This Book Will Scare the Dickens Out of You
Drood by Dan Simmons imagines literary giant, Charles Dickens and his protégé, Wilkie Collins, locked in a murderous game of cat and mouse over a shared obession with a mysterious, ghoulish figure named Drood (the fictionalized inspiration for Dickens real-life unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood).
I read thi
s book at the beach on a brilliant summer's day – and felt every hair on my neck rise.
Ghosts and demons scrabble at the doors of haunted Victorian houses while Dickens and Collins chase Drood through London's catacombs. Dicken's fierce intelligence and creative genius often leave Collins, our less-than-humble narrator, seething in the shadows – with deadly results.
Collins, author of The Moonstone and The Woman in White, hears a bump in the night:
"The noise, obvious to me now as a silk dress rustling, descended the dark stairway from the attic above. I could hear the careful placement of small bare feet in the darkness there . . . her eyes were solid pools of black ink that glistened moistly in the lamplight."
I should mention that Collins spent much of his life seriously stoned. His poison of choice was laudanum – liquid opium. In fact, historians marvel at how much he drank – enough to kill a horse.
As Halloween draws near, curl up on a dark night with this book. Light the lamps. Make sure all your doors are securely locked – especially the attic.
4 thoughts on “This Book Will Scare the Dickens Out of You”
Can’t wait to read Drood! Thanks.
I personally can not stand this idea of using characters from literature, or for that matter actual historical figures as sleuths or in some cases living dead, vampires etc It seems to me a lack of any real creativity on the part of the author. I do not want to see Mr Darcy and Jane, as vampire hunters, let’s just leave it to Van Helsing. If you would like a scary and original read, try “Little Stranger” by Sarah Waters. A truly memorable horror story.
I think Drood sounds great. I’m going to check it out. Thanks, Viveca!
Cary, I’ve been hearing about Sarah Waters. I’ll try Little Stranger as well. Sounds interesting.
@Cary @Elmslie – you would be pleasantly surprised with the depiction of both Dickens and Collins – this is no vampire-zombie mash-up. The historical accuracy and respect for the Victorian novel and its creators is truly remarkable. Wilkie’s ability to ‘see’ others that may or may not have exist is chillingly recounted by his biographers. Dicken’s final days of his public readings is nearly heartbreaking.
And yes, Sarah Waters is wonderful! Agreed.