Cast not a clout redivivus

[flemmings]

Nice November day out there, with creamy blossoms standing in for snow flurries. But on nice November days one shouldn't walk to the store in sandals and socks unless the sun is shining, and especially not when rain is forecast. But I did and it did so now I'm changed into jammies and bedsocks.

The Infidel Stain is indeed lots of fun, even if Carter uses 'begs the question' in a way no 1840s Englishman would. I don't know why, unless it's the American publisher who also changed the spelling. Shall read the next one; am not a fan of India so not likely to read the first. Mind, I'm not a fan of 1840s London either, but still. Will not spoil myself by googling Chartist to discover how the movement eventually ended. Badly, I assume.

Comments

[lebateleur]

I found The Strangler Vine to be a far stronger novel than The Infidel Stain, which is a history text presented as dialogue. The former has description and action, and is not so much set in India as in English spaces that happen to be located in India, which to me at least is not the same thing.

Having said that, The Devil's Feast is a leap above either of its predecessors, so definitely do go on to read that one even if you don't pick up the first.

[flemmings]

It's a very confusing history text if so, but I've forgotten anything I ever learned about the period (hmm- grade 12, so yeah, fifty years ago.) I assumed from the thuggee stuff that The Strangler Vine would be like The Moonstone only, yanno, set in India. If not, then good. But The Devil's Feast is on order, so I'll read that next.