That is one of the reasons the book was such a joy to read. The author has got the characters spot on. Thomas, being the unbelieving sceptic who would risk everything to his sister Ester, right down to young Henry, the author had them nailed to a tee.

The Leviathan - Rosie Andrews - Google Books The Leviathan - Rosie Andrews - Google Books

What is it about Norfolk in this period in history which made it the perfect setting for The Leviathan? This is a fascinating and readable novel set mainly in Norfolk between 1628 (the year Oliver Cromwell entered Parliament) and 1703 (one year into Queen Anne's reign) with most of the narrative set in 1644, in the middle of the English Civil War. Its fractured timeline is deftly handled so as to gradually reveal the gothic storyline without losing the plot's momentum. selectedStore.City }}, {{ selectedStore.State }} {{ selectedStore.Country }} {{ selectedStore.Zip }} I love the past for its own sake, but we’re also living through some of the most chaotic political and social times we might remember, and you can’t help but think about those resonances. One of the things they were thinking about in the 17th century was this question of political sovereignty – who gets to rule whom, and on what basis, and how far do people get to decide their own destiny versus putting it into the hands of a monarchical or democratic structure. If you look at events like Brexit, the coming to power of Trump, the pandemic and the question of individual rights versus our responsibilities to wider society, it’s clear that these questions from the 17th century haven’t been resolved. Brilliantly plotted and blessed with a colorful and unforgettable cast of characters, this marvellous fictional tapestry will grab you from its first chapter and take you on a terrific journey through the very tumultuous waters of mid 17th English chaos.Luring us into its ugliest depths with killer comic timing, the fractured narrative unfolds as a series of vitriolic salvos on sex, race and the internet.

The Leviathan: A beguiling tale of superstition, myth and The Leviathan: A beguiling tale of superstition, myth and

There are also, two wonderful central female characters – and many twists and surprises within this wonderful story which feel all of a piece, not contrived. It’s amazing and terrible. I’m interested in how it changes us. We’re so reptilian. You could just look me up and know everything about me but you’re sitting there pretending that you don’t know anything about me. We all do it, but we don’t talk about it. I’m fascinated by what that distortion does to your brain, when you know too much and have to pretend you don’t. It’s just after Christmas in 1643 and Thomas Treadwater is making his way home. He is injured from battle, the weather, is bitterly cold, and his horse is lame. He worries about home as his sister Esther has written, with concerns about their father’s conduct with a new maid. Unable to go further, Thomas rests for the night, an action he comes to regret. Next day Thomas continues on his way. On the approach to his home he finds all the sheep in the fields around the house are dead. On reaching home he finds his sister upset as their father has suffered a seizure and is unable to communicate. Help has been sent for, but is it too late?Yes, this is historical fiction, and yes, this is also involves the fantastical , the supernatural, alongside a thorough grounding in the thought and culture of its period, but is also very much a book which grapples with concepts in a far deeper way than ‘here’s something to pleasurably and scarily chill your blood on a cold winter’s night’. What it reminded me of, in this, was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, where discussions of ethics are deeply bound up within the story. A novel of witchcraft, supernatural overtones and a man determined to avenge his family, a woman accused of witchcraft. However, what he finds out in the meantime may well break him. Thomas must uncover the mystery of the horrors that unfurl before him, and live with the consequence of his actions.

The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews - 9781526637345 - Dymocks The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews - 9781526637345 - Dymocks

Very naturally. Everyone’s talking how I talk or how the person next to me talks. If I’m writing for myself, people similar to me will understand. Whoever else can tap into it is an extra blessing.I started with Ruth. I always had her; I’d had her in my mind as a character for years and I had [the book taking place] over a much larger span of time, and then the more I thought about it, the more I thought so many decisions come down to one day and those moments that look like ordinary moments. And then I thought, I need another character and I want a teenager. I wanted that idea of different points in our lives. The worst thing is when nothing comes. It’s so defeating and so discouraging. You just have to allow yourself to hear your characters – don’t decide what they’re going to say beforehand, let them tell you what happened to them. Some debut novels are spectacular and in my opinion The Leviathan belongs to this category. The Author set the bar high for herself regarding future books.