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Cannonbridge
Flamboyant Matthew Cannonbridge was touched by genius, the most influential mind of the 19th century, a novelist, playwright, the poet of his generation. The only problem is, he should never have existed, and recently divorced 21st century don Toby Judd is the only person to realise something is wrong with history.
Cannonbridge was he was by Lake Geneva when talk between Byron, Shelley and Mary Godwin turned to the supernatural; he was friend to the young Dickens as he laboured in the blacking factory; he was the only man of note to visit Wilde in prison. His extraordinary life spanned a century. But as the world prepares to toast the bicentenary of Cannonbridge’s most celebrated work, Judd’s discovery leads him on a breakneck chase across the English canon and countryside, to the realisation that the spectre of Matthew Cannonbridge, planted so seamlessly into the heart of the 19th century, might not be so dead and buried after all...
Cannonbridge was he was by Lake Geneva when talk between Byron, Shelley and Mary Godwin turned to the supernatural; he was friend to the young Dickens as he laboured in the blacking factory; he was the only man of note to visit Wilde in prison. His extraordinary life spanned a century. But as the world prepares to toast the bicentenary of Cannonbridge’s most celebrated work, Judd’s discovery leads him on a breakneck chase across the English canon and countryside, to the realisation that the spectre of Matthew Cannonbridge, planted so seamlessly into the heart of the 19th century, might not be so dead and buried after all...
267 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2015
9 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Barnes
46 books143 followersJonathan Barnes is the author of two novels, The Somnambulist and The Domino Men. He contributes regularly to the Times Literary Supplement and the Literary Review and is the author of several scripts for Big Finish Productions. He is currently writer-in-residence at Kingston University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 1, 2018
One day Toby Judd realize that something is wrong with history; Matthew Cannonbridge, the novelist should never have existed. Now he must find out the truth about Matthew Cannonbridge whilst being chased throughout the country.
After a bit of a slow start, the story in this book really took off. The mystery of whom or what Matthew Cannonbridge was really made this book exciting to read and made this book into a real page turner and the ending were interesting and peculiar (I think I have it figured out at least). Although the last couple of pages, when something was revealed wasn't really a surprise, I saw that coming. I liked the jump between the past and the present, it was interesting to follow Toby Judd in the present trying to figure out the truth about Matthew Cannonbridge, while in the past famous authors like Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde encounter Matthew Cannonbridge and often these famous authors sense that something is wrong with him. But what? Who is he? Read and find out...
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
After a bit of a slow start, the story in this book really took off. The mystery of whom or what Matthew Cannonbridge was really made this book exciting to read and made this book into a real page turner and the ending were interesting and peculiar (I think I have it figured out at least). Although the last couple of pages, when something was revealed wasn't really a surprise, I saw that coming. I liked the jump between the past and the present, it was interesting to follow Toby Judd in the present trying to figure out the truth about Matthew Cannonbridge, while in the past famous authors like Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde encounter Matthew Cannonbridge and often these famous authors sense that something is wrong with him. But what? Who is he? Read and find out...
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
Read
December 2, 2019Weird. The premise is that there's a famous writer, Matthew Cannonbridge, who interacted with Byron, Poe, Dickens, the Brontes etc and who is Britain's favourite writer, but a downtrodden university lecturer suddenly decides that he can't possibly have existed, and then becomes the target of a large scale high tech conspiracy. It is EXTREMELY meta, particularly as the plot develops, and ends with a twist so meta-ly meta it's going fractal. Your reaction to this will doubtless depend on your tolerance for smartarsery. I rather enjoyed the concept and delivery, though the end section went a bit over the top for me.
January 19, 2016
If you're a fan of classic literature and history, you may enjoy parts of this book. The book initially felt eerie and mysterious. At some point I felt like I just wanted to get on with the ending already. There were so many authors of classic literature crammed throughout the pages, it could have done with a few less. I did learn a lot about these authors because I kept looking up their history whenever one popped up.
Personally, I wasn't satisfied with the conclusion of the book. I came away feeling bogged down. This book just wasn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Personally, I wasn't satisfied with the conclusion of the book. I came away feeling bogged down. This book just wasn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2015
DNF 45%
Nop. Nop. Nop. Nop. Nop.
This book jumps back and forth in time between the stories of Matthew Cannonbridge and Toby Judd.
Matthew is a prolific novelist and a great poet. He has touched the lives of many authors and famous people back in his time. Cannonbridge's extraordinary life and career spanned a century, earning him a richly-deserved place in the English canon.
As bibliophiles everywhere prepare to toast the bicentenary of the publication of Cannonbridge's most celebrated works, Toby Judd claims that Cannonbridge is a scam and will do anything to prove his point...but some people just don't want the truth to come out. What happens next? I was too bored to find out.
272 pages. It's not a long book, but for me it felt like I was reading a 2720 paged book.It was so slow that after 35% of the book, nothing was going on. Actually, I take that back. Yes, things were going on but it was so unimportant that I just couldn't give a fuck. The writing was over-exaggerated and extremely heavy. Connection was missing.
Bleh. Don't read this.
Nop. Nop. Nop. Nop. Nop.
This book jumps back and forth in time between the stories of Matthew Cannonbridge and Toby Judd.
Matthew is a prolific novelist and a great poet. He has touched the lives of many authors and famous people back in his time. Cannonbridge's extraordinary life and career spanned a century, earning him a richly-deserved place in the English canon.
As bibliophiles everywhere prepare to toast the bicentenary of the publication of Cannonbridge's most celebrated works, Toby Judd claims that Cannonbridge is a scam and will do anything to prove his point...but some people just don't want the truth to come out. What happens next? I was too bored to find out.
272 pages. It's not a long book, but for me it felt like I was reading a 2720 paged book.It was so slow that after 35% of the book, nothing was going on. Actually, I take that back. Yes, things were going on but it was so unimportant that I just couldn't give a fuck. The writing was over-exaggerated and extremely heavy. Connection was missing.
Bleh. Don't read this.
November 25, 2015
In some ways, I think the ending of this book spoiled the build-up. Unlike a lot of other readers, I found the build-up quite interesting, especially the mounting uncanniness. There were only a few authors I didn’t know mentioned in the story, though it took me a few moments to identify some of them when they appeared as characters. The whole conspiracy, the sense of mystery — it worked well for me, and I found the figure of Cannonbridge interesting, especially in his earlier appearances.
I was less enamoured of what, in the story, gives rise to him: I’d rather he was unexplained than this rather heavy-handed Money Is Bad stuff at the end. And I’m not sure about the way the final chapter goes, either — the revelation about a particular character, the meta-fiction there. It doesn’t feel right. It’s like two elements are sitting awkwardly together in this book, at least for this reader. I can certainly understand why others have found it so disappointing.
Originally posted here.
I was less enamoured of what, in the story, gives rise to him: I’d rather he was unexplained than this rather heavy-handed Money Is Bad stuff at the end. And I’m not sure about the way the final chapter goes, either — the revelation about a particular character, the meta-fiction there. It doesn’t feel right. It’s like two elements are sitting awkwardly together in this book, at least for this reader. I can certainly understand why others have found it so disappointing.
Originally posted here.
April 20, 2015
Nope. Sorry. Just could not like this one.
By all accounts, it should've been right up my alley. There's a lot about the concept that reminds me of Tim Powers' Anubis Gates and, as an English major in college, I'm always interested in the combination of academia, mystic conspiracies and that fateful night at the Villa Diodati. But this just bored the everloving crap out of me.
First: a stylistic issue. The writing style of the book actively kept me from enjoying it. Writing a book in the present tense is one thing - I've read plenty of books where the authors made it work. However, the present tense and the oddly affected cod-literary style just kept annoying me. I realize it's supposed to reflect the narrative style of so many writers in the late 1800s but when it's overlaid in the 21st century segments it just grates. That's a personal thing.
But then there's the overarching plot. Look, if you're going to be telling the story of an ordinary person who gets caught up in the midst of a sinister, seemingly all-powerful conspiracy, you need to sell me on it. You need to give me an everyman character I can relate to and empathize with, a growing sense that something is wrong and a feeling of how he's stumbled into things. Having a strange old man show up and say "Whoops, you're fucked" and then expecting me to care isn't going to do it. The police showing up at the protagonist's house to say "hey, remember that mysterious old man? Well, we felt obligated to inform you that someone killed him. Better run for your life because there're clearly shadowy people out there who have it out for you" is the opposite of dramatic build up. It comes as the author telling us we should care because REASONS, not because we've grown to empathize with the character and have noticed the growing dark clouds in his life.
Which brings me to the main character. Toby Judd is a pile of meh. I have no reason to care for him. As soon as we meet him, we're supposed to feel sorry for this sad-sack whose wife leaves him within pages of our having been introduced to him. Sucks for him, sure, but why do I give a damn? I've not seen their relationship together, there's no feeling of loss or the pain of betrayal because I have absolutely no relationship to either of them. I don't have anything invested in them. It smacks of "you should like him because I say so", with misfortune standing in for actual characterization. The fact that he's the protagonist of the story doesn't automatically mean I give a shit; give me a REASON to empathize with him when he finds himself cuckolded by an academic peer beyond "it happened and that's sad."
Same with Cannonbridge. OK, so we're getting a tour the 19th century's literati as this mysterious figure keeps popping up - at Villa Diodati, in Charles Dicken's childhood, at the Bronte sisters' house (becoming the inspiration for Heathcliffe in the process...). Yay. Give me a reason to be interested in him. Don't make him feel like this bizzare Mary-Sue character (even though that's clearly intentional), make him *compelling*. Similarly, if you're going to make him a mysterious figure, don't keep dropping anvils in the dialogue about how mysterious he is. It's annoying and feels like bad X-Men comics in the 90s where Wolverine could never have a line of dialogue that didn't somehow revolve back to "And I still know nothing about my mysterious past".
Show me. Don't tell me. And don't freaking BORE me.
Pass.
By all accounts, it should've been right up my alley. There's a lot about the concept that reminds me of Tim Powers' Anubis Gates and, as an English major in college, I'm always interested in the combination of academia, mystic conspiracies and that fateful night at the Villa Diodati. But this just bored the everloving crap out of me.
First: a stylistic issue. The writing style of the book actively kept me from enjoying it. Writing a book in the present tense is one thing - I've read plenty of books where the authors made it work. However, the present tense and the oddly affected cod-literary style just kept annoying me. I realize it's supposed to reflect the narrative style of so many writers in the late 1800s but when it's overlaid in the 21st century segments it just grates. That's a personal thing.
But then there's the overarching plot. Look, if you're going to be telling the story of an ordinary person who gets caught up in the midst of a sinister, seemingly all-powerful conspiracy, you need to sell me on it. You need to give me an everyman character I can relate to and empathize with, a growing sense that something is wrong and a feeling of how he's stumbled into things. Having a strange old man show up and say "Whoops, you're fucked" and then expecting me to care isn't going to do it. The police showing up at the protagonist's house to say "hey, remember that mysterious old man? Well, we felt obligated to inform you that someone killed him. Better run for your life because there're clearly shadowy people out there who have it out for you" is the opposite of dramatic build up. It comes as the author telling us we should care because REASONS, not because we've grown to empathize with the character and have noticed the growing dark clouds in his life.
Which brings me to the main character. Toby Judd is a pile of meh. I have no reason to care for him. As soon as we meet him, we're supposed to feel sorry for this sad-sack whose wife leaves him within pages of our having been introduced to him. Sucks for him, sure, but why do I give a damn? I've not seen their relationship together, there's no feeling of loss or the pain of betrayal because I have absolutely no relationship to either of them. I don't have anything invested in them. It smacks of "you should like him because I say so", with misfortune standing in for actual characterization. The fact that he's the protagonist of the story doesn't automatically mean I give a shit; give me a REASON to empathize with him when he finds himself cuckolded by an academic peer beyond "it happened and that's sad."
Same with Cannonbridge. OK, so we're getting a tour the 19th century's literati as this mysterious figure keeps popping up - at Villa Diodati, in Charles Dicken's childhood, at the Bronte sisters' house (becoming the inspiration for Heathcliffe in the process...). Yay. Give me a reason to be interested in him. Don't make him feel like this bizzare Mary-Sue character (even though that's clearly intentional), make him *compelling*. Similarly, if you're going to make him a mysterious figure, don't keep dropping anvils in the dialogue about how mysterious he is. It's annoying and feels like bad X-Men comics in the 90s where Wolverine could never have a line of dialogue that didn't somehow revolve back to "And I still know nothing about my mysterious past".
Show me. Don't tell me. And don't freaking BORE me.
Pass.
March 17, 2015
If you are a fan of the literary giants in history then this book will likely appeal to you, especially if you like novels that are a bit outside the normal range.
This book is a little confusing when you first begin it. There is a lot of jumping around between time periods and an abundance of characters to meet right away, but as it progressed and things began to make more sense, I found that I quite enjoyed it.
The premise for this book is unique and I thought the author did a good job of following through with a strong story capable of making good on that premise. The feeling that you never know exactly what to expect next stays with you during the course of this story and the ending was done very well, without coming across as cliched.
The main character is interesting and keeps growing throughout the story, revealing more hidden aspects of himself as the chapters increase in number. I liked the chase in this book.
Overall, This was a pretty exciting read that clearly took a lot of thought to write. A good book--recommended.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This book is a little confusing when you first begin it. There is a lot of jumping around between time periods and an abundance of characters to meet right away, but as it progressed and things began to make more sense, I found that I quite enjoyed it.
The premise for this book is unique and I thought the author did a good job of following through with a strong story capable of making good on that premise. The feeling that you never know exactly what to expect next stays with you during the course of this story and the ending was done very well, without coming across as cliched.
The main character is interesting and keeps growing throughout the story, revealing more hidden aspects of himself as the chapters increase in number. I liked the chase in this book.
Overall, This was a pretty exciting read that clearly took a lot of thought to write. A good book--recommended.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
June 9, 2015
I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really didn't like this book, which makes me feel bad, because I really wanted to. That, and I hate writing negative reviews. I am NOT happy about this, people. But that may be the subject of another post. Someday. Maybe. For now, I'll just go on being unhappy about this situation.
So, anyways, back to the book. I went in thinking it would be a mystery/thriller about a literary hoax. Here I was, expecting a fast-paced, exciting journey across England as our insightful academic searches for clues to uncover the secret of Matthew Cannonbridge and how he got to be England's most famous author. Great story, right? Well, not quite. Turns out, there's a whole lot of supernatural forces involved in the creation of Cannonbridge. Now, I don't usually have a problem with the presence of supernatural elements in a story. In fact, most of the time, I quite like it. But in order for that to happen, I have to understand what is happening. With this book, I just went from confused to more confused. I just could not make sense of what was happening, and that really frustrated me. Of course, that may just be me, and someone else reading it could actually make sense of the whole thing much better than I did.
The characters were also very unrelatable and generally unlikeable. The story jumped back and forth between the modern day, where Toby Judd starts his investigation into Cannonbridge, and the past, where Cannonbridge himself goes on to meet a wide variety of important authors, like Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. I was actually quite intrigued by this idea, of seeing the hoax take place while at the same time following the present-day investigation. That was back when I thought this story revolved around a hoax. As the story progressed, I started to doubt the usefulness of this device, and actually became very annoyed with it at one point. My excitement at the idea that we would see Cannonbridge influence the greats of English literature just vanished, as I felt these chapters to read more like an endless parade of big names withalmost no very little weight on the story. The characters' motivations, and even most of their actions, made very little sense to me, and I had a very hard time seeing where they were coming from.
Even though this wasn't a long book (less than 300 pages), I found it extremely difficult to go through with it. I actually considered DNFing at several points, but just kept going hoping that it would get better later on, or that it would have a wonderful conclusion that would just blow my mind. It didn't. I was left just as disappointed at the ending as I had been throughout the whole read. I was really sorry about this, because this book had so much potential. But, for me, it failed. It failed as a thriller and it failed as a supernatural. I wasn't thrilled at all! I was just bored for the most part, and confused for the rest. Now, I'm glad I finished it, and I'm ready to move on.
Originally posted on Book For Thought.
I really didn't like this book, which makes me feel bad, because I really wanted to. That, and I hate writing negative reviews. I am NOT happy about this, people. But that may be the subject of another post. Someday. Maybe. For now, I'll just go on being unhappy about this situation.
So, anyways, back to the book. I went in thinking it would be a mystery/thriller about a literary hoax. Here I was, expecting a fast-paced, exciting journey across England as our insightful academic searches for clues to uncover the secret of Matthew Cannonbridge and how he got to be England's most famous author. Great story, right? Well, not quite. Turns out, there's a whole lot of supernatural forces involved in the creation of Cannonbridge. Now, I don't usually have a problem with the presence of supernatural elements in a story. In fact, most of the time, I quite like it. But in order for that to happen, I have to understand what is happening. With this book, I just went from confused to more confused. I just could not make sense of what was happening, and that really frustrated me. Of course, that may just be me, and someone else reading it could actually make sense of the whole thing much better than I did.
The characters were also very unrelatable and generally unlikeable. The story jumped back and forth between the modern day, where Toby Judd starts his investigation into Cannonbridge, and the past, where Cannonbridge himself goes on to meet a wide variety of important authors, like Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. I was actually quite intrigued by this idea, of seeing the hoax take place while at the same time following the present-day investigation. That was back when I thought this story revolved around a hoax. As the story progressed, I started to doubt the usefulness of this device, and actually became very annoyed with it at one point. My excitement at the idea that we would see Cannonbridge influence the greats of English literature just vanished, as I felt these chapters to read more like an endless parade of big names with
Even though this wasn't a long book (less than 300 pages), I found it extremely difficult to go through with it. I actually considered DNFing at several points, but just kept going hoping that it would get better later on, or that it would have a wonderful conclusion that would just blow my mind. It didn't. I was left just as disappointed at the ending as I had been throughout the whole read. I was really sorry about this, because this book had so much potential. But, for me, it failed. It failed as a thriller and it failed as a supernatural. I wasn't thrilled at all! I was just bored for the most part, and confused for the rest. Now, I'm glad I finished it, and I'm ready to move on.
Originally posted on Book For Thought.
February 18, 2015
Cannonbridge has the atmosphere of a modern action-mystery combined with Lovecraft. I thought this was the book's greatest strength - it has this really ominous, impending-doom atmosphere that absolutely made me think of Lovecraft. Many of the characters we meet - particularly in the historical context - become aware of a horrible truth that the reader is not let in on until the climax of the story. Instead, the reader - or at least *I* had a sense that something horrific was right around the corner through the entire book.
The book shifts back and forth from the present day to the nineteenth century. In the present, we follow Toby Judd, an academic whose wife has just left him for a leading scholar of Cannonbridge. Toby soon has an epiphany - Cannonbridge is an elaborate hoax! When he shares his observation with the world, he's forced to go on the run, egged on by other conspiracy theorists and threatened by a very lethal, very mysterious unknown aggressor. I found these sections quite interesting as this is when the story, it felt to me, is really unfolding.
In the sections from the nineteenth century, we're witnessing moments in time when Cannonbridge surfaced - always in relation to other well-known authors. I thought these were kind of neat at first, but the novelty quickly worn off. While a few of these scenes are integral to developing the tension of the story, and to providing the reader with clues about the truth, I thought that many of these scenes were ultimately unnecessary. They tended to slow the pace of the story down, and I felt that they taunted me by emphasizing all of these characters who knew the secret, while I did not. Frustrating!
There's a really clever idea here, and as the reveal does happen, it becomes clear why Cannonbridge is written the way it is. Unfortunately, there was too much build for me, too much pressure on that clever reveal. I was letdown - yes, it does really wrap things up nicely, but the pacing of the book was so often so very slow, and if I'd been slightly less committed to finishing the book? I don't know that my faith in the story really coming together would have sustained me through to the end. Cannonbridge would have worked better for me as a short story or novella, requiring less commitment to get to that clever reveal.
Bottom line:
Cannonbridge is a modern day action-mystery that delves into the historical, and while it hit so many of my sweet spots - history and academia with an emphasis on literature and authors - I just did not get hooked. The atmosphere is great - very Lovecraftian, I thought - but ultimately it took too long for the big reveal to make clear why everything was written the way it was. I would have preferred this story in a shorter length, I think!
3 stars
For fans of historical fiction, conspiracies, Lovecraft
Received in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other reviews, visit To Each Their Own Reviews
The book shifts back and forth from the present day to the nineteenth century. In the present, we follow Toby Judd, an academic whose wife has just left him for a leading scholar of Cannonbridge. Toby soon has an epiphany - Cannonbridge is an elaborate hoax! When he shares his observation with the world, he's forced to go on the run, egged on by other conspiracy theorists and threatened by a very lethal, very mysterious unknown aggressor. I found these sections quite interesting as this is when the story, it felt to me, is really unfolding.
In the sections from the nineteenth century, we're witnessing moments in time when Cannonbridge surfaced - always in relation to other well-known authors. I thought these were kind of neat at first, but the novelty quickly worn off. While a few of these scenes are integral to developing the tension of the story, and to providing the reader with clues about the truth, I thought that many of these scenes were ultimately unnecessary. They tended to slow the pace of the story down, and I felt that they taunted me by emphasizing all of these characters who knew the secret, while I did not. Frustrating!
There's a really clever idea here, and as the reveal does happen, it becomes clear why Cannonbridge is written the way it is. Unfortunately, there was too much build for me, too much pressure on that clever reveal. I was letdown - yes, it does really wrap things up nicely, but the pacing of the book was so often so very slow, and if I'd been slightly less committed to finishing the book? I don't know that my faith in the story really coming together would have sustained me through to the end. Cannonbridge would have worked better for me as a short story or novella, requiring less commitment to get to that clever reveal.
Bottom line:
Cannonbridge is a modern day action-mystery that delves into the historical, and while it hit so many of my sweet spots - history and academia with an emphasis on literature and authors - I just did not get hooked. The atmosphere is great - very Lovecraftian, I thought - but ultimately it took too long for the big reveal to make clear why everything was written the way it was. I would have preferred this story in a shorter length, I think!
3 stars
For fans of historical fiction, conspiracies, Lovecraft
Received in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other reviews, visit To Each Their Own Reviews
August 7, 2017
Single Sentence Summary: Everything is an allegory for corporations taking over the world.
Characterization: 10/10 S
Characters are wonderfully thought out, and each person serves a very distinct purpose in the story. Even the radical shift between Cannonbridge’s personality is very well done, as are the the snapshots of characters like Charles Dickens and Mary Shelley. It takes a great author to capture an entire character’s personality in just a few pages.
Favorite Character: Cannonbridge. Like everyone else in the story I am just as enchanted with our savior/villain. You sympathize with him at first and greatly dislike him at the end, just as Barnes intended.
Writing Quality: 9/10 A
Overall, the writing is superb! The mood of the story is wonderfully conveyed, and I really only mark this story as horror because it feels like a horror story, even though many of the elements aren’t really typical horror story tropes. I did notice some typos and repetitive word choice from time to time, but the rest of the writing more than makes up for that.
Overall Plot: 8/10 B
I really loved the idea of the allegory that Barnes is going for, but I think that because he tries to keep you guessing until the end, some of the allegory stutters in translation. If you take some time to really think about it afterwards, you can fit some pieces into place that aren’t fitted for you, but there are times where, especially with Cannonbridge himself, the allegory is weak. I didn’t particularly like the ending, but I understood why it was done, and it honestly makes putting the rest of the story together an easier task.
Diversity: 3/10 F
Definitely not a diverse cast here. I gave the book one point for having some strong female characters which were written well.There is a brief mention of a bisexual character (but because it’s brief I didn’t give the usual points I would for bi inclusion), and also veterans are included. Other than that, it is pretty exclusively white (and I’m not making an assumption about that, all of the historical characters referenced were white). The protagonist is a middle aged (white) guy in a middle-class neighborhood.
Delivery of Message/Impact: 9/10 A
Again, the allegory is a great one, and honestly it is so rare these days to find contemporary prose fiction that is allegorical. There are several stories that share important messages, yes, but this is a book that can be analyzed. It is a modern Fahrenheit 451. Jonathan Barnes, in my humble opinion, is himself a modern day Ray Bradbury, as his writing tends to run toward the allegorical political commentary.
Overall: 39/50 C
Triggers: Cheating
Tags: Alternate History, Victorian, Sci-fi, Political Commentary, Corporations, Male Protagonist
Similar Books: The Somnambulist (and pretty much anything else by Jonathan Barnes)
Characterization: 10/10 S
Characters are wonderfully thought out, and each person serves a very distinct purpose in the story. Even the radical shift between Cannonbridge’s personality is very well done, as are the the snapshots of characters like Charles Dickens and Mary Shelley. It takes a great author to capture an entire character’s personality in just a few pages.
Favorite Character: Cannonbridge. Like everyone else in the story I am just as enchanted with our savior/villain. You sympathize with him at first and greatly dislike him at the end, just as Barnes intended.
Writing Quality: 9/10 A
Overall, the writing is superb! The mood of the story is wonderfully conveyed, and I really only mark this story as horror because it feels like a horror story, even though many of the elements aren’t really typical horror story tropes. I did notice some typos and repetitive word choice from time to time, but the rest of the writing more than makes up for that.
Overall Plot: 8/10 B
I really loved the idea of the allegory that Barnes is going for, but I think that because he tries to keep you guessing until the end, some of the allegory stutters in translation. If you take some time to really think about it afterwards, you can fit some pieces into place that aren’t fitted for you, but there are times where, especially with Cannonbridge himself, the allegory is weak. I didn’t particularly like the ending, but I understood why it was done, and it honestly makes putting the rest of the story together an easier task.
Diversity: 3/10 F
Definitely not a diverse cast here. I gave the book one point for having some strong female characters which were written well.There is a brief mention of a bisexual character (but because it’s brief I didn’t give the usual points I would for bi inclusion), and also veterans are included. Other than that, it is pretty exclusively white (and I’m not making an assumption about that, all of the historical characters referenced were white). The protagonist is a middle aged (white) guy in a middle-class neighborhood.
Delivery of Message/Impact: 9/10 A
Again, the allegory is a great one, and honestly it is so rare these days to find contemporary prose fiction that is allegorical. There are several stories that share important messages, yes, but this is a book that can be analyzed. It is a modern Fahrenheit 451. Jonathan Barnes, in my humble opinion, is himself a modern day Ray Bradbury, as his writing tends to run toward the allegorical political commentary.
Overall: 39/50 C
Triggers: Cheating
Tags: Alternate History, Victorian, Sci-fi, Political Commentary, Corporations, Male Protagonist
Similar Books: The Somnambulist (and pretty much anything else by Jonathan Barnes)
February 11, 2015
This was one amazing ride of a book. The plot is quite original and glides seamlessly between the present and the 19th century. Both eras are convincing and both plot strands compelling--I could have read a whole novel about Maria and Cannonbridge. My one real criticism of the novel was neatly twisted around to form part of the very satisfying ending. This guy is good. Very much for fans of Victorian literature, Jasper Fforde--although this is much darker--really just highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
October 7, 2015
Review at Draumr Kopa Blog: https://draumrkopablog.wordpress.com/...
‘Cannonbridge’ is one of those few books that demand a lot of thinking and are still very compelling. It tells the tale about Dr. Toby Judd, a man whose life crashes and burns around him at the very beginning of the book. In his state of mental instability he starts obsessing about Matthew Cannonbridge, one of the most famous authors in English history. Dr. Judd has a feeling that something isn’t right about his work. Something just doesn’t fit. When he decides to investigate the infamous author, he stumbles across a lot of mystery, death and secrecy. He makes it his mission to find out what is going on with Cannonbridge and what secret is so important that people would kill for it.
I loved the writing; it had sometimes bordering poetic or lyrical. It might be a bit too much for some people, but for me personally it really fit the story rather well. A large part of this book focusses on authors of the 19th Century in England and this writing style seemed to fortify the feeling of that age and that subject.
The story jumps from present to past, with the flashbacks showing famous English authors at a certain point in their life. Each and every one meets Cannonbridge and we can see the evolution of Cannonbridge’s character through these flashback. The man who started out as a polite, benign stranger ends up a weird and threatening man.
It was very interesting to have these flashbacks to other famous English authors. Most of them I knew (Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens…), but some I had never heard of. It was fascinating to take a look online to find out about their background and the works they wrote. It helped me understand their parts in the story better.
The fantastical aspect to the story only became apparent later on in the book, but it intrigued me. It’s not something that’s easy to wrap your head around and it demands quite a lot of imagination. I thought it was very imaginative and original and I loved finding out how everything really worked. It still remains very complicated and though that has it’s charm, it might take away some of the punch, the impact of the big reveal.
Our main character Dr. Judd is that kind of character I like to read about. Very flawed, with a life in tatters. Smart, but still baffled by what he encounters during his journey to find out more about Cannonbridge. There are a few secondary characters that didn’t really leave that much of an impression, but still kept the story going and most of the times also gave the main character the means or the incentive to go on with his investigation.
The very end is heart wrenching, but somehow I’d felt it coming. I’m a bit disappointed that it was this transparent; it could have really been a shocker to end the book with. It’s also interesting to think what this will do in the future to the main character, how he will cope with it. Interesting, but like I said, you could see it coming from miles away.
I ultimately really liked this book; the mystery was tangible throughout the entire book, only revealing the full extent of the scheme towards the end. I could never entirely guess what was going on and I absolutely love it when a book can keep me in the dark like that. It maybe has its flaws and it won’t appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed reading ‘Cannonbridge’ very much.
‘Cannonbridge’ is one of those few books that demand a lot of thinking and are still very compelling. It tells the tale about Dr. Toby Judd, a man whose life crashes and burns around him at the very beginning of the book. In his state of mental instability he starts obsessing about Matthew Cannonbridge, one of the most famous authors in English history. Dr. Judd has a feeling that something isn’t right about his work. Something just doesn’t fit. When he decides to investigate the infamous author, he stumbles across a lot of mystery, death and secrecy. He makes it his mission to find out what is going on with Cannonbridge and what secret is so important that people would kill for it.
I loved the writing; it had sometimes bordering poetic or lyrical. It might be a bit too much for some people, but for me personally it really fit the story rather well. A large part of this book focusses on authors of the 19th Century in England and this writing style seemed to fortify the feeling of that age and that subject.
The story jumps from present to past, with the flashbacks showing famous English authors at a certain point in their life. Each and every one meets Cannonbridge and we can see the evolution of Cannonbridge’s character through these flashback. The man who started out as a polite, benign stranger ends up a weird and threatening man.
It was very interesting to have these flashbacks to other famous English authors. Most of them I knew (Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens…), but some I had never heard of. It was fascinating to take a look online to find out about their background and the works they wrote. It helped me understand their parts in the story better.
The fantastical aspect to the story only became apparent later on in the book, but it intrigued me. It’s not something that’s easy to wrap your head around and it demands quite a lot of imagination. I thought it was very imaginative and original and I loved finding out how everything really worked. It still remains very complicated and though that has it’s charm, it might take away some of the punch, the impact of the big reveal.
Our main character Dr. Judd is that kind of character I like to read about. Very flawed, with a life in tatters. Smart, but still baffled by what he encounters during his journey to find out more about Cannonbridge. There are a few secondary characters that didn’t really leave that much of an impression, but still kept the story going and most of the times also gave the main character the means or the incentive to go on with his investigation.
The very end is heart wrenching, but somehow I’d felt it coming. I’m a bit disappointed that it was this transparent; it could have really been a shocker to end the book with. It’s also interesting to think what this will do in the future to the main character, how he will cope with it. Interesting, but like I said, you could see it coming from miles away.
I ultimately really liked this book; the mystery was tangible throughout the entire book, only revealing the full extent of the scheme towards the end. I could never entirely guess what was going on and I absolutely love it when a book can keep me in the dark like that. It maybe has its flaws and it won’t appeal to everyone, but I enjoyed reading ‘Cannonbridge’ very much.
April 2, 2015
Film-maker David Lynch once said that he spent a great deal of time sitting in a chair and staring off into the middle distance. He also said that while it looked like he was doing nothing, that those were the times he was going after what he called “the really big fish.”
Which brings me to Cannonbridge, by Jonathan Barnes. This novel seems like it is going to be another literary thriller, with academics chasing leads from one scenic or historic destination to another, searching for a lost manuscript. It morphs, however, not once, but many times, and ends up being something quite different, and quite unique.
The story starts with Toby Judd, a professor of literature who wife has left him for a colleague who has just published a best-seller, a guide to one of the greatest and most popular English writers of all time, one Matthew Cannonbridge. Now not only is Cannonbridge noted as an author, but during his life he was also a kind of Fifth Business for other writers, showing up in the lives of writers and changing their fortunes, for both good and ill. We witness him besting both Lord Byron and the Shelley’s, (where Mary first started on Frankenstein), at the Lord’s Villa at Geneva. He also appears to a young Dickens at the boot-black factory, and Poe right before his last fatal debauch.
In a fit of drunken despondency which produces unusual clarity, Toby decides that something is distinctly wrong with both the life and works of Cannonbridge. Marshalling his sources he decides to give a lecture denouncing Cannobridge and his canon as a fake. His lecture is a flop, and Toby gets the hook after only a few minutes, but a seedy man who spoke to Toby beforehand catches the whole thing on his phone. Without his knowledge, the video goes viral. Toby has other problems, however. The seedy man is found dead, an apparent suicide, and the police come and question Toby. Later, one of the inspectors come back to speak to Toby, and tells him that the death is probably a murder, and he thinks it best for Toby to take it on the lam. Later, that detective ends up dead as well, and Toby is wanted as a person of interest.
This is where things begin to get really strange.
On the run Toby runs onto a waitress, Gabriella, who gives him an enormous amount of help. The fact that she used to be a soldier is also very handy. Together the two of them begin to unlock a sinister conspiracy that drifts from Academia, to politics, and, (after a particularly hallucinatory trip to a private island), a place that is not of this world.
The latter parts of this novel are tough for me, because the plot is rife with spoilers that I will not divulge, and the narrative shift ends up placing the reader firmly in a place that feels a bit like Lovecraft and a bit like American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. A move like that requires a lot of skill, and Mr. Barnes has it. His sense of plot and character is sure, and his prose, fluid and supple, keeps the reader grounded. While his imagination took me farther and farther afield his grasp of story kept me with Toby the whole time. In the end, as Toby grapples with the nature of reality and creation, I found myself guessing just what strange and wonderful place Mr. Barnes was taking me. It was a trip I enjoyed the whole time.
Review by: Mark Palm
Full Reviews Available at: http://www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com
Which brings me to Cannonbridge, by Jonathan Barnes. This novel seems like it is going to be another literary thriller, with academics chasing leads from one scenic or historic destination to another, searching for a lost manuscript. It morphs, however, not once, but many times, and ends up being something quite different, and quite unique.
The story starts with Toby Judd, a professor of literature who wife has left him for a colleague who has just published a best-seller, a guide to one of the greatest and most popular English writers of all time, one Matthew Cannonbridge. Now not only is Cannonbridge noted as an author, but during his life he was also a kind of Fifth Business for other writers, showing up in the lives of writers and changing their fortunes, for both good and ill. We witness him besting both Lord Byron and the Shelley’s, (where Mary first started on Frankenstein), at the Lord’s Villa at Geneva. He also appears to a young Dickens at the boot-black factory, and Poe right before his last fatal debauch.
In a fit of drunken despondency which produces unusual clarity, Toby decides that something is distinctly wrong with both the life and works of Cannonbridge. Marshalling his sources he decides to give a lecture denouncing Cannobridge and his canon as a fake. His lecture is a flop, and Toby gets the hook after only a few minutes, but a seedy man who spoke to Toby beforehand catches the whole thing on his phone. Without his knowledge, the video goes viral. Toby has other problems, however. The seedy man is found dead, an apparent suicide, and the police come and question Toby. Later, one of the inspectors come back to speak to Toby, and tells him that the death is probably a murder, and he thinks it best for Toby to take it on the lam. Later, that detective ends up dead as well, and Toby is wanted as a person of interest.
This is where things begin to get really strange.
On the run Toby runs onto a waitress, Gabriella, who gives him an enormous amount of help. The fact that she used to be a soldier is also very handy. Together the two of them begin to unlock a sinister conspiracy that drifts from Academia, to politics, and, (after a particularly hallucinatory trip to a private island), a place that is not of this world.
The latter parts of this novel are tough for me, because the plot is rife with spoilers that I will not divulge, and the narrative shift ends up placing the reader firmly in a place that feels a bit like Lovecraft and a bit like American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. A move like that requires a lot of skill, and Mr. Barnes has it. His sense of plot and character is sure, and his prose, fluid and supple, keeps the reader grounded. While his imagination took me farther and farther afield his grasp of story kept me with Toby the whole time. In the end, as Toby grapples with the nature of reality and creation, I found myself guessing just what strange and wonderful place Mr. Barnes was taking me. It was a trip I enjoyed the whole time.
Review by: Mark Palm
Full Reviews Available at: http://www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com
September 26, 2016
Close to 3,5 stars, but as more reviewers on here have noted, it all falls apart a bit at the end. Even though the revelations are well thought out, they don't have real impact. The book wants to be smarter, more intelligent, than it really is. Also, the conclusion does not fulfill the promise inherent in the start of the book, as the careening tour through the 19th century literary landscape (visiting some other well known unsavory figures of almost legendary status on the way) turns out to be pretty inconsequential. Yes, there is some connection in the fact that the power of writing to change perceptions of history and the future plays an important role in the end, but the 19th century fragments are not about that and we don't get a sense of what these authors wrought with their works, no lasting influence. Even the eponymous Cannonbridge is said to be the most influential author of the 19th century, but nothing of his influence is shown. In the end Cannonbridge could have been anything, his being an author revealed as nothing more than an authors' fancy. As a reader of 19th century literature as well as SF and fantasy this feels like a squandered opportunity to me, as the idea of a grand conspiracy involving Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, et cetera et cetera is inspiring to say the least. It could have been a mind blowing tour through their works and lives, but instead it turns out to be a well written, in places Lovecraftian chiller, diverting, even exciting and in places horriffying, but well ... not more than that. That being said: the contemporary protagonist is sympathetic and I enjoyed following him around on his (mis)adventures, his sense of paranoia convincing, and the descriptions of for example conceited fellow authors to be worthy of a hearty chuckle. And did I mention the almost 19th century gothic writing style (including authorial asides)? I liked that. Also the final page contains a whopper of a gut punch to finish the book with. And it turns out to have been a horror novel hidden in the pages of a 19th century literature text book. If you enjoy world literature and are in the mood for some light entertainment, this will certainly hit the spot.
February 23, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I like time travel/alternate reality books, and the cover of this one looked gorgeous, so I was eager to get started on it. So I read a vignette set during the stormy night when "Frankenstein" was created and Cannonbridge makes his first appearance. Then a scene with a frustrated academic who makes Cannonbridge his area of specialty. Then a scene with Cannonbridge and Polidori. Then another scene of our academic becoming even more frustrated and embittered. Then a scene with Cannonbridge and Charles Dickens. And another jump to our long-suffering academic...
It seemed like the author wanted to show off all he knew about 19th century literature, but the connection between these authors and Cannonbridge was never really made explicit. Was he some sort of muse? Well, he apparently wrote books himself as well. Or did he...? He always seemed vaguely menacing, but why, really? Lots of build-up, but not a great pay-off. When it comes down to it, the answer to these questions was rather unsatisfying.
I like time travel/alternate reality books, and the cover of this one looked gorgeous, so I was eager to get started on it. So I read a vignette set during the stormy night when "Frankenstein" was created and Cannonbridge makes his first appearance. Then a scene with a frustrated academic who makes Cannonbridge his area of specialty. Then a scene with Cannonbridge and Polidori. Then another scene of our academic becoming even more frustrated and embittered. Then a scene with Cannonbridge and Charles Dickens. And another jump to our long-suffering academic...
It seemed like the author wanted to show off all he knew about 19th century literature, but the connection between these authors and Cannonbridge was never really made explicit. Was he some sort of muse? Well, he apparently wrote books himself as well. Or did he...? He always seemed vaguely menacing, but why, really? Lots of build-up, but not a great pay-off. When it comes down to it, the answer to these questions was rather unsatisfying.
December 6, 2024
One of the things that drives people nuts about Charles Dickens is the sheer number of coincidences in his novels. Inheritances come out of nowhere. Relatives meet by chance in unlikely places. Etc. etc. But because he’s Dickens, ol’ Charles can get away with a lot. I thought of this a lot in Jonathan Barnes’ Cannonbridge. There are a lot of stunning (as in, they will stun you as you read this book) coincidences in Cannonbridge. Barnes is no Dickens, however. But by the end of the book, Barnes reveals a ballsy ending to explain just how a formerly unknown Victorian author managed to meet Percy and Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, a young Charles Dickens, the Brontës, Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle over the course of a century—all without aging...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
March 24, 2015
This is my first time reading Mr. Barnes. I found the story quite interesting and the plot flushed out quite well. I enjoyed the book. The one drawback I had to the book is its slow pace. It took me a long time to get into the story and I had to convince myself more than once to pick it back up again to finish. I liked the switching of the time periods between the two characters but I think the author could have done more to use the tool to make the story faster and more engaging. I would recommend it but only with those caveats.
March 13, 2015
Cannonbridge is an enjoyable romp through 19th century literature. The story was compelling, with plenty of turns along the way, and the characters were memorable and well-written. The twist at the end caught me by surprise and I found myself putting the book down with a smile on my face. Well worth a read - great for a lazy afternoon.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.
I received this book as a free e-book ARC via NetGalley.
March 25, 2015
This book has three principles:
1. Capitalism is evil
2. Global capitalism is REALLY evil (in the most literal "IA IA WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION FHTAGN" way you can imagine.)
3. However, we can- possibly- defeat global Cthulhu capitalism with the power of LITERATURE.
This book panders to my interests so much, I can't actually tell you whether it's good or bad. I was just delighted.
1. Capitalism is evil
2. Global capitalism is REALLY evil (in the most literal "IA IA WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION FHTAGN" way you can imagine.)
3. However, we can- possibly- defeat global Cthulhu capitalism with the power of LITERATURE.
This book panders to my interests so much, I can't actually tell you whether it's good or bad. I was just delighted.
April 18, 2015
Quite a good read. Novel in many senses. Unique narrative, tying together seeming disparate themes. Ideas I've not seen previously attempted. The denouement is a bit flat, but I'm not sure what I'd have done differently. Not great literature, but I highly recommend it.
May 19, 2015
Very clever book. I found it slow to start but I soon became caught up in the mystery of it. The premise is appealing, the end has a great twist, the humour I subtle and enjoyable. A great read!
September 21, 2017
I am so clearly the intended demographic for this book it's hard to review, but I'm going with four stars because it's well-written and conveys a growing feeling of dread for almost the entire story, which I rarely see. The endings of novels inevitably truncate that feeling, which for me requires a sense of mystery, but at least the ending here fits the rest of the story and the various pieces slot together nicely. Several times I was certain I knew where it was heading but was wrong, and that's something I appreciate. The Cannonbridge character was rather a Victorian "Zelig," but even that was appropriate in context.
May 29, 2018
Jonathan Barnes is one of the weird, somewhat uncategorizable authors on my "read everything" list. Cannonbridge has been on my Kindle for quite some time, and I finally had an opportunity to read it ... which ended in a marathon, 52% of the book spree this morning. Literary fiction, but ... something darker and not quite of this world.
Matthew Cannonbridge is the best known, best loved of British authors. Or is he? Dr. Toby Judd has a strange sense that something odd is going on. And then it sweeps him up and carries him away.
Matthew Cannonbridge is the best known, best loved of British authors. Or is he? Dr. Toby Judd has a strange sense that something odd is going on. And then it sweeps him up and carries him away.
August 8, 2018
An interesting book, the plot was cleverly mapped out and I found it difficult to put down. However the characters seemed to fall flat, I didn’t find them particularly interesting and the storyline didn’t flow as nicely as it could.
I thought the transformation of Cannonbridge due to human greed and capitalism was well done, but I didn’t find the story as enticing as other books that I have read
I thought the transformation of Cannonbridge due to human greed and capitalism was well done, but I didn’t find the story as enticing as other books that I have read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2019
Through a good portion of the book, I was largely unsatisfied with the execution. The idea was great, but the story itself was a bit dull. However, the last 5-10 chapters proved satisfying, even if they were a bit predictable.
I can't reveal too much about the story without spoiling its conclusion, but I've seen this idea played out better in other novels and short stories (as well as an episode or two of TV).
I can't reveal too much about the story without spoiling its conclusion, but I've seen this idea played out better in other novels and short stories (as well as an episode or two of TV).
May 19, 2023
An incredibly imaginative book about a non-existent literary hero somehow brought to life by a mysterious Scottish island. Much of the material of said island has been moved to London so that its special qualities can be used to bring about a massive literary fraud.
It all sounded so plausible. Why hadn't I heard of Cannonbridge? Sounds like a name for a real dead white author.
It all sounded so plausible. Why hadn't I heard of Cannonbridge? Sounds like a name for a real dead white author.
March 20, 2017
Surprisingly good book with interesting premise about unnatural being.
July 18, 2017
When I started reading I was sure I was going to give this a five by the end but I really don't think the ending matched the rest of the story.
May 1, 2020
Fabulous vocabulary and a love of literature. I only wish there had been more women in his pantheon of greats.
Read
February 16, 2015Something has gone wrong with history in this gripping novel about a lie planted among the greatest works of English fiction.
Flamboyant, charismatic Matthew Cannonbridge was touched by genius, the most influential creative mind of the 19th century, a prolific novelist, accomplished playwright, the poet of his generation. The only problem is, he should never have existed and beleaguered, provincial, recently-divorced 21st Century don Toby Judd is the only person to realise something has gone wrong with history.
All the world was Cannonbridge’s and he possessed, seemingly, the ability to be everywhere at once. Cannonbridge was there that night by Lake Geneva when conversation between Byron, Shelley and Mary Godwin turned to stories of horror and the supernatural. He was sole ally, confidante and friend to the young Dickens as Charles laboured without respite in the blacking factory. He was the only man of standing and renown to regularly visit Oscar Wilde in prison. Tennyson's drinking companion, Kipling's best friend, Robert Louis Stevenson's counsellor and guide - Cannonbridge's extraordinary life and career spanned a century, earning him a richly-deserved place in the English canon.
But as bibliophiles everywhere prepare to toast the bicentenary of the publication of Cannonbridge's most celebrated work, Judd's discovery will lead him on a breakneck chase across the English canon and countryside, to the realisation that the spectre of Matthew Cannonbridge, planted so seamlessly into the heart of the 19th Century, might not be so dead and buried after all...
From Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Matthew Cannonbridge appears to be at every significant moment, or interacting with every significant literary character in the 19th Century. He arrives in the Italian Villa on a dark and stormy night as Byron and the Shelleys are telling each other ghost stories. He meets Charles Dickens as a young child in the blacking factory. He is a suspect in the Ripper slayings. He talks to Marx whilst the latter is on holiday. Many years after their first meeting, he attempts to fund Charles Dickens' tours, only for Dickens to ask his friend Wilkie Collins to return the money. Each time we encounter Cannonbridge, we learn a little more, and each time is a little more disturbing. Cannonbridge has massive blackouts, has no idea when or where he is, and each encounter shows him to be a little more deranged and threatening.
All these touch points are interspersed with the "now" and Dr Toby Judd who is a middle ranking unexciting professor with some experience in Cannonbridge. However, at the start of the book he loses his wife to J.J. Salazar (the Cannonbridge scholar who ends up with the book, the publicity and the girl), and Judd is on a descent into hell. He believes that Cannonbridge is too neat a character, and must have been invented by a much later - and very talented - scholar. After a very public breakdown and a video of the lecture is loaded to youtube and goes viral - a policeman advises him to get away as he is in danger. Less than 24 hours later, the policeman is dead, and Judd is on the run.
Judd hooks up with a waitress - Gabrielle - who inexplicably believes him and she goes on the run with him. Unbeknownst to him, she is also ex-army, a fact that comes in useful when things (and killers) start catching up with the pair of them.
Judd's travels take him to a small island off Scotland, where he makes a disturbing discovery that underpins and ultimately proves his theories. Unfortunately he is found by his pursuers, and is returned to London in time for the bicentennial party on the banks of the Thames, the site of Cannonbridge's death by drowning. However things don't exactly go according to plan, and it comes down to a near broken Judd to face off against the nightmare that has been a long time coming (I am trying to avoid too many spoilers!).
As the narrative changed between timeperiods there was a change in writing style, with the earlier writings being much more Gothic, flowery and melodramatic. The modern period was written in a much crisper, shorter style. The significance of the island wasnt over-egged and the importance of Reynolds bank and the generational support was suitably threatening.
Smallish issue (but big enough to mention): Whilst the majority of the formatting was decent, there was "issues" at chapter and narrative breaks where the font suddenly changed, or the tExT weNT A bIt PeCuliar.
Author website
Jonathan Barnes is the author of two novels, The Somnambulist and The Domino Men. Cannonbridge is his third novel. He contributes regularly to the Times Literary Supplement and the Literary Review and is the author of several scripts for Big Finish Productions. He is currently writer-in-residence at Kingston University
Flamboyant, charismatic Matthew Cannonbridge was touched by genius, the most influential creative mind of the 19th century, a prolific novelist, accomplished playwright, the poet of his generation. The only problem is, he should never have existed and beleaguered, provincial, recently-divorced 21st Century don Toby Judd is the only person to realise something has gone wrong with history.
All the world was Cannonbridge’s and he possessed, seemingly, the ability to be everywhere at once. Cannonbridge was there that night by Lake Geneva when conversation between Byron, Shelley and Mary Godwin turned to stories of horror and the supernatural. He was sole ally, confidante and friend to the young Dickens as Charles laboured without respite in the blacking factory. He was the only man of standing and renown to regularly visit Oscar Wilde in prison. Tennyson's drinking companion, Kipling's best friend, Robert Louis Stevenson's counsellor and guide - Cannonbridge's extraordinary life and career spanned a century, earning him a richly-deserved place in the English canon.
But as bibliophiles everywhere prepare to toast the bicentenary of the publication of Cannonbridge's most celebrated work, Judd's discovery will lead him on a breakneck chase across the English canon and countryside, to the realisation that the spectre of Matthew Cannonbridge, planted so seamlessly into the heart of the 19th Century, might not be so dead and buried after all...
From Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Matthew Cannonbridge appears to be at every significant moment, or interacting with every significant literary character in the 19th Century. He arrives in the Italian Villa on a dark and stormy night as Byron and the Shelleys are telling each other ghost stories. He meets Charles Dickens as a young child in the blacking factory. He is a suspect in the Ripper slayings. He talks to Marx whilst the latter is on holiday. Many years after their first meeting, he attempts to fund Charles Dickens' tours, only for Dickens to ask his friend Wilkie Collins to return the money. Each time we encounter Cannonbridge, we learn a little more, and each time is a little more disturbing. Cannonbridge has massive blackouts, has no idea when or where he is, and each encounter shows him to be a little more deranged and threatening.
All these touch points are interspersed with the "now" and Dr Toby Judd who is a middle ranking unexciting professor with some experience in Cannonbridge. However, at the start of the book he loses his wife to J.J. Salazar (the Cannonbridge scholar who ends up with the book, the publicity and the girl), and Judd is on a descent into hell. He believes that Cannonbridge is too neat a character, and must have been invented by a much later - and very talented - scholar. After a very public breakdown and a video of the lecture is loaded to youtube and goes viral - a policeman advises him to get away as he is in danger. Less than 24 hours later, the policeman is dead, and Judd is on the run.
Judd hooks up with a waitress - Gabrielle - who inexplicably believes him and she goes on the run with him. Unbeknownst to him, she is also ex-army, a fact that comes in useful when things (and killers) start catching up with the pair of them.
Judd's travels take him to a small island off Scotland, where he makes a disturbing discovery that underpins and ultimately proves his theories. Unfortunately he is found by his pursuers, and is returned to London in time for the bicentennial party on the banks of the Thames, the site of Cannonbridge's death by drowning. However things don't exactly go according to plan, and it comes down to a near broken Judd to face off against the nightmare that has been a long time coming (I am trying to avoid too many spoilers!).
As the narrative changed between timeperiods there was a change in writing style, with the earlier writings being much more Gothic, flowery and melodramatic. The modern period was written in a much crisper, shorter style. The significance of the island wasnt over-egged and the importance of Reynolds bank and the generational support was suitably threatening.
Smallish issue (but big enough to mention): Whilst the majority of the formatting was decent, there was "issues" at chapter and narrative breaks where the font suddenly changed, or the tExT weNT A bIt PeCuliar.
Author website
Jonathan Barnes is the author of two novels, The Somnambulist and The Domino Men. Cannonbridge is his third novel. He contributes regularly to the Times Literary Supplement and the Literary Review and is the author of several scripts for Big Finish Productions. He is currently writer-in-residence at Kingston University
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews