The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt
This Victorian gothic, set in 1860s London, is the story of Harriet Hunt, a frightened young woman, who has been abused by her father all her life. Now that he has finally disappeared from her life, she must confront her fears as she comes of age, alone in a bleak, debt-ridden house. The peaceful idyll of her garden is her only solace. She tends it as she would a child—with affection and understanding, as it wraps her in its comforting embrace. Harriet is locally considered an oddity, and is entirely friendless, except for her beloved cousin Eunice, who begs her to move to Durham with her and her husband, but Harriet’s garden holds a particular secret which she must uphold.
With her father’s disappearance, the persistent enquiries of a police inspector, who is suspicious that she doesn’t appear to miss her father, or have an income to support herself, become troublesome. When Harriet meets Christian Comstock, a well-respected man who hurriedly offers companionship in marriage, she is enchanted by his kindness and, surprised as she is that anyone would want her for a wife, she knows the proper life of a married woman will satisfy the inspector.
This unearthly story flows with an elemental eeriness in which the reader connects with the character of the garden— its twisting ivy vines, low hanging branches, nodding roses and soft moss beds engaging enough to carry a lot of the action. The first half of the novel is a little protracted, as not much seems to happen, but the plot speeds up satisfactorily. How will the magical garden react if Harriet is unable to keep her anger and fear in check? In this tale of female rage and patriarchal control, what is it capable of? I’ll leave it to readers to decide.
