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Little People

Jane Sullivan

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Description

In 1870 the celebrated midget General Tom Thumb and his troupe are touring Australia. While in Melbourne, Tom Thumb is rescued from the Yarra River by an impoverished governess, Mary Ann. She is hired by the troupe, but soon realises that relationships between the little people and their entourage are far from harmonious. When it becomes clear to everyone that Mary Ann is pregnant, Tom Thumb and his wife hatch a plan that appears to provide her child with a secure future. Others among the touring performers are less happy with these developments, however, and Mary Ann starts to wonder just whom she can trust. As the pregnancy proceeds, Mary Ann's life and that of her child seem increasingly in danger. This gripping historical novel is full of strange showbiz folk and has all the colour and flair of the circus, complete with sideshows starring the little people themselves. Reminiscent of the fantastical tales of Angela Carter and early Peter Carey, and of Sara Gruen's bestselling Water for Elephants, Little People will charm and beguile you.

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MishF rated this book

This book is set in the late 1800. Mary-Ann, a governess, is hiding a secret from her past and can’t see a way out of her dilemma. She is depressed and suicidal. One day Mary-ann is walking along side the Yarra River contemplating her future when sees this small figure in the waters struggling to say afloat. She rescues this tiny person thinking that it is a child but only to discover it is the famous General Tom Thumb whose Troupe of Little People is touring Australia. The General and his troupes are extremely grateful to Mary-Ann; they are welcoming and friendly and offer her a deal that will secure her financially, an offer she simply can’t refuse. But as the story progresses Mary-Ann soon discovers there is deceit and jealously among the troupe’s, and she is starting to doubt their true intention and fearing for her safety.

This turned out to be a mystery novel that was quite unexpected. I had no idea it was going to pan out the way it did. It was unique, engrossing and all the while it kept me guessing. What scheme are they up to? Who wants to harm Mary-Ann?

The structure of the book was very clever. Mary-Ann was the main narrator throughout the book but occasionally the author would add these chapters called Sideshows, which is the point of view of the Little People. These Sideshows delve into their past, present and private thoughts of the Little People, so you get a better insight into their personality. Great character development but General Tom Thumb’s ramblings about electricity and magnetic force did confuse me somewhat. I felt he was rather delusional and perhaps a troubled mind. I wonder if he was like this in real life or if it was the author perspective on him from her research.

All in all it was a thoroughly entertaining book, comical in parts, and I was glued to the pages towards the end as the mystery unfolds….riveting.

whYAnot likes this