The Lambs of London
by: Peter Ackroyd
Published by: Anchor Books
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Reviewed by Ernest Dempsey
In the enthralling (literary fiction) historical novel, The Lambs of London, scribed by renowned British novelist and biographer Peter Ackroyd, the author hooks his readers on the discovery of a new dramatic script that might have been William Shakespeare’s unknown literary treasure.
Set in London of the Romantic Period (late eighteenth/early nineteenth century), the novel gives a fictitious account of how Charles and Mary Lamb make acquaintance with a young bookseller who claims to have found Shakespeare’s yet unknown work. The enthusiasm and skepticism that follow make this story a captivating read.
The author tells you upfront that the situations are purely fictitious. The real historical figures like the Lambs, Thomas de Quincey, and R.B. Sheridan only support the ambience of the literary environment of London at the time of the novel’s events. However, the incorporation of these characters provides solid grounds for performing this literary march in which the name of Shakespeare leads the lives of its followers.
As the plot unfolds through the forays of William Ireland into Shakespeare’s world, readers get a chance to take a close look at London life that is blanketed by ennui and unanimity at large. For the middle-class literary figures and businessmen dealing in books, Shakespeare’s name signifies a boom that would shake people out of their dormancy. Whether it is turns out to their good or ruin is the point illustrated so cogently in the book’s ending.
Peter Ackroyd proves to be skilled at ”˜showing’ instead of ”˜telling’ about a historical situation. As manifest in The Lambs of London, he shows how history can be created and made credible. However, the title of his novel calls critical thought to questioning of its relevance. William Ireland remains the dominant character in the story and precedes the Lambs in both attention and character development. The book’s ending, though, makes it a story of the Lambs for a moment.
Armchair Interviews says: Ackroyd’s novel is definitely a memorable creation for lovers of literary fiction.
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