The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock

Posted on 22 September 2018 by Imogen Hermes Gowar

This voyage is special It will change everything One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step He has sold Jonah s ship for what appears to be a mermaid.As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock s marvel Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on and a courtesan of great accomplishment This chance meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, a journey on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost What will be the cost of their ambitions And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess In this spell binding story of curiosity and obsession, Imogen Hermes Gowar has created an unforgettable jewel of a novel, filled to the brim with intelligence, heart and wit. Read The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock By Imogen Hermes Gowar – kino-fada.fr Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend A coquettish gallivant through 1780 s London, where a man s life is upended by the gift of an infant mermaid s corpse, and a courtesan frets over ...In this historical novel, Jonah Hancock, a widowed merchant, comes into possession of a dead mermaid While trying to find a way to make money of this, he crosses paths with Angelica Neal, a courtesan whose protector has unexpectedly died.My thoughts on this are very complicated I don t think I have been this unsure how to rate a book this year yet Therefore, here are my thoughts, first in list form and thenelaborate Pros mesmerizing language wonderful description immersive setting In this historical novel, Jonah Hancock, a widowed merchant, comes into possession of a dead mermaid While trying to find a way to make money of this, he crosses paths with Angelica Neal, a courtesan whose protector has unexpectedly died.My thoughts on this are very complicated I don t think I have been this unsure how to rate a book this year yet Therefore, here are my thoughts, first in list form and thenelaborate Pros mesmerizing language wonderful description immersive setting unpredictable plotCons glacial pacing characters meandering plot.This is one of the most beautifully written books I have read this year Imogen Hermes Gowar has a brilliant way with words and I love how immersive her setting is I could picture every single thing she describes, from the shipyards, to the brothels, to the houses of the rich and the houses of the merchants, to the parks and alleys The dresses and the way people looked came ...What a surprise What a discovery The novel is truly amazing regarding the plot and the language I felt like I was reading a book written in the 18th century The period details, tea bowls and coffee shops among others, are...This debut atmospheric historical fiction by Imogen Hermes Gowar is an enthralling tale set in 18th century London, where much is in flux with the world irrevocably changing culturally and so much that is new is being introduced to society such as the tantalising strange foods It should be made clear the fantasy element suggested by the mermaid in the title stays in the background until the latter stages of the story It is 1785, and John Hancock, merchant, frets over the possible loss of one o This debut atmospheric historical fiction by Imogen Hermes Gowar is an enthralling tale set in 18th century London, where much is in flux with the world...I insist you all read Imogen Hermes Gowar s fabulous debut The Mermaid Mrs Hancock a historical romp with wonderful characters, saucy shenanigans, dark glimmering corners of 1700 s society and possibly a mermaid or two An utter treat I need say no .This was my pick for the September 2018 Book of the Month box DNF Page 149 496Its appearance is unbeautiful It is not what people expect of a mermaidFriends, life is just too short to read books that feel like a chore On top of racist comments, use of slurs for Romani people, questionable antisemitic speech, slut shaming, and other gross things because of historical accuracy Miss me with all that, please And the last chapter I finished 14 literally had a questionable orgy going This was my pick for the Septembe...What a wonderful, whimsical book I admit I found this novel very daunting because of its size and because of its plot which has to do with mermaids and is in addition historical fiction For that reason, I was hesitant to pick it up, and I let it stay put on my bookshelves for several weeks One day, however, I decided it was time to read it, and from the very first chapters I knew that this was not at all the daunting story I was expecting Instead, it started out with the most intriguing plot What a wonderful, whimsical book I admit I found this novel very daunting because of its size and because of its plot which has to do with mermaids and is in addition historical fiction For that reason, I was hesitant to pick it up, and I let it stay put on my bookshelves for several weeks One day, however, I decided it was time to read it, and from the very first chapters I knew that this was not at all the daunting story I was expecting Instead, it started out with the most intriguing plot, written in a perfectly accessible language, that had me want to keep going and not put down this novel The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is about Mr Hancock who is one day told by one of his hired captains, that the captain has sold his ship in trade for a mermaid What is one to do with a mermaid That is was Mr Hancock sets out to find out Meanwhile, we follow Angelica who works in a whorehouse and has no scrupples when it c...Keeping in mind the name of the book, this is the rough experience of me reading it10% hm, super curious No mermaid, no Mrs Hancock What is to come of this 20% yes The mermaid Still no Mrs Hancock though But there are other interesting things going on, so no matter 50% o.kay Back to square one But I m attached to the characters by now There s still half the book WHY is it called that though75%it seems everything is settled At least we ve got Mrs Hancock noKeeping in mind the name of the book, this is the rough experience of me reading it10% hm, super curious No mermaid, no Mrs Hancock What is to come of this 20% yes The mermaid Still no Mrs Hancock though But there are other interesting things going on, so no matter 50% o.kay Back to square one But I m attached to the characters by now There s ...4 lyrical stars to The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock In 1780s London, Jonah Hancock is a merchant and owns a ship A captain knocks on his door urgently with the news he s sold Hancock s ship in return for a mermaid Word of the mermaid spreads quickly like sensational things do, and everyone wants to lay eyes on the sight This mermaid is the key to Hancock climbing into high society, and that he does, with speed.It is at a most prestigious party that Hancock meets the alluring Angelica 4 lyrical stars to The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock In 1780s London, Jonah Hancock is a merchant and owns a ship A captain knocks on his door urgently with the news he s sold Hancock s ship in return for a mermaid Word of the mermaid spreads quickly like sensational things do, and everyone wants to lay eyes on the sight This mermaid is the key to Hancock climbing into high society, and that he does, with speed.It is at a most prestigious party that Hancock meets the alluring Angelica Neal Two ambitious minds have now collided, and their futures are full of intrigue The ...I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,I think I was expectingfrom this than delivered and I don t think that s entirely the books fault I was expecting magical realism, fantasy and mermaids based on the blurb What I got was a well written historical romance novel, steeped in descriptive prose that felt a little flat to me.The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock follows a humble merchant and his love for a courtesan, whom he meets after a chance encounter with a mermaid.Jo I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,I think I was expectingfrom this than delivered and I don t think that s entirely the books fault I was expecting magical realism, fantasy and mermaids based on the blurb What I got was a well written historical romance novel, steeped in descriptive prose that felt a little flat to me.The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock follows a humble merchant and his love for a courtesan, whom he meets after a chance encounter with a mermaid.Jonah was a little dull in characte...

English
22 September 2018

Imogen Hermes Gowar