The Theatre of Marvels set in London by Lianne Dillsworth

Submitted: 14th March 2022

Bookreview of The Theatre of Marvels

Welcome to the world of the circus spectacular! In fact this is the kind of the circus that definitely belongs in the Victorian era where the book is set as it’s a circus of the freak show kind. People bought and sold as displays in a rich master’s game.

This is a very evocative and colourful read. Sit back and enjoy the show!

BookTrail locations in The Theatre of Marvels

Boarding Pass Information :

Destination : The world of theatre in London

Author guide: Liane Dillsworth

Genre: Historical fiction

Food and drink to accompany: A cocktail with nibbles in fancy dishes

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BookTrail locations in The Theatre of Marvels

Welcome to the world of the circus spectacular! How much did I love this novel! A theatrical attraction is drawing in the crowds who want to see something amazing, spectacular and unforgettable. The main character Zillah is herself an attraction but she has been made to fake her uniqueness. She is mixed race which was, in Victorian times at least, unusual. Indeed Zillah in the novel bemoans the fact she is somewhat strange to be starred at. Of course, she is dressing up most nights as The Great Amazonian beauty to startle and shock the men with her beauty and exotic appearance. The irony of this of course is that she lives just down the road in St Giles, the poorest part of London at the time.

The greed and sense of superiority that the men in the book feel is off the scale. They have money, power and control so they can buy who and what they want to star in their shows. They are here to make money, to control the crowds and shock them with the next big thing, the act that will make them the talk of the town.

BookTrail locations in The Theatre of Marvels

When the leopard lady suddenly arrives in the show, Zillah is curious and wants to know more about her. She realizes she is scared and that she is desperate to protect someone. The men mean to place her in their show of Oddities which takes place in a hidden cellar somewhere in London. If Zillah gets too close however, her own life will be in danger.

There is so much going on behind the scenes here and you feel the exactment as you would when you are at a real theatre show and see the curtains twitch, the lights come down and the music start. As theatrical though it is, this novel deals with some very dark issues such as race, women in society, power and identity.

Wondefully theatrical, scene setting and powerful. Bravo. Encore!