Heaven: 2022 May Book Group The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower

SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
edited August 2022 in Limbo
May's book group pick is The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower.
I came across this when a friend of a friend sent me a list of Caribbean authors she thought I might like. Gower isn't from the Caribbean and the book isn't set there, but she mentioned she'd just read it and liked it. The title intrigued me, so I decided to give it a go. I found it a really enjoyable read, mostly a historical romp, with a big dose of magic realism thrown in.
Questions as usual on or around the 20th.

Comments

  • MiliMili Shipmate
    I borrowed a copy from my library. Not a book I would usually read, but it's good to try new books recommended by others
  • HelixHelix Shipmate
    My copy is waiting for collection at the library!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Mili wrote: »
    I borrowed a copy from my library. Not a book I would usually read, but it's good to try new books recommended by others

    This is what I really like about this book group, I get to read things I would never have read otherwise.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Not many takers so far. I wonder if this article about fake mermaids might pique some interest in reading the book.
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    This sounds very much like my kind of book so if I can get hold of a copy in time I'll join in.
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I do have a copy, and as it's a long weekend here this is one of the books I'm taking to the cabin with me, so even if we're a small group for discussion, I'll be joining in!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    That's good @trudy. It is a book I think you'll like and a book that rattles along at a good pace, so ideal 'holiday' reading.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Belatedly some discussion questions. I've kept them general and not too many so if you haven't read the book you might be tempted to give it a go or at least chip in with why you didn't fancy it.

    This is a historical novel with a strong magic realist thread. Were you convinced with the historical setting and did the 'magic' bit convince you?

    There are some very strong characters in this, and not all get a happy ending. Was there anyone's story you wanted to hear more of or maybe less?

    If you did read it is this is it the sort of book you would usually pick up and did you enjoy it. If you decided not to seek it out, any particular reason?

    Anything else you'd like to discuss?

  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Finished it yesterday; absolutely loved it; will post more tonight when I have reliable wifi (at our cabin right now where the connection is sketchy at best).
  • MiliMili Shipmate


    This is a historical novel with a strong magic realist thread. Were you convinced with the historical setting and did the 'magic' bit convince you?

    I was mostly convinced with the historical setting, but found the author's use of little know historical terms for some objects and women's body parts a bit distracting. I could see lots of influences from books from the late 18th and 19th centuries.

    The magic part was interesting, but came much later in the book than I expected. The mermaid reminded me of Dracula in the way it affected people around it, even though its motives were very different.

    There are some very strong characters in this, and not all get a happy ending. Was there anyone's story you wanted to hear more of or maybe less?

    I wanted to know what happened to Polly. When we last saw her for sure she seemed to be in dire straits and planning on seeking out Simeon's friends for help. Mrs. Chappell seems to see her looking prosperous, while she is being punished, but this is not confirmed. I wanted to know more about what happened to Polly and the events leading up to Mrs. Chappell's trial. Mrs. Chappell was a horrible woman, but I found the description of her punishment and attack by the community really disturbing. There was definitely a double standard over women who worked in sex work or enslaved other women as compared to how the men that abused young girls were viewed at the time. I also felt the scenes in the brothel were more graphic than they needed to be, and found them disturbing considering they involved girls who were only 14 or so. I don't think they were necessary to the story.

    If you did read it is this is it the sort of book you would usually pick up and did you enjoy it. If you decided not to seek it out, any particular reason?

    It was not the kind of book I would usually read, but I enjoyed most of it. However I wouldn't choose to read another book by the same author.



  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Sarasa wrote: »

    This is a historical novel with a strong magic realist thread. Were you convinced with the historical setting and did the 'magic' bit convince you?

    I thought the historical setting was extremely well done. Historical fiction is the genre I read most and also what I write, so I am always impressed with a writer who is able to really immerse us in the details of another place and time, and I thought this one was exceptional.

    I thought the magical bit was well done too. I liked the way that the second mermaid was not something that could be displayed and examined like the first, something that was hard to look at or define, but that spread that miasma of sorrow and despair to everyone. That felt very convincing within the world of the story.

    There are some very strong characters in this, and not all get a happy ending. Was there anyone's story you wanted to hear more of or maybe less?

    I wanted more of everyone's story! I did feel there was some justice in Mrs. Chappell's ending and yet I did feel sorry for her. Definitely wanted to see how Polly's story ended. I wondered if once people were removed from the mermaid's presence, did the atmosphere of gloom also leave them? Mr. and Mrs. Hancock certainly seem to be doing better by the end of the story -- I hope they will be OK as I liked them both very much despite their flaws -- but I mostly wanted to be sure Sukie would be OK as she was my favourite, and she still seemed to be a bit subdued by the mermaid's influence the last time we see her in the book. Also I hoped that the captain who captured the mermaid, who just wanted to retire at home and enjoy his wife and family, would be free of that terrible feeling of despair once he had delivered her to Mr. Hancock, and could get back to enjoying his life.

    I think the mermaid should go swim into Eliza Frost's bathtub, or better yet, George's. Those are the two characters I genuinely wouldn't mind seeing as permanently unhappy.

  • HelixHelix Shipmate
    This is a historical novel with a strong magic realist thread. Were you convinced with the historical setting and did the 'magic' bit convince you?

    I don't know enough about those times to know about the historical setting but I loved the descriptions of London having lived there for a few years- the concept of Marylebone being a good way off - whereas now you can get from where Mr Hancock lived to Marylebone in less than 1hr (I think) and moreso, it is heavily built up. This made me curious to know more about the London in days gone by.

    The "magic" bit was so innocuously introduced that it seemed perfectly plausible.

    There are some very strong characters in this, and not all get a happy ending. Was there anyone's story you wanted to hear more of or maybe less?

    Yes ... I would have loved to know more about Mr and Mrs Hancock's happily ever after. Did they ever have children? How did Mrs Hancock fare in society?

    I, too, would have loved to know more about Polly and what happened in the interim. As it didn't look good initially, not least that she was clearly of immigrant descent.

    And finally, I would have liked to have heard more about the poor captain and his crew, and their fate was not clear to me.

    If you did read it is this is it the sort of book you would usually pick up and did you enjoy it. If you decided not to seek it out, any particular reason?

    The title put me off! I picked it up with great cynicism at how things would play out between a man and a mermaid, but I was quickly drawn in, and thoroughly enjoyed it and might try another one by IHG.


    Thanks for the questions and the suggestion of the book!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Thank you @Mili , @Trudy and @Helix for your thoughts. It's a shame not more people picked the book up this month but I'm glad you all mostly enjoyed it.

    This is a historical novel with a strong magic realist thread. Were you convinced with the historical setting and did the 'magic' bit convince you?
    I really liked the small details in the story that made it feel convincing , cutting out dresses using Wesley's sermon sheets as the pattern for instance. I also thought the way that all the women were very much at the mercy of men to make their way in the world was pretty much as it would have been. I also found the settings interesting. I'm a Londoner so I know of all the areas mentioned, even if I don't know all of them well. I went on a walk of historic Deptford with a friend just before the first lockdown and I could imagine exactly where Mr Hancock's house was. Many of the streets still look pretty much as they would have then. I also know Blackheath, so I could clearly imagine their house at the end. I did wonder if we were going to get a 'real' mermaid as she/he/it took some time to arrive. I thought it was a very well imagined idea, and I was pleased that Mrs Hancock had the strength to get rid of it.


    There are some very strong characters in this, and not all get a happy ending. Was there anyone's story you wanted to hear more of or maybe less?
    I was quite shocked by Mrs Gower's end. I thought she'd manage to wiggle her way out of trouble. I didn't like reading the bit where she was lynched so I missed the reference to Polly. I imagined Polly as looking like Dido Belle and I wanted chapter and verse that she was OK at the end.
    I really liked both the Hancock's and was genuinely moved by Mr Hancock's imaginings of his son who had died at birth. I really wanted to be told that they had a long and happy life, lots of children and lots of lovely parties.
    I'd be quite happy if horrid things happened to the young men at the party that caused Polly to flee.

    If you did read it is this is it the sort of book you would usually pick up and did you enjoy it. If you decided not to seek it out, any particular reason?
    I quite like magic realism and I did think that it was very well done in this book. As I said I only read it as a friend of a friend said she'd enjoyed it. I ought to go back and try some of her other suggestions.

    Anything else you'd like to discuss?
  • LibsLibs Shipmate
    edited May 2022
    This is a historical novel with a strong magic realist thread. Were you convinced with the historical setting and did the 'magic' bit convince you? The eighteenth century is not really my period, though I don know some of the literature – and, funnily enough, I’d just finished reading another book (Blood and Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson) set only 4 years earlier and also in Deptford but, yes, I was absolutely convinced. The magic? Mercifully sparse, and yes, also convincing and well-managed. After all, the first mermaid is very plausible and the second is psychologically convincing and also, I think, true on some kind of mythical/symbolic level - not entirely unlike Piranesi in that respect, perhaps?


    There are some very strong characters in this, and not all get a happy ending. Was there anyone's story you wanted to hear more of or maybe less? I would have liked a bit more of Polly’s fate but maybe there’s a sequel in there somewhere. I assume she was the street girl Hancock gave a shilling to? Mrs Chappell’s end is very convincing – and though (perhaps?) harsher than even she deserved – it fits very well. A good reminder of how brutal the times worry. Too much to hope that darling George would get his come-uppance, I suppose, and I would have liked to hear more of the footman who tried to help Polly, but I suppose the fact that he knows what he knows is enough.


    If you did read it is this is it the sort of book you would usually pick up and did you enjoy it. If you decided not to seek it out, any particular reason? I have a pretty low tolerance for magic realism – I’ll read Angela Carter, for example, but won’t go out of my way to do so. (Fantasy is different, I can stomach fantasy, as long as it’s good. The blurb for this book really put me off, but for the sake of the Ship, I had a look at it in the library and knew I was in safe hands from page 1.

    Anything else you'd like to discuss? I love the way Angelica’s character is developed and the way the relationship between her and Hancock is made plausible. I think at the end, you understand why she is the one person to have the intelligence and strength of character to see what has to be done and to do it. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this book, I would almost certainly have missed it otherwise.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Thanks @Libs . I really like the way the Ship’s book group points me towards things I wouldn’t otherwise read.
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