What do you think?
Rate this book
The Chase
A house in France, a marriage in pieces, and a past that refuses to be left behind.
Nestling in the dense forest of the Dordogne, a region cloaked in dark history, stands an old house with secrets of its own.
In 1989 Gerald Feldwick buys Le Sanglier, seeking sanctuary. He promises his wife Netty a fresh start in France, far from memories of the harrowing event that fractured their marriage. He assures her they can leave the anguish of the past behind.
But Netty harbours doubts.
And soon, she discovers her instincts are right.
The Chase – the past will hunt you down.
Richly atmospheric, evocative and intriguing, The Chase blends the beauty of the French landscape with a compelling exploration of how invisible threads tie us to the traumas of the past.
Nestling in the dense forest of the Dordogne, a region cloaked in dark history, stands an old house with secrets of its own.
In 1989 Gerald Feldwick buys Le Sanglier, seeking sanctuary. He promises his wife Netty a fresh start in France, far from memories of the harrowing event that fractured their marriage. He assures her they can leave the anguish of the past behind.
But Netty harbours doubts.
And soon, she discovers her instincts are right.
The Chase – the past will hunt you down.
Richly atmospheric, evocative and intriguing, The Chase blends the beauty of the French landscape with a compelling exploration of how invisible threads tie us to the traumas of the past.
- GenresFiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 1999
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Lorna Fergusson
6 books58 followersLorna Fergusson is an award-winning short story writer and novelist. Founder of Fictionfire Literary Consultancy, she is an experienced editor, speaker and writing coach, and has taught on various Oxford University writing programmes for over twenty years. She originally published her novel 'The Chase' via Bloomsbury, before republishing it through Fictionfire Press. Her latest book is 'One Morning in Provence', a collection of short stories set in France. She has won an Ian St James Award and the Historical Novel Society’s Short Story Award, as well as being shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, Pan Macmillan’s Write Now Prize for children's fiction, the Mogford Prize (twice) and the Historical Novel Society’s First Chapters prize. Her Historical Novel Society award-winning story ‘Salt’, initially published in 'Distant Echoes' by Corazon Books, now appears in 'An Oxford Vengeance'. She is developing one of the Mogford stories into a novel and is currently working on poetry, more short stories and a book on mindset for writers. Born in Scotland, she is married with two sons and lives in Oxford, England. Oh, and she reads a lot, too.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 5, 2017
What lies below cannot be ignored, whether what lurks there is something physical, historical or emotional. In Lorna Fergusson's The Chase, Netty and Gerald Feldwick have fled Oxford, scene of a crushing family tragedy. Gerald sold his share in his business and has bought an ancient place near the village of Malignac (sounds daunting, non?) in the Dorgogne region of France, a bargain-rich magnet for retiring Brits during the downturn in the Euro some years back.
Netty's first view of their new home calls to mind Manderley, so we can expect some unpleasantness. We can also keep in mind that, as with Rebecca, we are looking at a relationship in which the power of the parties is far from equal.
The house is named Le Sanglier, or The Wild Boar, and those critters, of the four and two-legged variety will inform much of the tale. Place, the house and the surroundings, is crucial. Although the action does, on occasion break back to Oxford when Gerald is summoned for diverse reasons, it is this region of France that is the primary setting.
Fergusson's experience as an award-winning short story writer is clearly an asset as she intersperses images and tales of what has taken place before, from early cave artists, to Pan, to Roman invaders, a scene from the hundred years war, some aristocratic goings on in the 18th century, a 19th century tale of love and woe, and a story of the most recent uninvited guests, from 1944. The tempests of earlier times must have seeped into the soil, and left seeds, both physical and spectral, which pursue the 20th century residents.
Lorna Fergusson
Apparitions will indeed appear, but in short enough supply that this cannot really be seen as primarily a ghost story. It is more one in which manifestations of the past make their presence known on occasion, projections, perhaps, of more contemporary emotional states. Are we doomed to follow the same paths as those who came before? Are we prisoners to history?
Although the primary focus is on Netty and Gerald, The Chase features an ensemble cast. Ex-pat Brits, some British visitors and a fair number of locals also. A well-to-do local widow serves as a sort of lady of the manor. There is an artist, a professor, an attractive gentleman of uncertain means, and an earthy farming family with a secret of their own. And many meal-time gatherings. Fergusson seems particularly fond of herding her troops into room-size clumps the better to bounce them off each other. I found the most moving parts, though, to be several intense one-on-ones.
Can Netty ever get past her tragedy, and the guilt which harries her? She does break out from time to time, feels her oats. But it is outside the box for her. Can Gerald face his feelings about it instead of running away? Can these two actually talk to and see each other? There are adult children who play parts on and off stage. The Feldwicks' son visits and is a source of competition between his parents. Netty handles things very badly when her son tells her a large secret. Their daughter remains out of the picture, living in Virginia.
The chase theme reverberates throughout the book, from a cave painter recalling hunts of his time, to battles in the middle ages, to some 20th century pursuits, to an actual present-day hunt. The pressing of classical mythological suits is noted as well. These echo the interpersonal chasing that is going on among Fergusson's contemporary characters, and which appear in art the characters own or create.
The strength of The Chase lies in its heated moments, real and spectral, which are gripping and effective, and the intermission chapters in which tales from the past provide a diverse palette against which Fergusson frames the events of the contemporary story. She offers an interesting portrait of a place and its history, and a vibrant portrait of people trying to come to terms with the problems that hound them.
The author sent me a digital copy of her book in return for an honest review.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
The e-book I read was 169 pages, but the print length of the book (it is available in paperback) is 304 pps
The Chase was first published in hardcover by Bloomsbury in 1999. The author has retrieved publishing rights and is re-publishing it now via FictionFire Press in e-Book and paperback.
The author’s Facebook page
Interview of Fergusson on Richard Hardie’s blog
Fergusson also offers writing workshops in Oxford.
Netty's first view of their new home calls to mind Manderley, so we can expect some unpleasantness. We can also keep in mind that, as with Rebecca, we are looking at a relationship in which the power of the parties is far from equal.
The house is named Le Sanglier, or The Wild Boar, and those critters, of the four and two-legged variety will inform much of the tale. Place, the house and the surroundings, is crucial. Although the action does, on occasion break back to Oxford when Gerald is summoned for diverse reasons, it is this region of France that is the primary setting.
Fergusson's experience as an award-winning short story writer is clearly an asset as she intersperses images and tales of what has taken place before, from early cave artists, to Pan, to Roman invaders, a scene from the hundred years war, some aristocratic goings on in the 18th century, a 19th century tale of love and woe, and a story of the most recent uninvited guests, from 1944. The tempests of earlier times must have seeped into the soil, and left seeds, both physical and spectral, which pursue the 20th century residents.
Lorna Fergusson
Apparitions will indeed appear, but in short enough supply that this cannot really be seen as primarily a ghost story. It is more one in which manifestations of the past make their presence known on occasion, projections, perhaps, of more contemporary emotional states. Are we doomed to follow the same paths as those who came before? Are we prisoners to history?
Although the primary focus is on Netty and Gerald, The Chase features an ensemble cast. Ex-pat Brits, some British visitors and a fair number of locals also. A well-to-do local widow serves as a sort of lady of the manor. There is an artist, a professor, an attractive gentleman of uncertain means, and an earthy farming family with a secret of their own. And many meal-time gatherings. Fergusson seems particularly fond of herding her troops into room-size clumps the better to bounce them off each other. I found the most moving parts, though, to be several intense one-on-ones.
Can Netty ever get past her tragedy, and the guilt which harries her? She does break out from time to time, feels her oats. But it is outside the box for her. Can Gerald face his feelings about it instead of running away? Can these two actually talk to and see each other? There are adult children who play parts on and off stage. The Feldwicks' son visits and is a source of competition between his parents. Netty handles things very badly when her son tells her a large secret. Their daughter remains out of the picture, living in Virginia.
The chase theme reverberates throughout the book, from a cave painter recalling hunts of his time, to battles in the middle ages, to some 20th century pursuits, to an actual present-day hunt. The pressing of classical mythological suits is noted as well. These echo the interpersonal chasing that is going on among Fergusson's contemporary characters, and which appear in art the characters own or create.
The picture was simple: the goddess of love stood in the midst of a forest, each branch on every tree heavy with birds in pairs. Venus’ unbraided golden tresses hung to her knees, gently waving in an unfelt breeze.It can be a struggle, when presenting characters who are not all that appealing, to sustain a reader's interest, but Fergusson manages. Netty, our primary, has suffered, but does not seem able to get past her trauma. Also she has some difficulty allowing others their reactions to the tragedy. She is not a bad sort, but she could do with a bit of sensitivity training. It is not easy to root all that much for her husband either. Gerald is an action-oriented man, who would rather do something than feel something. He decides, she accedes. Combined with his wife's inability to get past her problems, theirs is a marriage that is almost certainly doomed. On the other hand, the depiction of the relationship does have a definite ring of reality to it. One exception there is Netty's complete disinterest in her grandchildren. This struck me as curious.
‘She sees the beautiful youth Adonis. It is a coup de foudre; instantly she loves him, she pursues him, and who can blame her, tied as she is to the dark and sullen Vulcan?’
Netty followed the sidelong glance of the divinity to the next picture, and drank in, as she did, the taut grace of the boy, his freshness, his eagerness, his easy strength and as yet unshaken confidence. The birds had left the branches and were crowding above his head. She could almost hear their voices.
‘The goddess and the mortal meet: how can the mortal resist? Her divine passion ignites him, he is consumed with desire, he forgets the world of men, he thinks only of her.’
The next panel depicted Venus reclining at ease, sated, triumphant, the boy lying in her lap. Her slender fingers coiled in his hair and curled round his white neck and held him there.
‘But alas, even for gods, perfection is hard to preserve. The youth becomes restless. Like all men he finds it hard to live for love alone. He chooses to go hunting, and defies his mistress.
The strength of The Chase lies in its heated moments, real and spectral, which are gripping and effective, and the intermission chapters in which tales from the past provide a diverse palette against which Fergusson frames the events of the contemporary story. She offers an interesting portrait of a place and its history, and a vibrant portrait of people trying to come to terms with the problems that hound them.
The author sent me a digital copy of her book in return for an honest review.
=============================EXTRA STUFF
The e-book I read was 169 pages, but the print length of the book (it is available in paperback) is 304 pps
The Chase was first published in hardcover by Bloomsbury in 1999. The author has retrieved publishing rights and is re-publishing it now via FictionFire Press in e-Book and paperback.
The author’s Facebook page
Interview of Fergusson on Richard Hardie’s blog
Fergusson also offers writing workshops in Oxford.
September 7, 2021
Annette (Netty) and Gerald Feldwick arrived at their new home – La Sanglier, nestled in the woods of the Dordogne in France – and Netty’s heart sank. This was the first she’d seen of it as Gerald had done the buying, assuring Netty it was perfect for their needs. They were escaping Oxford, escaping a tragedy that Netty couldn’t reconcile herself with – her grief a constant. Gerald, pushing, bumbling Gerald, was positive this would be the change they needed to resurrect their marriage. But the old house was not a home, even after the work done on it…
Gerald and Netty met and befriended many French people in the area and while Gerald seemed at ease, Netty was not. The house terrified her and when Gerald returned to England for business, Netty ventured to the house of the Professor at the bottom of the hill. She couldn’t be alone in that old mausoleum. It was while Gerald was away that mistakes were made and the trajectory path of life went off track.
The Chase is a strange, melancholy rambling by Lorna Fergusson and I’m afraid it wasn’t for me. Secrets, lies, deep, dark woods, fetishes – you name it. I need something light after this one.
Gerald and Netty met and befriended many French people in the area and while Gerald seemed at ease, Netty was not. The house terrified her and when Gerald returned to England for business, Netty ventured to the house of the Professor at the bottom of the hill. She couldn’t be alone in that old mausoleum. It was while Gerald was away that mistakes were made and the trajectory path of life went off track.
The Chase is a strange, melancholy rambling by Lorna Fergusson and I’m afraid it wasn’t for me. Secrets, lies, deep, dark woods, fetishes – you name it. I need something light after this one.
January 2, 2019
Totally different to what I had expected, The Chase is beautifully written and yet I know the author writes historical fiction and this was completely different to what I was looking for from her.
The interspersed passages from times past felt random to me, and I was too busy trying to figure out what the deeper meaning was for having them where they were. The very opening already had me confused if not curious, and because it was so short, it was quickly forgotten. The 2nd chapter is what served to pull me into the story. I was intrigued. And I wanted to know who those people were that the character discovered, then it ended, and I was in some other year with a whole different set of characters, the house being the only connection.
I quite expected to get back to that woman discovering her two new neighbors, but the memory of THAT passage also dissolved as I got caught up in Netty's and Gerald's "adventure". Now, I was totally concerned and curious about what was really happening beneath THESE layers of relationships, then bam! I'm reading a passage about someone during ancient Roman times... Had I not continued -- and I was very nearly ready to give up at this point--I would have missed the next intriguing bit of information regarding Gerald and Netty and the discovery of their secret... and then--again, some sort of flashback to the past. It went on like this, and to be honest, it was a little frustrating. I really, really, really wanted to know how this was all connected and my first clue was in the passage from 1944. Unfortunately, by that time, I had begun skimming through the rest of the book. When I got to the end, I read that second chapter again and realized I had not connected the names and characters in chapter 2 to when they appear several chapters later on in the novel. I had no idea they were connected to that mysterious chapter at all until the re-read!
This is the only problem I had with what is otherwise beautiful writing and haunting story, and I can understand why Ms Fergusson wins accolades and competitions. She is very talented and creates a strong sense of place, with good dialogue and well crafted--if not raw and sometimes wholly unsympathetic--characters. I simply wished for a less disjointed reading experience.
The interspersed passages from times past felt random to me, and I was too busy trying to figure out what the deeper meaning was for having them where they were. The very opening already had me confused if not curious, and because it was so short, it was quickly forgotten. The 2nd chapter is what served to pull me into the story. I was intrigued. And I wanted to know who those people were that the character discovered, then it ended, and I was in some other year with a whole different set of characters, the house being the only connection.
I quite expected to get back to that woman discovering her two new neighbors, but the memory of THAT passage also dissolved as I got caught up in Netty's and Gerald's "adventure". Now, I was totally concerned and curious about what was really happening beneath THESE layers of relationships, then bam! I'm reading a passage about someone during ancient Roman times... Had I not continued -- and I was very nearly ready to give up at this point--I would have missed the next intriguing bit of information regarding Gerald and Netty and the discovery of their secret... and then--again, some sort of flashback to the past. It went on like this, and to be honest, it was a little frustrating. I really, really, really wanted to know how this was all connected and my first clue was in the passage from 1944. Unfortunately, by that time, I had begun skimming through the rest of the book. When I got to the end, I read that second chapter again and realized I had not connected the names and characters in chapter 2 to when they appear several chapters later on in the novel. I had no idea they were connected to that mysterious chapter at all until the re-read!
This is the only problem I had with what is otherwise beautiful writing and haunting story, and I can understand why Ms Fergusson wins accolades and competitions. She is very talented and creates a strong sense of place, with good dialogue and well crafted--if not raw and sometimes wholly unsympathetic--characters. I simply wished for a less disjointed reading experience.
July 28, 2013
Since I'm planning a trip to the Dordogne region this summer this book caught my attention. Although it's a novel rather than a travel book I anticipated that it would give me a feel for the area. It did - and I also got so much more as well. The Chase is a story about a marital relationship that is struggling and the shared past that has caused the rift between them. It's also about family, friendships, expectations and ex-pat life with a thread of the supernatural running through it. The ominous presence of the house and its ghostly occupants rattled me in the early chapters of the book - though I still wanted to keep reading to find out why they were there and what secrets the place harboured. I also got caught up in the lives of the living characters and wanted to know how their stories would turn out. Fred, the elderly professor, was one of my favourites and I willed a long lasting friendship with the main character, Netty for him. The novel aroused a mix of emotions in me and left me still thinking about it afterwards - to me that's a sign of a powerful story and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers.
May 12, 2013
A wedge driven between them by a traumatic event in their recent past, married couple Netty and Gerald move from Oxford to the Dordogne in an attempt to escape and heal. Gerald is more convinced of the wisdom of the plan and Netty responds badly to the crumbling pile, Le Sanglier, which they restore more successfully than their marriage.
This is a thrilling book, dark and compelling, and Lorna Fergusson weaves events from history, and pre-history, into the story to make it intense and atmospheric. Not a book for those just looking for a romantic or cosy story about ex-pats.
The characters are well drawn but there is not a 'lead' for whom you root throughout. The lesser characters are not cliched and there is no simplistic solution. It is hard to review this book without spoilers so I will just have to urge you to read it!
This is a thrilling book, dark and compelling, and Lorna Fergusson weaves events from history, and pre-history, into the story to make it intense and atmospheric. Not a book for those just looking for a romantic or cosy story about ex-pats.
The characters are well drawn but there is not a 'lead' for whom you root throughout. The lesser characters are not cliched and there is no simplistic solution. It is hard to review this book without spoilers so I will just have to urge you to read it!
August 12, 2021
I read this book as part of the No Woman Is an Island Boxset.
As was the case with the previous novel, Fergusson is a new author to me, although she is well known, especially for her short stories, and, in fact, this novel had been published by Bloomsbury years ago. That goes some way to explain why, although the structure of the book seemed to alternate between chapters set in different historical periods (from prehistory until WWII), and those telling the chronological story of a couple of Brits expats who move to France (to the Dordogne, the Périgord) trying to leave their tragic past behind, the main story is set in 1989 and at times it gives one pause to think how different things are today from that near past (many of the events and some of the storylines would be completely changed by the simple introduction of a mobile phone or the internet).
This novel will delight readers who love detailed descriptions of places, local culture, and food and drink, especially those who know or are thinking of visiting la Dordogne. Fergusson has a beautiful turn of phrase and manages to seamlessly incorporate some buildings and locations fruit of her imagination into the real landscape of the region, so effectively that I am sure those who have visited will wonder if they have missed some of the attractions as they read the book. Le Sanglier, the house Gerald Feldwick falls in love with and buys, in particular, is a great creation, and as we see the house mostly from (Annette) Netty’s point of view, we get a very strong sense of claustrophobia, of hidden and dark secrets that can blow-up at any minute, and of a malignant force at work, undermining her efforts to settle and forget (although she does not really want to forget, only to remember with less pain).
The author also manages to create a totally plausible community in the area, consisting mostly of expats, but also of some local farmers and even an aristocrat, and their interactions and the complex relationship between them add depth to the novel. Although the newcomers, the Feldwick, might appear ill suited to the area, and we don’t get to know their reasons for the move until the story is quite advanced, the network of relationships established since their arrival has a profound impact on their lives.
This is a novel where the historical aspect is less evident than in the previous two, and it might not appear evident at first, although, eventually, the historical fragments (narrated in the third-person —like the rest of the novel— from the point of view of a big variety of characters from the various eras) fall into place and readers discover what links them to the story. Secrets from the present and the past coalesce and the influence of the region and its past inhabitants on the present come full circle.
The psychological portrayal of the main characters is powerful as well. Although I didn’t particularly warm up to any of them (it’s impossible not to feel for Netty, whose tragic loss and unresolved bereavement make her easy to sympathise with, but her behaviour and prejudices didn’t do much to endear her to me, personally. Gerald is less likeable, especially as we see him, most of the time, from Netty’s perspective, but the fragments narrated from his point of view make him more understandable, if not truly nice or appealing; and we only get to see the rest of character’s from the main protagonists’ perspectives), the fact that they all had positive and negative aspects to their personalities, the way they behaved and reacted to each other and to their plight (sometimes in a selfish way, sometimes irrationally, sometimes totally blinded to the world around them, sometimes obsessed, overbearing, and/or abusive...), gave them humanity and made them more rounded. These were not superheroes or insightful and virtuous individuals, perfect in every way, and although by the end of the story they’ve suffered heartbreak, disappointments, and have been forced to confront their worst fears, this is not a story where, as if by magic, they are totally enlightened and all their problems have disappeared. The ending is left quite open, and although some aspects of the story are resolved (in a brilliant way, in my opinion), others are left to our imagination.
I want to avoid spoilers, but I wanted to include any warnings and extra-comments. The main story-line is likely to upset readers, especially those who have suffered tragic family losses recently, and I know the death of very young characters is a particularly difficult topic for many. There are also some scenes of violence and death of animals (it is not called The Chase for nothing), battles and death of adults as well (in the historical chapters), and an off-the-page rape scene. There are other sex scenes, but these are not very explicit either. There are some elements that might fall into the paranormal category, although other interpretations are also possible. On the other hand, I have mentioned the interest the novel has for people who have visited the Dordogne or would like to visit in the future; readers who are interested in embroidery, mythology, and history of the region will also have a field day; its treatment of bereavement is interesting and compelling; and I think all those elements would make it ideal for book clubs, as there is plenty to discuss and think about.
A complex and beautifully written story that is likely to get everybody siding with one of the main characters, and a great option for those who love to travel without leaving their armchairs.
As was the case with the previous novel, Fergusson is a new author to me, although she is well known, especially for her short stories, and, in fact, this novel had been published by Bloomsbury years ago. That goes some way to explain why, although the structure of the book seemed to alternate between chapters set in different historical periods (from prehistory until WWII), and those telling the chronological story of a couple of Brits expats who move to France (to the Dordogne, the Périgord) trying to leave their tragic past behind, the main story is set in 1989 and at times it gives one pause to think how different things are today from that near past (many of the events and some of the storylines would be completely changed by the simple introduction of a mobile phone or the internet).
This novel will delight readers who love detailed descriptions of places, local culture, and food and drink, especially those who know or are thinking of visiting la Dordogne. Fergusson has a beautiful turn of phrase and manages to seamlessly incorporate some buildings and locations fruit of her imagination into the real landscape of the region, so effectively that I am sure those who have visited will wonder if they have missed some of the attractions as they read the book. Le Sanglier, the house Gerald Feldwick falls in love with and buys, in particular, is a great creation, and as we see the house mostly from (Annette) Netty’s point of view, we get a very strong sense of claustrophobia, of hidden and dark secrets that can blow-up at any minute, and of a malignant force at work, undermining her efforts to settle and forget (although she does not really want to forget, only to remember with less pain).
The author also manages to create a totally plausible community in the area, consisting mostly of expats, but also of some local farmers and even an aristocrat, and their interactions and the complex relationship between them add depth to the novel. Although the newcomers, the Feldwick, might appear ill suited to the area, and we don’t get to know their reasons for the move until the story is quite advanced, the network of relationships established since their arrival has a profound impact on their lives.
This is a novel where the historical aspect is less evident than in the previous two, and it might not appear evident at first, although, eventually, the historical fragments (narrated in the third-person —like the rest of the novel— from the point of view of a big variety of characters from the various eras) fall into place and readers discover what links them to the story. Secrets from the present and the past coalesce and the influence of the region and its past inhabitants on the present come full circle.
The psychological portrayal of the main characters is powerful as well. Although I didn’t particularly warm up to any of them (it’s impossible not to feel for Netty, whose tragic loss and unresolved bereavement make her easy to sympathise with, but her behaviour and prejudices didn’t do much to endear her to me, personally. Gerald is less likeable, especially as we see him, most of the time, from Netty’s perspective, but the fragments narrated from his point of view make him more understandable, if not truly nice or appealing; and we only get to see the rest of character’s from the main protagonists’ perspectives), the fact that they all had positive and negative aspects to their personalities, the way they behaved and reacted to each other and to their plight (sometimes in a selfish way, sometimes irrationally, sometimes totally blinded to the world around them, sometimes obsessed, overbearing, and/or abusive...), gave them humanity and made them more rounded. These were not superheroes or insightful and virtuous individuals, perfect in every way, and although by the end of the story they’ve suffered heartbreak, disappointments, and have been forced to confront their worst fears, this is not a story where, as if by magic, they are totally enlightened and all their problems have disappeared. The ending is left quite open, and although some aspects of the story are resolved (in a brilliant way, in my opinion), others are left to our imagination.
I want to avoid spoilers, but I wanted to include any warnings and extra-comments. The main story-line is likely to upset readers, especially those who have suffered tragic family losses recently, and I know the death of very young characters is a particularly difficult topic for many. There are also some scenes of violence and death of animals (it is not called The Chase for nothing), battles and death of adults as well (in the historical chapters), and an off-the-page rape scene. There are other sex scenes, but these are not very explicit either. There are some elements that might fall into the paranormal category, although other interpretations are also possible. On the other hand, I have mentioned the interest the novel has for people who have visited the Dordogne or would like to visit in the future; readers who are interested in embroidery, mythology, and history of the region will also have a field day; its treatment of bereavement is interesting and compelling; and I think all those elements would make it ideal for book clubs, as there is plenty to discuss and think about.
A complex and beautifully written story that is likely to get everybody siding with one of the main characters, and a great option for those who love to travel without leaving their armchairs.
December 13, 2021
I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team, this being the third book in what has been a fabulous collection so far.
For me, The Chase was not as engaging as the previous books in the collection mainly because I simply couldn’t get to grips with the gothic element of the dual timeline narrative. That said, the language was very moody and evocative which would no doubt appeal to more experienced readers of gothic tales.
The more modern story was, however, something I could get immersed in. That too came by way of a tragic event which saw Gerald and Netty Feldwick sell their Oxford home and make the move to France, to a region heaped in both history and British homeowners. On a whim, and without consulting his wife, Gerald bought an old rundown place known as Le Sanglier, having convinced himself that the only way for the couple to survive their personal family trauma was to remove themselves from everything and everyone they knew. To be honest, he came across as somewhat pompous and annoying, but with Netty’s best interests at heart (as long as they matched his own).
Le Sanglier was not to Netty’s taste, and I couldn’t blame her for that. It felt like the sort of place that would suck joy out of anyone if they stuck around long enough, clearly a place with its own character and will. After much money being spent on renovations, parts of the house became less foreboding, but there was little there to give it the homely vibe Netty sought. In so much darkness, finding any lightness proved challenging.
Before long, Gerald had to return to Oxford to help out his former business partner, and it was during this time that Netty’s new acquaintances came to the forefront. And what a diverse bunch they were: a former Cambridge academic and a party-going artist with a double-barrelled name and links to the British nobility. Not Netty’s usual circle, that’s for sure. She did find some level of friendship with a neighbour, Claudine, a French aristocrat, but even that seemed hesitant and fragile. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Netty. Gerald’s absence saw them both act somewhat foolishly, giving each of them yet more secrets to hide which, in due course, further alienated them from each other.
The overriding theme, for me, was that actions have consequences. Even when taken out of their ordinary lives, there was a clear void between Gerald and Netty, and their neighbours (new and old) were instrumental in exposing how far apart they had grown. Overall, neither one was more considerate of the other, but there were times that gave hope for them as a couple. The question was whether either of them wanted that, and whether the move to France helped or hindered.
I enjoyed aspects of this story, and felt the author handled the Feldwick’s tragic past with sensitivity. Of course, I wish I’d engaged more with the historical elements of the French house, especially since it was clearly written with knowledge and passion. Readers more in tune with gothic themes will surely get more from it than did I.
For me, The Chase was not as engaging as the previous books in the collection mainly because I simply couldn’t get to grips with the gothic element of the dual timeline narrative. That said, the language was very moody and evocative which would no doubt appeal to more experienced readers of gothic tales.
The more modern story was, however, something I could get immersed in. That too came by way of a tragic event which saw Gerald and Netty Feldwick sell their Oxford home and make the move to France, to a region heaped in both history and British homeowners. On a whim, and without consulting his wife, Gerald bought an old rundown place known as Le Sanglier, having convinced himself that the only way for the couple to survive their personal family trauma was to remove themselves from everything and everyone they knew. To be honest, he came across as somewhat pompous and annoying, but with Netty’s best interests at heart (as long as they matched his own).
Le Sanglier was not to Netty’s taste, and I couldn’t blame her for that. It felt like the sort of place that would suck joy out of anyone if they stuck around long enough, clearly a place with its own character and will. After much money being spent on renovations, parts of the house became less foreboding, but there was little there to give it the homely vibe Netty sought. In so much darkness, finding any lightness proved challenging.
Before long, Gerald had to return to Oxford to help out his former business partner, and it was during this time that Netty’s new acquaintances came to the forefront. And what a diverse bunch they were: a former Cambridge academic and a party-going artist with a double-barrelled name and links to the British nobility. Not Netty’s usual circle, that’s for sure. She did find some level of friendship with a neighbour, Claudine, a French aristocrat, but even that seemed hesitant and fragile. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Netty. Gerald’s absence saw them both act somewhat foolishly, giving each of them yet more secrets to hide which, in due course, further alienated them from each other.
The overriding theme, for me, was that actions have consequences. Even when taken out of their ordinary lives, there was a clear void between Gerald and Netty, and their neighbours (new and old) were instrumental in exposing how far apart they had grown. Overall, neither one was more considerate of the other, but there were times that gave hope for them as a couple. The question was whether either of them wanted that, and whether the move to France helped or hindered.
I enjoyed aspects of this story, and felt the author handled the Feldwick’s tragic past with sensitivity. Of course, I wish I’d engaged more with the historical elements of the French house, especially since it was clearly written with knowledge and passion. Readers more in tune with gothic themes will surely get more from it than did I.
July 30, 2013
Lorna Fergusson's The Chase is a complex, dark and sometimes claustrophobic story of a couple whose dysfunctional marriage is way past its sell-by date. The novel is skilfully written, bold and ambitious for a first novel. But Fergusson obviously honed her craft by writing short stories and is a former winner of the prestigious short story prize – the Ian St James Award.
The only thing that Netty and Gerald still have in common is a shared sense of loss over a terrible tragedy to befall the family, five years previously. In his boorish, blustering way, Gerald buys a gloomy house in the Dordogne (or as it is unkindly known, Dordogneshire), as pre-Euro and the current recession, the area attracted a large number of Brits who could afford second homes or who sold up and started a new life there.
I'm guessing the book is set around the mid 1990s (although there is no reference in the book to the wider world in either Britain or France) but I figured it would have to be around this time - just as the economy in the UK has picked up enough for Gerald to sell his plumbing manufacturing company in England for a killing and head off to a blissful retirement in France.
As someone who used to help expats relocate to their idea of utopia, those who left their home country to run away from something (like Gerald and Netty) were the least likely to settle; as sadly, no matter how hard you try to leave your emotional baggage behind, it has a habit of catching up with you.
Netty's characterisation is bold, complex and so realistic that I had to take breaks while reading The Chase as she is so realistic that she reminded me too much of self-absorbed and manipulative types who, by refusing to take control of their own lives can then go and blame everyone else for how awful their lives seem to be. And in Netty's case, the terrible tragedy happened to her entire family but as she sees it, it's only her feelings that count.
Netty has a troubled relationship with her grown up children and is particularly critical of her adult daughter Lynda, whose crime was to inherit her father's forceful personality. You do wonder what it was that Netty ever saw in Gerald in the first place – apart that is as an old-fashioned provider or that she 'enjoyed the sense of his protection, a bulwark against social fire and flood.' Netty seems to take no interest in her grandchildren either, which is curious. Her relationship with her son Paul seems to be better than it is with Lynda, although she even turns on him when she reveals that she doesn't love her children equally and unconditionally, when he bares his soul to her about his sexuality.
Netty does have a pang of guilt over the way she reacted to Paul's revelation but is not honest enough with herself to admit the real reason for her reaction – that she was in competition with her son – and she lost. And as we know, hell hath no fury….
Only a writer of this calibre could sustain a story about such unpleasant characters in the way that Fergusson does and she does so with brio. The story within the story – of the history of the house and the area is brilliantly done and I was particularly interested in the art historical aspects of the cave paintings. And although I've never been to the Dordogne, the detail of the research is evident.
A brilliantly observed story of the disintegration of a marriage.
The only thing that Netty and Gerald still have in common is a shared sense of loss over a terrible tragedy to befall the family, five years previously. In his boorish, blustering way, Gerald buys a gloomy house in the Dordogne (or as it is unkindly known, Dordogneshire), as pre-Euro and the current recession, the area attracted a large number of Brits who could afford second homes or who sold up and started a new life there.
I'm guessing the book is set around the mid 1990s (although there is no reference in the book to the wider world in either Britain or France) but I figured it would have to be around this time - just as the economy in the UK has picked up enough for Gerald to sell his plumbing manufacturing company in England for a killing and head off to a blissful retirement in France.
As someone who used to help expats relocate to their idea of utopia, those who left their home country to run away from something (like Gerald and Netty) were the least likely to settle; as sadly, no matter how hard you try to leave your emotional baggage behind, it has a habit of catching up with you.
Netty's characterisation is bold, complex and so realistic that I had to take breaks while reading The Chase as she is so realistic that she reminded me too much of self-absorbed and manipulative types who, by refusing to take control of their own lives can then go and blame everyone else for how awful their lives seem to be. And in Netty's case, the terrible tragedy happened to her entire family but as she sees it, it's only her feelings that count.
Netty has a troubled relationship with her grown up children and is particularly critical of her adult daughter Lynda, whose crime was to inherit her father's forceful personality. You do wonder what it was that Netty ever saw in Gerald in the first place – apart that is as an old-fashioned provider or that she 'enjoyed the sense of his protection, a bulwark against social fire and flood.' Netty seems to take no interest in her grandchildren either, which is curious. Her relationship with her son Paul seems to be better than it is with Lynda, although she even turns on him when she reveals that she doesn't love her children equally and unconditionally, when he bares his soul to her about his sexuality.
Netty does have a pang of guilt over the way she reacted to Paul's revelation but is not honest enough with herself to admit the real reason for her reaction – that she was in competition with her son – and she lost. And as we know, hell hath no fury….
Only a writer of this calibre could sustain a story about such unpleasant characters in the way that Fergusson does and she does so with brio. The story within the story – of the history of the house and the area is brilliantly done and I was particularly interested in the art historical aspects of the cave paintings. And although I've never been to the Dordogne, the detail of the research is evident.
A brilliantly observed story of the disintegration of a marriage.
March 4, 2014
The history of a house and the uncertain future of marriage are portrayed in this skilfully woven story. Annette (Netty) and Gerald are making a new start in the Dordogne, trying to look ahead and forget the past.
Le Sanglier, their new home, also has a colourful past. From primitive civilisation, through mediaeval hunts to occupations from foreign powers, its history is both bloody and dramatic.
Fergusson draws the reader into this world of façades and secrets, personal tragedies and complex relationships through the creation of believable, flawed characters. Her use of setting, employing cultural, geographical, historical and culinary references brings to life a vivid world, seen through the eyes of a stranger.
I particularly liked the way she explodes the conceit, so common amongst expats, that moving abroad equals an escape from the past.
The story unfolds at a gentle pace, but contains twists and surprises to keep you flipping pages. Ideal atmospheric holiday read.
Le Sanglier, their new home, also has a colourful past. From primitive civilisation, through mediaeval hunts to occupations from foreign powers, its history is both bloody and dramatic.
Fergusson draws the reader into this world of façades and secrets, personal tragedies and complex relationships through the creation of believable, flawed characters. Her use of setting, employing cultural, geographical, historical and culinary references brings to life a vivid world, seen through the eyes of a stranger.
I particularly liked the way she explodes the conceit, so common amongst expats, that moving abroad equals an escape from the past.
The story unfolds at a gentle pace, but contains twists and surprises to keep you flipping pages. Ideal atmospheric holiday read.
April 8, 2015
I was surprised by the lack of master plot that secretly weaves every event in some sort of overwhelming web that only the main characters can unravel. It was refreshing to be able to delve into the minds and lives of the characters, to feel with them, to stand by them, to hate them and like them.
The Chase breaks with the old traditional recipe. It keeps the reader waiting for the reasons why people act the way they do and although everything is connected, like I said above, it is merely a chance connection - it is the history of the place itself and the accumulation of actions that somehow create its dark mood.
The Chase breaks with the old traditional recipe. It keeps the reader waiting for the reasons why people act the way they do and although everything is connected, like I said above, it is merely a chance connection - it is the history of the place itself and the accumulation of actions that somehow create its dark mood.
August 2, 2021
I had not read this author before reading it but found that her writing captivated me more than the story. There are some authors I read for the joy of the written word, Pat Conroy being one of them, and I have added Lorna Fergusson to the list.
Lorna Fergusson has woven a dark, emotional tale set in the beautiful Dordogne region of France. Once again, a house plays a vital role. Le Sanglier is a very old house buried deep in the woods of the Dordogne, a site layered with history as revealed by the author, stories within the story. I particularly liked this aspect of the book and its relationship to the ending.
Without consulting his wife, the boorish, domineering and self-centered Gerald Feldwick buys a centuries-old house with an unpleasant past named Le Sanglier, during a trip to the region. I’m not sure at what time the story is set –1990s? – but it appears a number of British were selling up and moving there for retirement or vacation. He springs it on his wife, Annette, known as Netty (although she dislikes that name), telling her he sees it as a way of moving on from a tragedy in their life, the death of their young son. The young child was snatched from under Annette’s nose while she was talking to a friend, and Gerald blames her when his body is later found. Gerald believes that restoring Le Sanglier to some of its former glory will make Annette emerge from the fog of the tragedy and draw them closer together. In fact, it does the opposite.
Annette is a flawed character, despite the tragedy. She is complex and highly self-absorbed and has, at best, a shaky relationship with Gerald, whom she doesn’t really love. She is uncomfortable in her relations with both of her grown children – her daughter because she is like her father and her son, who is gay. She shows no interest in her grandchildren and refuses to take the reins of her own life and prefers to blame others. I found her totally unsympathetic. In fact, I didn’t much like any of the characters populating Annette’s world in France, although they were very wonderfully drawn – in particular, a retired professor named Rutherford Appleby (Fred), who lives nearby and has a sexual fetish and whom Gerald regards as an old fossil; the blue-blooded and black sheep Peter Rettlesham-Carey, a rude and heavy-drinking ex-pat, in whom Gerald finds a macho pal; and Claudine Bellenger, a French aristocrat who owns Bel Arbre, a palatial house and estate that is a museum to her dead husband. I found her to be the most compelling, perhaps because she was the least flawed.
The story arc – Annette’s interactions with her neighbors, her unraveling marriage, the refurbishment of the house, her discovery of its history – proceeds at a glacial pace, and I must admit there were so many details of places in the Dordogne region, which the author clearly knows well and I don’t, that I was occasionally lost. I kept hoping for some resolutions to Annette’s challenging relationships, but even at the end, they didn’t arrive.
I cannot say I was thrilled by the story and its characters, but oh! the writing. The author’s power of description of place and emotions was stunningly beautiful and although I was not drawn to the story, I read on, entranced by the author’s written word. It’s a tribute to the author that she could sustain my interest in reading this, despite the pacing and a protagonist I didn’t really like. I will definitely read another offering from her.
Lorna Fergusson has woven a dark, emotional tale set in the beautiful Dordogne region of France. Once again, a house plays a vital role. Le Sanglier is a very old house buried deep in the woods of the Dordogne, a site layered with history as revealed by the author, stories within the story. I particularly liked this aspect of the book and its relationship to the ending.
Without consulting his wife, the boorish, domineering and self-centered Gerald Feldwick buys a centuries-old house with an unpleasant past named Le Sanglier, during a trip to the region. I’m not sure at what time the story is set –1990s? – but it appears a number of British were selling up and moving there for retirement or vacation. He springs it on his wife, Annette, known as Netty (although she dislikes that name), telling her he sees it as a way of moving on from a tragedy in their life, the death of their young son. The young child was snatched from under Annette’s nose while she was talking to a friend, and Gerald blames her when his body is later found. Gerald believes that restoring Le Sanglier to some of its former glory will make Annette emerge from the fog of the tragedy and draw them closer together. In fact, it does the opposite.
Annette is a flawed character, despite the tragedy. She is complex and highly self-absorbed and has, at best, a shaky relationship with Gerald, whom she doesn’t really love. She is uncomfortable in her relations with both of her grown children – her daughter because she is like her father and her son, who is gay. She shows no interest in her grandchildren and refuses to take the reins of her own life and prefers to blame others. I found her totally unsympathetic. In fact, I didn’t much like any of the characters populating Annette’s world in France, although they were very wonderfully drawn – in particular, a retired professor named Rutherford Appleby (Fred), who lives nearby and has a sexual fetish and whom Gerald regards as an old fossil; the blue-blooded and black sheep Peter Rettlesham-Carey, a rude and heavy-drinking ex-pat, in whom Gerald finds a macho pal; and Claudine Bellenger, a French aristocrat who owns Bel Arbre, a palatial house and estate that is a museum to her dead husband. I found her to be the most compelling, perhaps because she was the least flawed.
The story arc – Annette’s interactions with her neighbors, her unraveling marriage, the refurbishment of the house, her discovery of its history – proceeds at a glacial pace, and I must admit there were so many details of places in the Dordogne region, which the author clearly knows well and I don’t, that I was occasionally lost. I kept hoping for some resolutions to Annette’s challenging relationships, but even at the end, they didn’t arrive.
I cannot say I was thrilled by the story and its characters, but oh! the writing. The author’s power of description of place and emotions was stunningly beautiful and although I was not drawn to the story, I read on, entranced by the author’s written word. It’s a tribute to the author that she could sustain my interest in reading this, despite the pacing and a protagonist I didn’t really like. I will definitely read another offering from her.
June 30, 2025
The Chase intertwines domestic thriller with literary historical fiction, creating a story that is as haunting and disturbing as it is captivating. Set in the secluded hunting lodge, Le Sanglier, deep within the Dordogne forest, the story follows Netty and her husband Gerald as they attempt to rebuild their lives after a family tragedy. From the moment Netty steps into Le Sanglier, the tension is palpable and Fergusson beautifully captures her struggle to feel at home in this eerie, isolated setting.
As the novel progresses, the lodge, with its sinister history, becomes almost a character in itself as its secrets are gradually revealed through haunting flashbacks to past time. (Only later do we learn that local villagers and the couples's new acquaintances up at the nearby chateau have chosen to remain silent about its history.) The strength of Fergusson's writing lies in her ability to weave a sense of unease into the narrative, alongside day-to-day observation of expat life back in the 1980s. (Warning -- there are a few 'retro' attitudes!)
Those who appreciate a dark, psychological narrative with a rich historical backdrop will love it!
As the novel progresses, the lodge, with its sinister history, becomes almost a character in itself as its secrets are gradually revealed through haunting flashbacks to past time. (Only later do we learn that local villagers and the couples's new acquaintances up at the nearby chateau have chosen to remain silent about its history.) The strength of Fergusson's writing lies in her ability to weave a sense of unease into the narrative, alongside day-to-day observation of expat life back in the 1980s. (Warning -- there are a few 'retro' attitudes!)
Those who appreciate a dark, psychological narrative with a rich historical backdrop will love it!
December 10, 2018
I loved this book. First of all it is a rare pleasure to read such beautiful writing as Lorna Fergusson’s.
Set in the Dordogne, the scenery and way of life was evoked so superbly and vividly that I felt I was there. I did a walking holiday there once and reading this book made me want to go back.
The Protagonists are an ill matched married couple escaping a recent tragedy - Gerald has decided a move to France will put everything right and has steamrollered Netty into his plan. The former hunting lodge, Le Sanglier, is as haunted as the couple, and far from helping them get past their troubles, they are plunged in even deeper.
I won’t give any spoilers but Le Sanglier has had a tragic past too and the stories that make up its history are brought to life sparely but vividly in time slip chapters laced through the book.
A cast of well-drawn supporting characters from ex-pat Brits to local French villagers weaves through the story, with interludes in Oxford where Netty and Gerald come from. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, frightening at times and the book moves with pace. I felt as if I was right there with Netty in that lodge.
A book that, once started, you can’t put down. Highly recommended
Set in the Dordogne, the scenery and way of life was evoked so superbly and vividly that I felt I was there. I did a walking holiday there once and reading this book made me want to go back.
The Protagonists are an ill matched married couple escaping a recent tragedy - Gerald has decided a move to France will put everything right and has steamrollered Netty into his plan. The former hunting lodge, Le Sanglier, is as haunted as the couple, and far from helping them get past their troubles, they are plunged in even deeper.
I won’t give any spoilers but Le Sanglier has had a tragic past too and the stories that make up its history are brought to life sparely but vividly in time slip chapters laced through the book.
A cast of well-drawn supporting characters from ex-pat Brits to local French villagers weaves through the story, with interludes in Oxford where Netty and Gerald come from. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, frightening at times and the book moves with pace. I felt as if I was right there with Netty in that lodge.
A book that, once started, you can’t put down. Highly recommended
March 1, 2020
I quite liked the main characters and found it easy enough to read, but somehow the book never truly gripped me, sadly.
March 22, 2017
Magnificent handling of the characters' emotions, especially the mother.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews