Drood
A Novel
by Dan Simmons
Simon Prebble, Narrator
Drood is not about Charles Dickens. It is the laudanum-laced ramblings (fictional) of
Dickens' friend and protégé, Wilkie Collins. The story revolves around a mystical underworld
character called Drood who embodies evil through the practice of ancient Egyptian rites and
mesmerism (hypnotism). It is up to you to decide whether Drood is one long dream, a conspiracy
between Dickens and the Other Wilkie to cripple Collins mentally, an actual criminal threat or
some combination. The five years following Dickens' narrow brush with death in a train accident
serve as a structure for Collins' narrative, tying it back to reality. Collins was a popular
writer in his day, at times more popular than Dickens. He wrote the first modern English detective
novel, The Moonstone, and Dickens, the self-named "Inimitable", turned imitator in the
last year of his life as revealed by his unfinished work,
The Mystery of
Edmund Drood.
Mesmerism is central to the plot in Drood and that is exactly what Simon Prebble
does—he mesmerizes you. I am always enchanted by his interpretation of women, and in
Drood the most visceral is the stuttering serving-girl, Agnes. I can see her tear-streaked,
doughy face, slightly crossed eyes and confused features when Collins is leading her toward the
staircase and her "new opportunity". The most dramatic male interpretation comes near the end when
Collins is addressing the reader directly. The ache is apparent as Collins reveals his own worst
fear, "I started this memoir years ago with the hopeful dream that you knew me and—much more
importantly—that you knew my work, had read my books, had seen my plays. But no, Reader there
in the indifferent future, I know now that you have never read
The Woman in
White or even
The Moonstone, much less my
Man and Wife or . . . " The disillusionment weighs heavier and heavier through a
frantic recitation of now nearly forgotten works. The crescendo of anger and frustration rises
into a tortured, "To Hell with you!" and letting you know exactly where you can put Dickens and
Drood. It was absolutely mortifying.
I bought The Moonstone the next day. |
The Book |
Hachette Audio |
February 9, 2009 |
Abridged Audiobook, 9 CDs, 10.5 HRs |
1600244637 / 978-1600244636 |
Historical Mystery (1865-1870), Psychological Thriller |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: Annual celebration of Christmas mentioned |
The Reviewer |
Beth E. McKenzie |
Reviewed 2009 |
NOTE: |
|