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William Horwood is the author of the Duncton Chronicles, books that have charmed a large slice of readers over time but who is Helen Rappaport? She is an historian, formerly an actor, but having met Horwood, decided to embark on a joint project, the writing of DARK HEARTS OF CHICAGO. The novel is set in 1893 Chicago, home of the Chicago World's Fair, beginning towards the end of that landmark event. The body of a girl of approximately 20 is found in the noxious Bubbly Creek, resting place of much of Chicago's chemical pollution, as well as organic contamination. To the horror of the onlookers, the body is warm – and still not dead. She is packed off to an asylum, the management of which is soon to be passed from a somewhat indolent physician to a younger, very ambitious man, Dr Eels. The reader soon learns that the victim is New York resident, Anna Zemeckis, a Latvian librarian, who had been permitted to stay with relatives in Chicago, but something mysterious happened to her and she disappeared. Her father, Janis, is distraught when told his daughter is dead, a victim of a street car accident, and he writes to Joseph Pulitzer, proprietor of the New York World newspaper, asking him to publish a warning to other parents never to let their daughters visit Chicago. Emily Strauss has worked 12 months on the Pittsburgh Echo and sees herself as a seasoned journalist (I wonder what she would think of modern day journalism courses!) She beards Pulitzer in his house, forcing him to listen to her plea for a job, and is told she should, from a pile of Pulitzer's mail, decide on a story and write it within nine days. The letter Emily rescues from the pile is from Janis and Emily is to pen a story about young girls disappearing in Chicago. The reader must display a certain amount of bravery in order to pick up this hefty work and invest hard-earned money and the prospect of more than a single night's reading into a debut cooperative venture. Be reassured, the novel well repays the investment. Although it must be admitted that at times the story is hard going, on the whole it is entirely engrossing. There are plenty of perils to face Pauline – I mean both Anna and Emily – and the Chicago of the late 19th century is portrayed vividly, from the social to the anti-social, the milieu of fashionable ladies to the dark side of pornography, prostitution and political machinations. To add an even darker icing to the confection, possible abuses of the psychologically disadvantaged and poverty-stricken are dangled before the reader. While some of the book may seem to carry overtones of Charles Dickens, it must be borne in mind that that author was writing on a contemporary scene while this duo are recreating the past. As such, it is a creditable effort and any shortcomings may be perceived as roughness due to the novelty of the authors' collaboration. The writers incorporate historical figures, such as Pulitzer and a Chicago identity known as Mr Crazy, one Isaiah Steele, a man who makes a generous contribution to the girls' wellbeing. Apparently this book is the first of a series. If its successors achieve the same professionalism, it will be a series well worth reading.
Reviewed by Denise Pickles, June 2007
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