Description
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE''S ENCORE AWARD 2018LONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE 2018''A sheer fantastical delight'' The Times''Epic'' New York Times''An immense treat'' Observer Books of the Year''A fast-paced adventure story'' i ''Magical'' Sunday ExpressIn uncharted Peru, the holy town of Bedlam stands at the edge of a mysterious forest. Deep within are cinchona trees, whose bark yields the only known treatment for malaria.In 1859, across the Pacific, India is ravaged by the disease. In desperation, the India Office dispatches the injured expeditionary Merrick Tremayne to Bedlam, under orders to return with cinchona cuttings. But there he meets Raphael, an enigmatic priest who is the key to a secret which will prove more valuable than they could ever have imagined.
Trade ReviewThe Peru that Markham and Tremayne encounter is
a sheer fantastical delight. Exploding “whitewood” trees, lamps made of glowing pollen, moving statues and rock formations of pure glass ... What’s more,
she writes elegantly and plots like a pro * The Times *
An immense treat for lovers of both historical fiction and the surreal -- Books of the Year * Observer *
A
fast-paced adventure story with great characters and a message about colonialism * i *
Pulley’s prose is as
delightfully playful and evocative as ever. She paints a hidden world that's every bit as colourful as James Cameron’s Pandora, packed with
vibrant and quirky characters, and fascinating historical detail that never feels forced
**** * SFX Magazine *
Filled with
wondrous images, from moving statues to exploding trees … It rolls along at speed to a
satisfying ending * Scotsman *
A
magical, hugely imaginative novel set in 1859 …
Adventure and mystery abound as his expedition encounters moving statues, exploding trees, volcanic glass, floating cities and protective Incas * Sunday Express *
Impossible to put down * San Francisco Book Review *
Natasha Pulley had
a lot to live up to after the runaway success of her debut novel,
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. But she’s managed to do just that with
The Bedlam Stacks * Herald *
This
terrific historical adventure draws on the same world of
magic and intrigue as Pulley’s bestselling
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street …
Brilliantly imaginative * Saga ‘Poolside page-turners’ *
Part adventure story, part meditation, and all
richly imagined dreamscape ... Pulley’s story
reaches across the years and miles to reflect on the nature of time, myth, magic, and above all, what makes us most human …
Magical on the outside and inside * Chicago Review of Books *
Immensely readable ... The story’s
rich detail provides the reader a clear experience of 1850s Peru while imparting believability to its magic and imaginative elements. Its
exciting style, humour and uniqueness are nothing short of charming. Enthusiastically
recommended * Historical Novel Society *
