Burning Bright

Summary (from the publisher): The author of Girl with a Pearl Earring returns with another engrossing, realistic historical novel, this one set in the final decade of the 18th century. Burning Bright follows Thomas Kellaway and his family as they migrate from rural Dorset to London, where Thomas has found work as a circus carpenter and builder. The novel foregrounds the experiences of Kellaway's son Jem and his pretty sister Maisie as they adjust with varying degrees of success to urban life and the vicissitudes of adulthood. As in her previous novels, Chevalier mixes historical characters and her own creations; among the real people vividly portrayed here are circus pioneer Philip Astley and radical poet/engraver William Blake.

Review: This is the third book I've read by Tracy Chevalier, and while the quality of writing was still great, the plot and characters were less than engrossing. Burning Bright is a historical fiction novel that focuses on the Kellaway family, who travel from their small village and venture to London. Thomas Kellaway, the father, gets work with the real historical figure Philip Astley and his circus while his son Jem and daughter Maisie befriend Maggi as well as real historical poet, William Blake.

I really enjoyed the time period of this novel and the image of a smalltown family trying to adjust to the vastly different city life of London. I also really appreciated the interweaving of real historical figures in as side characters. It grounded the story in history and was a neat perspective of real individuals, particularly William Blake, who was not well known in his own life time. Plus I liked the metawriting of continually referencing Blake's poetry and the characters reading and reciting his work.

Perhaps because there was no central character to focus on, I never felt overly attached or compelled by any of the characters in this novel. There's a certain distance between the reader and everyone mentioned. Maisie was particularly irritating in her naive stupidity. I was most empathetic to Maggie, friend of the Kellaways for her difficult home life and rambunctious spirit. In sum, this novel simply lacked the overall appeal or entertaining plot that others by Chevalier have had. Additionally, the ending was unsatisfying.

Stars: 3