A Fire Beneath the World
If you are looking for an unusual, erudite and beautifully written historical novel set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, then this strange and compelling work will not disappoint.
It is 1791. The conflagration of the French Revolution has subsided, and a new world is emerging from the ashes. But nothing is settled. The king and queen are still imprisoned in the Tuileries awaiting their fate, and law and order has not yet been fully re-established.
The novel moves between England and France, a touch of A Tale of Two Cities to which numerous references are made. We are, however, very much in the world of the 18th-century novel, with its elaborate language and style. The narrator frequently speaks directly to the reader, guiding their reactions often to comic effect. There is even a hint of Jane Austen encouraging us to consider whether the supernatural events will turn out to have a more mundane explanation.
The plot is pure Gothic fantasy. Thomas Peach, living in quiet retirement in the English countryside, travels to France to rescue his friend, the poetess Arabella Farthingay, who has been abducted by the dastardly libertine, Sir de Charizard. Along the way, we are introduced to a range of colourful and amusing characters. I particularly enjoyed the French rustics and vagabonds who are reluctantly drawn into the extravagant events. There is even a nod to The Scarlet Pimpernel, characterised as the ‘Forget-Me-Not’, an English lord who rescues imperilled aristocrats in France.
Although hugely entertaining, my only criticism would be that the action starts to drag a little towards the end as the Gothic excesses become more extreme. And not everyone will enjoy the archaic language and style. But for those up for the challenge, it is certainly an interesting and original read.
