THE MEANING OF NIGHT: A CONFESSION
Michael Cox
Publishers: John Murray
ISBN: 0-7195-6835-8
Hardback
September 7th, 2006
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THE MEANING OF NIGHT
Written by
MICHAEL
COX
In writing The Meaning Of Night, author Michael
Cox had to overcome many personal obstacles to achieve his aim
which, in the event, led the hitherto author of the highly praised biography
of ghost-story writer, M.R. James, taking thirty years to complete his
first venture into fiction.
Thank goodness the man has perseverance – not since Ian Pears
and An Instance Of The Fingerpost has historical-crime fiction
been so well crafted, written and presented, with even the cover being
worthy of mention.
A cold October night in 1854 and, in
a dark passageway, an innocent man is stabbed to death. So begins the
extraordinary story of Edward Glyver, book lover, scholar and murderer.
As a young boy, Glyver always believed he was destined for greatness
and a chance discovery convinces Glyver that he is right: greatness
does await him, along with immense wealth and influence and he will
stop at nothing to win back a prize that he now knows is rightfully
his.
Glyver's path leads him from the depths
of Victorian London, with its foggy streets, brothels and opium dens,
to Evenwood, one of England's most enchanting country houses. His is
a story of betrayal and treachery, of death and delusion, of ruthless
obsession and ambition and at every turn, driving Glyver irresistibly
onwards, is his deadly rival: the poet-criminal Phoebus Rainsford Daunt.
The Meaning Of Night
is a stunning achievement. Written in the first person, the reader is
transported by Michael Cox’s superlative prose
to an England of long ago which still seems so familiar. The style of
writing, faithful to the Victorian period in which it is set and complete
with explanatory footnotes, does not slow the pace in any way whatsoever
so that rarely is there a page from the 594 – yes, this is hefty
tome – on which something does not happen.
Michael Cox’s
use of description compels the reader to see, hear and smell the atmosphere
of old London town and beyond so clearly, it is almost like “reading”
a movie but does not allow the story to become bogged down in the minutiae
of misplaced detail that is so often the case with such books. Instead,
Michael Cox manages to conjure up a world that is a
far cry from Dickens morally but so accurate factually.
Twists, turns and an incredibly well
developed storyline combine to make The Meaning Of Night
a stunning read from an author who is destined to become a household
name with this, his debut novel.
9/10
Read
an interview with Michael Cox by Chris High on shotsmag.co.uk
www.themeaningofnight.co.uk
www.myspace.com/author_michaelcox
Order this book online - Linghams Booksellers
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.