes of making some money. His mermaid becomes an attraction soon enough and a 'madam', Mrs Chappell, seizes the opportunity making him an offer to display the creature for a week in her own establishment. As you can imagine, this is a brothel and Mr Hancock meets the beautiful, practical but no-so-calculated courtesan, Angelica Neal. Angelica is 27- only a few years before she loses her teeth, or gets gray hair, no longer desirable enough to be kept. She has been recently abandoned by a 'keeper' and looking for another one. Although she looks like a free woman from outside, unlike the mermaids floating in the sea freely, Angelica is imprisoned in the society depending on men for her living, in company of women like Mrs Chappell.
Forget your dignity. You can discover it again when you have made your fortune. As for disdain, there's no place for it here. This world elevates the industrious man, and if you are canny it will elevate you. Disdain! Dignity! I never heard such squabbles.
says Mrs Chappell to one of the courtesans. The girls she spoke to, described as silent as mules in response. Inhuman. Creature-like. There is the magical creature in this novel, yes, but what Gowar also does is to portray humans as creatures of interminable wants and needs, always hungrily, selfishly seeking comfort, material or emotional.
There are a lot of metaphors in the book, but not much magical realism really, except just towards the end it is quite a solid and realistic story. It's difficult to classify but I wouldn't call this book a work of fantasy or magical realism.
The mermaids, being hunted, displayed, imprisoned, forms a strong subtext of human's cruelty to other creatures in this story- I couldn't stop thinking about the imprisoned Dolphins while reading- just for the desire of owning, or entertainment.
Also the imprisoned mermaid sending waves of grief is a breathtaking metaphor of a kept woman (wife or courtesan), which deeply effected me and is one of the reasons I would classify this as an all-time-favourite read, despite the little flaws. (It's a debut, so let's forget about Polly and her little stream of story line in this deep ocean of 500 pages)
LOVED the ending and will be looking out for the next novel from Imogen Hermes Gowar.
Astonishing storytelling and highly atmospheric, surprising to believe it's a debut novel. Has a few flaws here and there but I loved it so much wouldn't let anyone say anything nasty about this book!
The story is set in late 1700's London. Mr Hancock, a wealthy merchant, acquires a mermaid unwillingly to compensate a loss in trade. Although he considers himself no showman, he is tempted to display the mermaid in hopes of making some money. His mermaid becomes an attraction soon enough and a 'madam', Mrs Chappell, seizes the opportunity making him an offer to display the creature for a week in her own establishment. As you can imagine, this is a brothel and Mr Hancock meets the beautiful, practical but no-so-calculated courtesan, Angelica Neal. Angelica is 27- only a few years before she loses her teeth, or gets gray hair, no longer desirable enough to be kept. She has been recently abandoned by a 'keeper' and looking for another one. Although she looks like a free woman from outside, unlike the mermaids floating in the sea freely, Angelica is imprisoned in the society depending on men for her living, in company of women like Mrs Chappell.
Forget your dignity. You can discover it again when you have made your fortune. As for disdain, there's no place for it here. This world elevates the industrious man, and if you are canny it will elevate you. Disdain! Dignity! I never heard such squabbles.
says Mrs Chappell to one of the courtesans. The girls she spoke to, described as silent as mules in response. Inhuman. Creature-like. There is the magical creature in this novel, yes, but what Gowar also does is to portray humans as creatures of interminable wants and needs, always hungrily, selfishly seeking comfort, material or emotional.
There are a lot of metaphors in the book, but not much magical realism really, except just towards the end it is quite a solid and realistic story. It's difficult to classify but I wouldn't call this book a work of fantasy or magical realism.
The mermaids, being hunted, displayed, imprisoned, forms a strong subtext of human's cruelty to other creatures in this story- I couldn't stop thinking about the imprisoned Dolphins while reading- just for the desire of owning, or entertainment.
Also the imprisoned mermaid sending waves of grief is a breathtaking metaphor of a kept woman (wife or courtesan), which deeply effected me and is one of the reasons I would classify this as an all-time-favourite read, despite the little flaws. (It's a debut, so let's forget about Polly and her little stream of story line in this deep ocean of 500 pages)
LOVED the ending and will be looking out for the next novel from Imogen Hermes Gowar.
November 9, 2017
First of all, I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think I've ever read a book that was so thoroughly not for me in my life. I really struggled to get through the pages - it took me well over a month to read, even though I've been known to read books of equal length in two days flat - and I just never warmed to it at all.
I'll start with the good points, just to get them out of the way - firstly, the author's writing style is admittedly lovely, and does a very good job of evoking the era, the places and the characters depicted. However, even the writing rang a bit hollow to me at times - it was a bit like a courtesan's glamour, all frothy, pretty little turns of phrase which cleverly disguised the lack of any underlying substance.
The premise of the whole book is based around the relationship that kindles between one of London's most famous courtesans and a staid middle-aged merchant, and the mermaid that unexpectedly enters the latter's possession. A note to any fans of fantasy (like me) who are tempted to pick this book up because the mention of a mermaid intrigues you: don't. The mermaid barely features, and the elements of magical realism are severely underused in general; they only really have an effect on the last 20% or so of the book, and barely at that, fizzling into nothing in the last few pages.
I also found it almost impossible to connect with any of the characters in this novel. While I was pleased by how many of the characters were women, I'm utterly sick of fiction in which women are constantly at each other's throats. Meanwhile, the two main characters' romance was surprisingly tolerable, and one quiet scene between them early in their relationship was actually one of my favourite scenes in the whole novel, but I found both of the characters themselves unbearably insipid. The narrative also dipped into the side characters' stories fairly often, almost randomly, and in most cases without any satisfying resolution. I actually found several of the side characters more interesting than the main characters - Sukie and Polly were probably my favourites, and I hated how neither of them got any real narrative resolution. In fact, the entire plot just kind of ambled along with no real drive or cohesion throughout the whole book.
Finally, the book seemed to be trying to make a point about women's place in society, but utterly unable to actually figure out what that point might be, and it was even clumsier when trying to comment on historical race relations, which made a couple of scenes downright uncomfortable to read. All in all, not my cup of tea at all, and not a book I'll be recommending.
I don't think I've ever read a book that was so thoroughly not for me in my life. I really struggled to get through the pages - it took me well over a month to read, even though I've been known to read books of equal length in two days flat - and I just never warmed to it at all.
I'll start with the good points, just to get them out of the way - firstly, the author's writing style is admittedly lovely, and does a very good job of evoking the era, the places and the characters depicted. However, even the writing rang a bit hollow to me at times - it was a bit like a courtesan's glamour, all frothy, pretty little turns of phrase which cleverly disguised the lack of any underlying substance.
The premise of the whole book is based around the relationship that kindles between one of London's most famous courtesans and a staid middle-aged merchant, and the mermaid that unexpectedly enters the latter's possession. A note to any fans of fantasy (like me) who are tempted to pick this book up because the mention of a mermaid intrigues you: don't. The mermaid barely features, and the elements of magical realism are severely underused in general; they only really have an effect on the last 20% or so of the book, and barely at that, fizzling into nothing in the last few pages.
I also found it almost impossible to connect with any of the characters in this novel. While I was pleased by how many of the characters were women, I'm utterly sick of fiction in which women are constantly at each other's throats. Meanwhile, the two main characters' romance was surprisingly tolerable, and one quiet scene between them early in their relationship was actually one of my favourite scenes in the whole novel, but I found both of the characters themselves unbearably insipid. The narrative also dipped into the side characters' stories fairly often, almost randomly, and in most cases without any satisfying resolution. I actually found several of the side characters more interesting than the main characters - Sukie and Polly were probably my favourites, and I hated how neither of them got any real narrative resolution. In fact, the entire plot just kind of ambled along with no real drive or cohesion throughout the whole book.
Finally, the book seemed to be trying to make a point about women's place in society, but utterly unable to actually figure out what that point might be, and it was even clumsier when trying to comment on historical race relations, which made a couple of scenes downright uncomfortable to read. All in all, not my cup of tea at all, and not a book I'll be recommending.
October 16, 2023
A cross between fantasy and the the gritty realism of the streets of 1780s London, The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is a unique and mesmerizing story with warm and engaging characters. It tells of the strange world of a high end prostitute and a merchant, Mr. Hancock, who is increasing his fortune, but is bereft in his private life. He dreams of his sweet son, Henry, who died at his birth, along with his beloved wife Mary.
A man with simple tastes, Mr. Hancock, is a charmer, who is made captive by the women in his life. His older, harridan of a sister has bestowed his niece, Sukie, on him to take care of his household. Sukie is a teenager, half the time she is cross and the other half a silly child, but she well understands that her lot in life is to please others and not herself, as long as she is useful, she is wanted. Sukie likes her uncle, but is unsure how he feels about her, so her sulkiness obtrudes at times.
When Mr.Hancock meets Angelica Neal, he is come undone and can think of nothing else, even though they meet in a bawdy house. His pursuit of the lovely girl is fraught with strange coincidence and tied up with his purchase of a chimera--the elusive mermaid.
A man with simple tastes, Mr. Hancock, is a charmer, who is made captive by the women in his life. His older, harridan of a sister has bestowed his niece, Sukie, on him to take care of his household. Sukie is a teenager, half the time she is cross and the other half a silly child, but she well understands that her lot in life is to please others and not herself, as long as she is useful, she is wanted. Sukie likes her uncle, but is unsure how he feels about her, so her sulkiness obtrudes at times.
When Mr.Hancock meets Angelica Neal, he is come undone and can think of nothing else, even though they meet in a bawdy house. His pursuit of the lovely girl is fraught with strange coincidence and tied up with his purchase of a chimera--the elusive mermaid.
December 30, 2017
Superlative immersive historical fiction! Loved it. The writing was evocative with details of sights, sounds, behaviours and vocabulary of the age. There was no way for me to predict how events would turn out, but it was a wonderful read. Heartily recommended to lovers of (Georgian) historical fiction.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 8, 2020
This is NOT a happy mermaid tale, despite the beautiful, rich cover.
I usually LOVE mermaid tales, depressing or not...
The book was loooonnngggg. It is written historically (the 1700s), and at some points, I had no idea what was going on because of the outdated language/time period. Hats off to the author for her extensive research, but I have none of that knowledge and am not going to be constantly researching while reading for leisure. There were certain things brought up over and over like mermaids and soot that I was so confused about...either I missed a page or I just didn't see the connection. The details around certain scenarios would be in full (mind blowing full) detail, but what the heck actually went on or how it was done, was highly overshadowed with details on the scenery, and just left you to accept this is how it is. I asked myself so many times "how did this come to be, did I miss something?" You know when someone sees a vision for something and not everyone can see it? Well, that's how I felt with this book, with me not seeing the vision.
There were a lot of sad depressing points to this book, that maybe that vibe just got to me. I felt bored, generally blah and sad while reading this. Just like the mermaids in the story! Haha! That's my reasoning for 2 stars only. Don't get me wrong there were parts of the story I liked... The relationships were interesting... Old pure nunneries and all the white in those old dirty times... The expansive details on the scenery... A lot of the txt was really intriguing, just as a whole plot, I felt 2 stars.
Much gratitude to the publisher and author for the paperback ARC I won via the Goodreads Giveaway Program (2018). I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
I usually LOVE mermaid tales, depressing or not...
The book was loooonnngggg. It is written historically (the 1700s), and at some points, I had no idea what was going on because of the outdated language/time period. Hats off to the author for her extensive research, but I have none of that knowledge and am not going to be constantly researching while reading for leisure. There were certain things brought up over and over like mermaids and soot that I was so confused about...either I missed a page or I just didn't see the connection. The details around certain scenarios would be in full (mind blowing full) detail, but what the heck actually went on or how it was done, was highly overshadowed with details on the scenery, and just left you to accept this is how it is. I asked myself so many times "how did this come to be, did I miss something?" You know when someone sees a vision for something and not everyone can see it? Well, that's how I felt with this book, with me not seeing the vision.
There were a lot of sad depressing points to this book, that maybe that vibe just got to me. I felt bored, generally blah and sad while reading this. Just like the mermaids in the story! Haha! That's my reasoning for 2 stars only. Don't get me wrong there were parts of the story I liked... The relationships were interesting... Old pure nunneries and all the white in those old dirty times... The expansive details on the scenery... A lot of the txt was really intriguing, just as a whole plot, I felt 2 stars.
Much gratitude to the publisher and author for the paperback ARC I won via the Goodreads Giveaway Program (2018). I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
May 30, 2020
I cannot decide how I feel about this unusual book!
It’s a historical novel - with a dash of the surreal. It’s about passion and obsession, and about what happens when your obsession is met!
The time is 1785, and merchant Jonah Hancock finds one of his captains on his doorstep.......he has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid.
As gossip spreads through the city everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s curio!
When his mermaid comes to the attention of brothel (bawd) owner Mrs Chappell, Jonah is swept into a world of courtesans and high society. But this new found fame does not sit comfortably with Jonah.
At one particular debouched party he meets courtesan Angelica Neal and his life takes a very different path.
The period details was amazing throughout the book, but I felt the story did meander and occasionally fell flat at times.
Overall I am very glad I read it but still wavering between a 3.5 and 4 stars.
It’s a historical novel - with a dash of the surreal. It’s about passion and obsession, and about what happens when your obsession is met!
The time is 1785, and merchant Jonah Hancock finds one of his captains on his doorstep.......he has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid.
As gossip spreads through the city everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s curio!
When his mermaid comes to the attention of brothel (bawd) owner Mrs Chappell, Jonah is swept into a world of courtesans and high society. But this new found fame does not sit comfortably with Jonah.
At one particular debouched party he meets courtesan Angelica Neal and his life takes a very different path.
The period details was amazing throughout the book, but I felt the story did meander and occasionally fell flat at times.
Overall I am very glad I read it but still wavering between a 3.5 and 4 stars.
December 4, 2021
I could not get into this book, and I almost DNF this book many times. I wish I did DNF this book because There was nothing I liked about the book it at the end of finishing it. I had trouble liking the characters in this, and I think the storyline/plot was very weird which stopped me from getting into the book.
March 19, 2018
Jonah Hancock, a widowed merchant, lives a lonely life in a dark Deptford house, with only his young niece Sukie for company. His world is flipped upside down when one of his ship's captains returns from a voyage with a "mermaid" in tow (really a monkey's torso with a fishtail attached, but nobody seems the wiser). Hancock puts this specimen on show and becomes the talk of London, making a tidy sum of money in the process. The exhibition also causes him to cross paths with Angelica Neal, a fetching courtesan who is at something of a loose end. Hancock is immediately smitten, Angelica less so, but their encounter sets in motion a sequence of events that neither of them could have expected.
What I enjoyed most about this novel is the convincing atmosphere it creates. 1780s London is wonderfully imagined, from the clatter of carriages on the cobbled streets to the stench of chamber pots emptied onto unsuspecting bystanders. Hermes Gowar's command of the period's vernacular adds greatly to this - comely jades recline on sophas, clothed in the finest silk mantuas and bringing sweet millefruits to their lips.
But there is a real lack of drive to the narrative. Much as I revelled in the sumptuous period detail, the plot seemed quite aimless to me. I couldn't really understand what the novel was trying to achieve. Does it see itself as a bustling historical romp or an unlikely romance of two mismatched souls? The characters themselves don't seem to know what they really want. And there is a sub-plot involving a black prostitute which is so half-baked, it might have been better to omit altogether.
The book has been unanimously praised and was recently longlisted for the prestigious Women's Prize for Fiction. I relished the convincing Georgian world it created but I can't help feeling a little disappointed at the meandering story. Nevertheless, it is an engaging, evocative debut and I look forward to whatever the talented Imogen Hermes Gowar does next.
What I enjoyed most about this novel is the convincing atmosphere it creates. 1780s London is wonderfully imagined, from the clatter of carriages on the cobbled streets to the stench of chamber pots emptied onto unsuspecting bystanders. Hermes Gowar's command of the period's vernacular adds greatly to this - comely jades recline on sophas, clothed in the finest silk mantuas and bringing sweet millefruits to their lips.
But there is a real lack of drive to the narrative. Much as I revelled in the sumptuous period detail, the plot seemed quite aimless to me. I couldn't really understand what the novel was trying to achieve. Does it see itself as a bustling historical romp or an unlikely romance of two mismatched souls? The characters themselves don't seem to know what they really want. And there is a sub-plot involving a black prostitute which is so half-baked, it might have been better to omit altogether.
The book has been unanimously praised and was recently longlisted for the prestigious Women's Prize for Fiction. I relished the convincing Georgian world it created but I can't help feeling a little disappointed at the meandering story. Nevertheless, it is an engaging, evocative debut and I look forward to whatever the talented Imogen Hermes Gowar does next.
June 6, 2018
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock, a historical novel set in 1780s London, follows Jonah Hancock, a merchant who finds himself in possession of a mermaid, and Angelica Neal, a courtesan whose protector has recently died. Their narratives intersect rather early on, and the novel mostly follows their relationship over a rather meandering 500 pages.
From the very first page, I wanted to love this book. I was struck instantly by Imogen Hermes Gowar's prose, which is some of the best I think I've ever read in a contemporary novel. It's poised, elegant, classical and lyrical all at once, with some of the most evocative setting descriptions I've ever read. Gowar brings the late 1700s to life in a way that I wouldn't dare to minimize as I go on to discuss this novel's flaws.
But I would be remiss not to mention that the pace and plotting were downright maddening. This is one of those books where nothing happens for 450 pages, and then everything happens in the last 50. It's uneven, and for me, it wasn't engaging enough to hold my attention throughout. Characters and their motivations also remained at arm's length, with a questionable third person omniscient point of view which gave absolutely no rhyme or reason for its head hopping, following not only Jonah and Angelica, but a handful of other characters whose narratives were never fully developed. One of these characters in particular was Polly, a black courtesan whose storyline had absolutely no depth or insight or closure or anything remotely satisfying to read.
Again, I don't want to downplay what an accomplishment Gowar's writing is. If your main draw to a novel is rich, gorgeous prose, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this. But if you're looking for tight plotting and compelling characters, I can't say that either of those is a real strength of this novel.
Thank you to Harper and Imogen Hermes Gowar for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
From the very first page, I wanted to love this book. I was struck instantly by Imogen Hermes Gowar's prose, which is some of the best I think I've ever read in a contemporary novel. It's poised, elegant, classical and lyrical all at once, with some of the most evocative setting descriptions I've ever read. Gowar brings the late 1700s to life in a way that I wouldn't dare to minimize as I go on to discuss this novel's flaws.
But I would be remiss not to mention that the pace and plotting were downright maddening. This is one of those books where nothing happens for 450 pages, and then everything happens in the last 50. It's uneven, and for me, it wasn't engaging enough to hold my attention throughout. Characters and their motivations also remained at arm's length, with a questionable third person omniscient point of view which gave absolutely no rhyme or reason for its head hopping, following not only Jonah and Angelica, but a handful of other characters whose narratives were never fully developed. One of these characters in particular was Polly, a black courtesan whose storyline had absolutely no depth or insight or closure or anything remotely satisfying to read.
Again, I don't want to downplay what an accomplishment Gowar's writing is. If your main draw to a novel is rich, gorgeous prose, then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this. But if you're looking for tight plotting and compelling characters, I can't say that either of those is a real strength of this novel.
Thank you to Harper and Imogen Hermes Gowar for the advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Read
March 17, 2018Video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luHZE...
An impressive novel set in 1780s London that reflects on class, prostitution (in various forms), and desire. The best thing about it is the sentence-by-sentence writing, which is incredibly poised and nuanced (especially for a debut novelist). The settings are richly imagined and atmospheric, and the characters are wonderful (especially Angelica Neal, a vivacious escort who finds her glory days coming to a close). But I can't help thinking that ultimately The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is less than the sum of its parts, largely due to poor plotting and pacing.
(Thank you to Harvill Secker for a GORGEOUS copy of this book)
An impressive novel set in 1780s London that reflects on class, prostitution (in various forms), and desire. The best thing about it is the sentence-by-sentence writing, which is incredibly poised and nuanced (especially for a debut novelist). The settings are richly imagined and atmospheric, and the characters are wonderful (especially Angelica Neal, a vivacious escort who finds her glory days coming to a close). But I can't help thinking that ultimately The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is less than the sum of its parts, largely due to poor plotting and pacing.
(Thank you to Harvill Secker for a GORGEOUS copy of this book)
July 12, 2018
Three books, each different, but mostly quite good
Apparently, this debut novel was the subject of a bidding war between British publishers and became the most eagerly awaited new fiction of the season. It deserves such interest. Imogen Hermes Gowar’s writing ranges from good to excellent, and her feeling for the late eighteenth century period is quite acute and often great fun. I shall quote one of the more ribald passages later (in a spoiler, in deference to sensitive eyes). Here, though, is a safer sample, with a nicely-judged sprinkling of period detail, but not so much as to disturb the rolling cadence of the prose:
Angelica has not spent a Christmas with any of her blood since whe was a girl of thirteen; in her maturity she has gone wherever she is summoned and admired, to be herself as much a part of the festivities as the gilded gingerbread or the riotous song. Thus she continues to perceive the celebrations in many ways as a child would: a hazy whirl of frumenty, hunt the thimble, plum pie, blind man's buff and scorch-cased chestnuts: endless laughter and no anxiety; she expects to light every candle and dance beyond sunset, but not a moment of expense or resentment.So full marks for style; what about content? As its title suggests, the novel tells of how Mr. Jonah Hancock, a widowed Deptford shipping merchant, obtains a mummified mermaid, makes a lot of money exhibiting it, and presumably acquires another Mrs. Hancock. The "mermaid," at least in the first part of the book, is not a fancy. A quick web search will turn up a number of dessicated creatures that, whether freaks or fakes, could well have attracted much interest in a society easily wowed by curiosities. And so it is here. After showing the creature privately for some weeks, Mr. Hancock accepts an offer from the leading London madam of the time, a certain Mrs. Chappell, to make his mermaid the centerpiece of a grand gala attended by le beau mode, for she is very well connected. And the young woman designated to look after him that night is the lovely Angelica Neal, whose previous protector, a Duke no less, has just died. All right, the direction of the plot may seem pretty obvious, but be assured: Ms. Gowar is by no means as straightforward as all that.
Some 18th-century "mermaids"
But the author's long road to her goal was also my problem. The novel is divided into three volumes of around 175 pages each. The first, more or less as I’ve just described, is thoroughly enthralling. The second, though, gave me real problems. Both Hancock and the mermaid virtually disappear, and the focus is almost entirely on Mrs. Chappell and Angelica. Personally, I found it distinctly less interesting in terms of the plot, with a lot of irrelevancies and loose ends. But then this also coincided with a bunch of extra work that suddenly landed in my lap, and I could no longer keep up my pace. It might have been different had I been able to read with the same lightness of spirit that Gowar herself obviously enjoys, in penning passages such this description of Mrs. Chappell relieving herself in her carriage (nothing of plot significance here; the spoiler is only for modesty):
Lightness of spirit, however, is not at all what I would say of the third volume. Hancock acquires a second mermaid, by no means a desiccated manikin like the first, but something indescribable, a presence rather than a tangible reality. It casts a pall over all who come near it, and a depression over the whole novel. The added depth in the character portrayal was, I suppose, a plus. But I question whether the three volumes really hold together, and if the almost Gothic air of the third belongs with the brilliant action of the first or the social exposé of the second. Hence my four-star rating.
Still, this is a book that gives you more than you bargain for, and it is mostly worth the hype.
April 28, 2024
Not the kind of mermaids I was expecting, but I'm here for it!
Want to see my 16 Must Read Women's Prize Nominees on BookTube? Come join me at Hello, Bookworm.📚🐛
I had high hopes when I saw the word "mermaid" in the title of a Women's Prize nominee. How might mermaids manifest in a book longlisted (update: shortlisted!) for such a prestigious prize? The answer: in strange and beautiful ways that I have not encountered before.
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is decadent historical fiction set in 1870s London and concerns a prosperous merchant whose life is upended when he meets an extraordinary woman and finds himself in possession of a dubious mermaid’s corpse.
This is a story of gossip and speculation, obsession and uncertainty, desire and sensuality. The setting is atmospheric, the writing is exquisite, and the narrative is adorned with brief moments of gorgeous magical realism. (I'm looking at you, mermaids.)
What a magnificent debut from Gowar. I'm confident that I'm not alone in eagerly anticipating whatever novel she publishes next. I can tell you right now that, for me, it will be an instant pre-order (especially if it has mermaids).
Want to see my 16 Must Read Women's Prize Nominees on BookTube? Come join me at Hello, Bookworm.📚🐛
I had high hopes when I saw the word "mermaid" in the title of a Women's Prize nominee. How might mermaids manifest in a book longlisted (update: shortlisted!) for such a prestigious prize? The answer: in strange and beautiful ways that I have not encountered before.
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is decadent historical fiction set in 1870s London and concerns a prosperous merchant whose life is upended when he meets an extraordinary woman and finds himself in possession of a dubious mermaid’s corpse.
This is a story of gossip and speculation, obsession and uncertainty, desire and sensuality. The setting is atmospheric, the writing is exquisite, and the narrative is adorned with brief moments of gorgeous magical realism. (I'm looking at you, mermaids.)
What a magnificent debut from Gowar. I'm confident that I'm not alone in eagerly anticipating whatever novel she publishes next. I can tell you right now that, for me, it will be an instant pre-order (especially if it has mermaids).
June 1, 2018
UPDATE: I said in my review that the book had a strong chance of success in the Women's Prize, it was subsequently longlisted and has now made the shortlist
I spent much of the second half of 2017 and early 2018 reading experimental fiction: the Goldsmith shortlist; various books I had anticipated making that list; each of the Republic of Consciousness Prize longlist at least twice; a number of other books submitted for that prize; other books from the wonderful small presses that I discovered through the prize. Fiction that was brilliant but still often demanding of the reader.
It is therefore a great pleasure to find a book that, while still excellently written is instead generous to the reader, one that simply weaves a good, old-fashioned story around a great command of language and evocative period detail, one that seamlessly weaves bawdy descriptions and dialogue (particularly in the first part), alongside the harsh realities of prostitution (even if it is high class prostitution) and female servitude (particularly in the second part), with a deeply affecting and melancholic third part.
This story set in London and its outskirts (particularly Deptford) in 1785, starts with a merchant, ship owner and childless widower John Hancock finding that one of his captains has sold one of his ships for the apparent dead body of a goblin-like mermaid. Initially convinced he faces ruin Hancock decides to exhibit it as a marvel in a local coffee house, to his surprise to great success and is then persuaded by a high class madam – Mrs Chappell - to allow her to exhibit the mermaid alongside her girls. At the first evening she asks one of her ex-girls, Angelica Neal, a courtesan whose Duke-lover recently died without remembering her in his will, to entertain Hancock, only for Hancock, despite being smitten with Angelica, to flee when he realises the explicit nature of the other entertainments laid on at the party. The second part of the book mainly traces the fortunes of Angelica and those around her, fortunes which turn rapidly against her and from which she is rescued by marriage to Mr Hancock (who responding to some teasing of hers, becomes obsessed with finding another mermaid for her). To his astonishment he succeeds but, the third part of the book, turns to fantasy as the mermaid turns out to be ephemeral if bewitching when viewed, but to be deeply affecting emotionally, infecting those around it with a deep lying sense of ennui and loss.
Another strong part of the book is the number of very strong female side-characters it develops – Bel Fortescue (Angelica’s best friend who succeeds in marrying her own upper class lover), Hancock’s niece Sukie, Mrs Chappell herself, Polly a mulatto in Mrs Chappell’s group of girls, Mrs Frost (Neal’s housekeeper, seemingly full of disapproval of Angelica’s lifestyle but who is all the time learning and developing what it would take to set up her own house of girls) – interestingly many, particularly Bel and Polly drift away from the story (or more accurately the story drifts away from them) but stay in the readers mind as fully formed characters. I suspect that this strong group of characters give this book a good chance of success with the Women’s Prize for fiction and already it must be a strong contender for next year’s Costa First Novel Prize.
Overall a really enjoyable read – just what I needed and has set me up nicely for a return to the more experimental end of literature.
I spent much of the second half of 2017 and early 2018 reading experimental fiction: the Goldsmith shortlist; various books I had anticipated making that list; each of the Republic of Consciousness Prize longlist at least twice; a number of other books submitted for that prize; other books from the wonderful small presses that I discovered through the prize. Fiction that was brilliant but still often demanding of the reader.
It is therefore a great pleasure to find a book that, while still excellently written is instead generous to the reader, one that simply weaves a good, old-fashioned story around a great command of language and evocative period detail, one that seamlessly weaves bawdy descriptions and dialogue (particularly in the first part), alongside the harsh realities of prostitution (even if it is high class prostitution) and female servitude (particularly in the second part), with a deeply affecting and melancholic third part.
This story set in London and its outskirts (particularly Deptford) in 1785, starts with a merchant, ship owner and childless widower John Hancock finding that one of his captains has sold one of his ships for the apparent dead body of a goblin-like mermaid. Initially convinced he faces ruin Hancock decides to exhibit it as a marvel in a local coffee house, to his surprise to great success and is then persuaded by a high class madam – Mrs Chappell - to allow her to exhibit the mermaid alongside her girls. At the first evening she asks one of her ex-girls, Angelica Neal, a courtesan whose Duke-lover recently died without remembering her in his will, to entertain Hancock, only for Hancock, despite being smitten with Angelica, to flee when he realises the explicit nature of the other entertainments laid on at the party. The second part of the book mainly traces the fortunes of Angelica and those around her, fortunes which turn rapidly against her and from which she is rescued by marriage to Mr Hancock (who responding to some teasing of hers, becomes obsessed with finding another mermaid for her). To his astonishment he succeeds but, the third part of the book, turns to fantasy as the mermaid turns out to be ephemeral if bewitching when viewed, but to be deeply affecting emotionally, infecting those around it with a deep lying sense of ennui and loss.
Another strong part of the book is the number of very strong female side-characters it develops – Bel Fortescue (Angelica’s best friend who succeeds in marrying her own upper class lover), Hancock’s niece Sukie, Mrs Chappell herself, Polly a mulatto in Mrs Chappell’s group of girls, Mrs Frost (Neal’s housekeeper, seemingly full of disapproval of Angelica’s lifestyle but who is all the time learning and developing what it would take to set up her own house of girls) – interestingly many, particularly Bel and Polly drift away from the story (or more accurately the story drifts away from them) but stay in the readers mind as fully formed characters. I suspect that this strong group of characters give this book a good chance of success with the Women’s Prize for fiction and already it must be a strong contender for next year’s Costa First Novel Prize.
Overall a really enjoyable read – just what I needed and has set me up nicely for a return to the more experimental end of literature.
January 30, 2019
Tętniący życiem XVIII-wieczny Londyn, legendarne stwory i bolesna rzeczywistość w porywającej powieści historycznej w iście dickensowskim stylu autorstwa Imogen Hermes Gowar „Syrena i Pani Hancock”.
Imogen Hermes Gowar zabiera czytelnika w podróż po brukowanych uliczkach, kawiarniach o intensywnym zapachu kawy i wymyślnych słodkości, salonikach bardziej i mniej elitarnych, gdzie słowo kurtyzany, fikuśne halki i koronki mają większą władzę niż najwyższych szczebli polityka. Autorka wykreowała pod swoim piórem barwny, tętniący portret XVIII-wiecznego Londynu i jego mieszkańców, którzy gotowi są na wszystko, by przetrwać, by nie zniknąć, by nie zostać zapomnianym. To miasto pozbawione złudzeń i wszelkiej magii, w którym istota z mitów i legend zdaje się ożywczą bryzą, świeżym powiewem i obietnicą czegoś lepszego, co dopiero nadejdzie. To w tym świecie syrenka pana Hancocka staje się najwyższą kartą przetargową, towarem potrzebnym i upragnionym, który może nawet kupić najbardziej zatwardziałe niewieście serca.
Sukces powieści Imogen Hermes Gowar udowadnia, że czytelnik wciąż spragniony jest syrenich pieśni, wciąż łasy jest na legendy i mity, łaknie cudów i dziwów, które pozwolą mu uwierzyć, że gdzieś tam, daleko w odmętach, czeka coś magicznego, fantastycznego i upiornego jednocześnie. Zmęczony kłamstwami, jakimi karmi go świat wokół, iluzjami i fatamorganami, których musi nauczyć się unikać liczy, że na krańcach świata istnieje realna tajemnica, której można jednak dotknąć, która nie okaże się wydmuszką. „Syrena i Pani Hancock” zachwyca balansowaniem między historią a niesamowitością, rysowaniem namacalnej rzeczywistości i snuciem ulotnej, eterycznej mgiełki obietnicy, która nigdy nie może zostać spełniona. Jest w tej powieści coś melancholijnego, pewien smutek, który wplata się w rozpasane suknie, delikatne halki, migające światełka morskiej groty… Jej piękno urzeka, mami, wciąga w swoje głębiny, ale warto dać się pochłonąć.
Imogen Hermes Gowar zabiera czytelnika w podróż po brukowanych uliczkach, kawiarniach o intensywnym zapachu kawy i wymyślnych słodkości, salonikach bardziej i mniej elitarnych, gdzie słowo kurtyzany, fikuśne halki i koronki mają większą władzę niż najwyższych szczebli polityka. Autorka wykreowała pod swoim piórem barwny, tętniący portret XVIII-wiecznego Londynu i jego mieszkańców, którzy gotowi są na wszystko, by przetrwać, by nie zniknąć, by nie zostać zapomnianym. To miasto pozbawione złudzeń i wszelkiej magii, w którym istota z mitów i legend zdaje się ożywczą bryzą, świeżym powiewem i obietnicą czegoś lepszego, co dopiero nadejdzie. To w tym świecie syrenka pana Hancocka staje się najwyższą kartą przetargową, towarem potrzebnym i upragnionym, który może nawet kupić najbardziej zatwardziałe niewieście serca.
Sukces powieści Imogen Hermes Gowar udowadnia, że czytelnik wciąż spragniony jest syrenich pieśni, wciąż łasy jest na legendy i mity, łaknie cudów i dziwów, które pozwolą mu uwierzyć, że gdzieś tam, daleko w odmętach, czeka coś magicznego, fantastycznego i upiornego jednocześnie. Zmęczony kłamstwami, jakimi karmi go świat wokół, iluzjami i fatamorganami, których musi nauczyć się unikać liczy, że na krańcach świata istnieje realna tajemnica, której można jednak dotknąć, która nie okaże się wydmuszką. „Syrena i Pani Hancock” zachwyca balansowaniem między historią a niesamowitością, rysowaniem namacalnej rzeczywistości i snuciem ulotnej, eterycznej mgiełki obietnicy, która nigdy nie może zostać spełniona. Jest w tej powieści coś melancholijnego, pewien smutek, który wplata się w rozpasane suknie, delikatne halki, migające światełka morskiej groty… Jej piękno urzeka, mami, wciąga w swoje głębiny, ale warto dać się pochłonąć.
July 11, 2022
I really thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was fantastic, the historical detail wonderful, and the main plot genuinely lovely in many ways. I thought the charactisation was really superb too.
October 17, 2019
I have been intending to read this ever since it was shortlisted for last year's Women's Prize for Fiction. It is undoubtedly readable and entertaining, and there is plenty of convincing 18th century detail, but for me the central premise was just not credible enough to justify such a long book.
April 21, 2019
If you ever happen to catch a mermaid, beware of her powers. She can lure you into the depths of the sea or make you believe that she can give you all happiness you desire or just as easily drive you insane. Mr Hancock's mermaid transformed his life in every possible way, and this glimmering, sea water smelling, green, gold and turquoise jewellery box of a novel put my life on hold too, in between all the easter family obligations. I must admit the exquisite cover and a recommendation from Madeline Miller played no small part in my spontaneous choice of this read and I am not disappointed.
It is not really a fantasy novel. Apart from a mermaid it is firmly set in eighteenth century London. The main protagonist, Mr Hancock is a sea merchant from Deptford. The novel opens when a friend of Mr Hancock’s and the captains of one of his vessels returns home and announces that he has exchanged the ship and its cargo for a sea mermaid.... An ownership of a mermaid, that quickly becomes a sensation, casts Mr Hancock, who is a rather insignificant middle aged man, and a widower of proper old fashioned values and a kind heart, into a world of opportunities and dangers that he hardly imagined existed. A world that is ruled by tempting, deceiving but very human creatures who not unlike their mythical counterparts will stop at nothing in order to achieve their goals and who will use their charm to mislead and misdirect.
But heart and true nature is a central concept in this beautiful novel and whatever deceiving disguise the characters might wear, their true nature will sooner or later be revealed. Even mermaids, heartless and only interested in following their own purposes, can become vulnerable like the rest of us.
It's a charming, beautifully written feel good story that I very much enjoyed.
It made me an exceptionally happy (easter?) bunny, and I want to recommend it to all of you that would like to escape reality for a while.
It is not really a fantasy novel. Apart from a mermaid it is firmly set in eighteenth century London. The main protagonist, Mr Hancock is a sea merchant from Deptford. The novel opens when a friend of Mr Hancock’s and the captains of one of his vessels returns home and announces that he has exchanged the ship and its cargo for a sea mermaid.... An ownership of a mermaid, that quickly becomes a sensation, casts Mr Hancock, who is a rather insignificant middle aged man, and a widower of proper old fashioned values and a kind heart, into a world of opportunities and dangers that he hardly imagined existed. A world that is ruled by tempting, deceiving but very human creatures who not unlike their mythical counterparts will stop at nothing in order to achieve their goals and who will use their charm to mislead and misdirect.
But heart and true nature is a central concept in this beautiful novel and whatever deceiving disguise the characters might wear, their true nature will sooner or later be revealed. Even mermaids, heartless and only interested in following their own purposes, can become vulnerable like the rest of us.
It's a charming, beautifully written feel good story that I very much enjoyed.
It made me an exceptionally happy (easter?) bunny, and I want to recommend it to all of you that would like to escape reality for a while.
April 22, 2018
What a joy it was reading this novel! And I'm so glad I purposely saved it as the last book to read from The Women's Prize longlist. I had a hunch it'd be a pleasurable and immersive story and it was. It's the kind of book I was eager to get back to every time I had to put it down which is something I can't say about some other literary novels no matter how clever or interesting they are. Given how much I enjoyed reading both Imogen Hermes Gowar's debut novel and “The Parentations” I'm beginning to think my favourite kind of historical fiction has a dash of the supernatural mixed in with it. Although, to be honest, “The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock” is almost entirely firmly grounded in reality. The mermaid element comes to stand for something more emotional and rooted in the real world later in the novel. It's primarily the story of a widower businessman whose livelihood is at stake when his merchant vessel is unwittingly traded away and a high society escort/prostitute named Angelica Neal who is reentering her trade after the death of a duke that kept her and left her nothing. Their stories collide in a richly imagined version of late-18th century London with its bawdy houses of ill repute and emerging middle class neighbourhoods.
Read my full review of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar on LonesomeReader
Read my full review of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar on LonesomeReader
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
February 19, 2018I listened to about 20% of this on audio, wonderfully narrated by Juliet Stevenson, so wonderfully that it took me that long to conclude I was listening to a well-written piece of fluff, the literary equivalent of a Disney movie.
June 10, 2018
Ein Buch, von dem ich GANZ ANDERES erwartet hatte…
Aber erstmal eine Lobeshymne an die Gestaltung: Das Cover ist wunderwunderschön – das Gold glitzert und glänzt und das Muster zieht sich bis auf die Innenseiten fort. Ein wahres Schmuckstück. Wie die Meerjungfrau.
Nicht.
Die ist nämlich wahrlich keine Arielle, sondern hässlich wie die Nacht. Und Mausetot.
Also wer, wie ich, eine verträumte Fantasy Geschichte über eine bezirzende Meerjungfrau erwartet hat, der wird enttäuscht werden – oder auch nicht. Denn Die letzte Reise der Meerjungfrau oder wie Jonah Hancock über Nacht zum reichen Mann wurde ist so erfrischend anders als alles was ich in letzter Zeit gelesen habe, dass ich die Lektüre absolut genossen habe.
Jonah Hancock ist ein ehrbarer, aber einsamer Handelsmann. Er lebt 1785 in London mit seiner Nichte sehr zurückgezogen. Ich habe den leicht schrulligen Mann sofort in mein Herz geschlossen! Die Wandlung, die er allein im ersten Teil des Buches durchlebt ist so detailreich und amüsant beschrieben, dass ich immer wieder schmunzeln musste. Er kommt an die Meerjungfrau wie die Jungfrau zum Kinde – am liebsten würde er sie direkt entsorgen, als einer seiner Kapitäne sie ihm als den größten Schatz aller Zeiten mit heim bringt. Doch als er sieht, wie viel Geld diese skurrile Gestalt ihm einbringen kann, weckt sie sein Interesse … und seine verloren geglaubten Lebensgeister!
Angelica – ist eine Hure. Zu beschönigen gibt es dabei nichts. Aber schön ist sie – und Angelica gedenkt mit dieser Schönheit trotz ihres – für ihr Gewerbe – schon recht fortgeschrittenen Alters noch den ganz großen Wurf zu landen. Sie möchte sich einen reichen Mann angeln und bis an ihr Lebensende Ananas genießen … Wer hier schon die Nachtigall trapsen hört, der sei gewarnt… ganz so einfach gestaltet sich Ganze zunächst nicht…
Für mich aufgrund der Sprache, des Settings und der Handlung eine gelungene Abwechslung zu den recht Fantasy und Science Fiction lastigen Büchern in letzter Zeit. Die Handlung plätschert etwas vor sich hin, aber als Lektüre im Urlaub war das genau richtig – nicht zu aufregend, damit man nicht traurig ist wenn Aktivitäten rufen, aber fesselnd genug um in den Pausen gut unterhalten zu werden. Ich vergebe für Die letzte Reise der Meerjungfrau oder wie Jonah Hancock über Nacht zum reichen Mann wurde sehr gerne 4 von 5 Lieblingslesesesseln!
Aber erstmal eine Lobeshymne an die Gestaltung: Das Cover ist wunderwunderschön – das Gold glitzert und glänzt und das Muster zieht sich bis auf die Innenseiten fort. Ein wahres Schmuckstück. Wie die Meerjungfrau.
Nicht.
Die ist nämlich wahrlich keine Arielle, sondern hässlich wie die Nacht. Und Mausetot.
Also wer, wie ich, eine verträumte Fantasy Geschichte über eine bezirzende Meerjungfrau erwartet hat, der wird enttäuscht werden – oder auch nicht. Denn Die letzte Reise der Meerjungfrau oder wie Jonah Hancock über Nacht zum reichen Mann wurde ist so erfrischend anders als alles was ich in letzter Zeit gelesen habe, dass ich die Lektüre absolut genossen habe.
Jonah Hancock ist ein ehrbarer, aber einsamer Handelsmann. Er lebt 1785 in London mit seiner Nichte sehr zurückgezogen. Ich habe den leicht schrulligen Mann sofort in mein Herz geschlossen! Die Wandlung, die er allein im ersten Teil des Buches durchlebt ist so detailreich und amüsant beschrieben, dass ich immer wieder schmunzeln musste. Er kommt an die Meerjungfrau wie die Jungfrau zum Kinde – am liebsten würde er sie direkt entsorgen, als einer seiner Kapitäne sie ihm als den größten Schatz aller Zeiten mit heim bringt. Doch als er sieht, wie viel Geld diese skurrile Gestalt ihm einbringen kann, weckt sie sein Interesse … und seine verloren geglaubten Lebensgeister!
Angelica – ist eine Hure. Zu beschönigen gibt es dabei nichts. Aber schön ist sie – und Angelica gedenkt mit dieser Schönheit trotz ihres – für ihr Gewerbe – schon recht fortgeschrittenen Alters noch den ganz großen Wurf zu landen. Sie möchte sich einen reichen Mann angeln und bis an ihr Lebensende Ananas genießen … Wer hier schon die Nachtigall trapsen hört, der sei gewarnt… ganz so einfach gestaltet sich Ganze zunächst nicht…
Für mich aufgrund der Sprache, des Settings und der Handlung eine gelungene Abwechslung zu den recht Fantasy und Science Fiction lastigen Büchern in letzter Zeit. Die Handlung plätschert etwas vor sich hin, aber als Lektüre im Urlaub war das genau richtig – nicht zu aufregend, damit man nicht traurig ist wenn Aktivitäten rufen, aber fesselnd genug um in den Pausen gut unterhalten zu werden. Ich vergebe für Die letzte Reise der Meerjungfrau oder wie Jonah Hancock über Nacht zum reichen Mann wurde sehr gerne 4 von 5 Lieblingslesesesseln!
Read
August 31, 2018Why I love it
by Brianna Goodman
If your first thought upon seeing this book was a story starring a redheaded woman with a tail, let me clear the air: This is not one of those mermaid tales. The magical creature that haunts these pages is small, clawed, and, most importantly, dead. And yet, it is this small curiosity that brings together an unlikely cast of characters at the heart of this transporting novel set in 18th-century London: shady brothel keepers, corrupt politicians, and the lonely, humble merchant thrust into this unfamiliar world.
When a mermaid falls unexpectedly into Jonah Hancock’s hands, he decides to parade it about the country in exchange for fame and fortune. From intellectual coffeehouses to high-class brothels, Hancock and his unusual possession travel throughout London, seizing the notice of a host of remarkable characters, including Angelica Neal, a savvy coquette on the lookout for a way out of her unsavory profession.
If you’re looking for a luxurious and ambitious read to sink into for the fall, this book is for you. With the embellished writing of a Jane Austen-era classic, this rags-to-riches story is as well-crafted as it is entertaining. The historical details are expertly rendered, the characters are full of heart, and while the supernatural creature that kicks off this novel might be dead, this is one imaginative story that is full of life.
Read more at: https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-me...
by Brianna Goodman
If your first thought upon seeing this book was a story starring a redheaded woman with a tail, let me clear the air: This is not one of those mermaid tales. The magical creature that haunts these pages is small, clawed, and, most importantly, dead. And yet, it is this small curiosity that brings together an unlikely cast of characters at the heart of this transporting novel set in 18th-century London: shady brothel keepers, corrupt politicians, and the lonely, humble merchant thrust into this unfamiliar world.
When a mermaid falls unexpectedly into Jonah Hancock’s hands, he decides to parade it about the country in exchange for fame and fortune. From intellectual coffeehouses to high-class brothels, Hancock and his unusual possession travel throughout London, seizing the notice of a host of remarkable characters, including Angelica Neal, a savvy coquette on the lookout for a way out of her unsavory profession.
If you’re looking for a luxurious and ambitious read to sink into for the fall, this book is for you. With the embellished writing of a Jane Austen-era classic, this rags-to-riches story is as well-crafted as it is entertaining. The historical details are expertly rendered, the characters are full of heart, and while the supernatural creature that kicks off this novel might be dead, this is one imaginative story that is full of life.
Read more at: https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-me...
June 25, 2018
I recieved this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinons are my own.
----
Writing: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot/Pacing: Strong first two acts, not so strong last act.
For the most part I did enjoy this(life stuff kept me from reading it quick) but the last part had me bored at times and my eyes glazing over. I thought it a bit weaker than the first two parts and not as engaging... I found myself skimming some after page 410.
This is the type where you'll either love it or hate it most likely so take a look for yourself and see:).
----
Writing: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot/Pacing: Strong first two acts, not so strong last act.
For the most part I did enjoy this(life stuff kept me from reading it quick) but the last part had me bored at times and my eyes glazing over. I thought it a bit weaker than the first two parts and not as engaging... I found myself skimming some after page 410.
This is the type where you'll either love it or hate it most likely so take a look for yourself and see:).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,861 reviews