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DOMINO
by Ross King
Walker & Co., November 2002
436 pages
$26.00
ISBN: 0802733786


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

It's 1812 and aging artist George Cautley is telling the story of his youth in decadent 1770s London to an enthralled young man. As an impressionable youth, George has left his little village at the age of 17, carrying everything he owns, to make his way as an artist in London. Domino is the story of what follows - his introduction to society, the mysterious and tragic figure of the castrato singer Tristano, the renowned artist Sir Endymion Starker and his fateful meeting with the beautiful Lady Petronella Beauclair.

The detail in this book is exceptional. Life in London in the late 18th century for this flamboyant and rather bizarre cast of characters is depicted with a fine brush. There are many fascinating facts and humorous snippets about life at that time. Unfortunately, sometimes the detail is overwhelming, and the frequent asides about art, opera, and philosophy detract from the plot and make the going slow at times. For this reader, the book was overly long and complicated and I found the book quite a struggle sometimes, despite the fact that I was interested in finding out what had happened to George.

The language is rich and flowery, and gave a great feel for an era when fashions and foibles were over the top and exaggerated, when secrets were buried deep, and when masked balls were a cover for a multitude of sins. The masks of the characters in this book were both literal and figurative. Footpads and fops, demi-monde and ne'er-do-wells - George Cautley's London is peopled with strange and memorable characters - most of whom are putting on a masquerade for the world.

Domino is a literary mystery with lots of twists and turns. Stories are layered on top of each other as lives and loves intertwine.

Reviewed by Donna Moore, March 2003

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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