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Babbicam
Who was Babbacombe Lee, and what is his final secret?
In a backyard junk sale a young American poet finds some vintage recordings of John 'Babbacombe' Lee telling his story; he was known as ' the man they could not hang' throughout England, having survived execution. He claimed he was saved from death because he was innocent of the bloody crime. The poet must escape his own ghosts as he goes questing for the truth about Lee, and before the past can yield up all of its secrets, he must first go back to the original scene of the crime - that mysterious Devonshire beach the locals called Babbicam. A novel about guilt, meaning, and the ghosts all around us.
In a backyard junk sale a young American poet finds some vintage recordings of John 'Babbacombe' Lee telling his story; he was known as ' the man they could not hang' throughout England, having survived execution. He claimed he was saved from death because he was innocent of the bloody crime. The poet must escape his own ghosts as he goes questing for the truth about Lee, and before the past can yield up all of its secrets, he must first go back to the original scene of the crime - that mysterious Devonshire beach the locals called Babbicam. A novel about guilt, meaning, and the ghosts all around us.
Hardcover
First published May 1, 2015
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January 18, 2016
In the present day an American man lives in depression; with the ever-present memory of the thought that he created events to lead to the death of both of his own parents. He lives as a poet and a writer,and he always looks for inspiration for his work.
At a junk yard sale he finds a recorder and a number of wire recording spools; upon which he finds conversations between a famous murderer John 'Babbacombe'Lee and his psychoanalyst. Unusual for the recordings to show up here because the events happened in 19th Century England. Abused at an early age the future Babbicam murderer always lives one step away from confrontation with the law. And although he has a police record he's able to find employment as a labourer in a wealthy household.
Our present day writer tells the John Lee story that unfolds on these vintage recordings; conversations that have not been heard nor told until this day.
The conversations talk around the events leading to the ultimate death of his employer. I say 'around' because to this day the recordings aren't enough to imply guilt on Lee's part.
Whether or not he did it, Lee was found guilty of the murder of his employer. But Lee's fame comes not from the murder for which he was accused. It comes from the fact that the system couldn't hang him; something always went wrong. Lee always said that they couldn't hang him because he was innocent - or so he said.
Our writer embarks on a journey that allow him to exorcise his own demons, and get at the truth of John Lee; a journey that includes a cross-Atlantic jaunt to the past in Devonshire, England.
Ultimately a great storyline that, at times, I found hard to follow. I like the concept and the story most of all. My rating 3-1/2 stars.
Thank you to Inpress Books and Holland House for allowing me the opportunity to review this edition for the Net Galley system.
At a junk yard sale he finds a recorder and a number of wire recording spools; upon which he finds conversations between a famous murderer John 'Babbacombe'Lee and his psychoanalyst. Unusual for the recordings to show up here because the events happened in 19th Century England. Abused at an early age the future Babbicam murderer always lives one step away from confrontation with the law. And although he has a police record he's able to find employment as a labourer in a wealthy household.
Our present day writer tells the John Lee story that unfolds on these vintage recordings; conversations that have not been heard nor told until this day.
The conversations talk around the events leading to the ultimate death of his employer. I say 'around' because to this day the recordings aren't enough to imply guilt on Lee's part.
Whether or not he did it, Lee was found guilty of the murder of his employer. But Lee's fame comes not from the murder for which he was accused. It comes from the fact that the system couldn't hang him; something always went wrong. Lee always said that they couldn't hang him because he was innocent - or so he said.
Our writer embarks on a journey that allow him to exorcise his own demons, and get at the truth of John Lee; a journey that includes a cross-Atlantic jaunt to the past in Devonshire, England.
Ultimately a great storyline that, at times, I found hard to follow. I like the concept and the story most of all. My rating 3-1/2 stars.
Thank you to Inpress Books and Holland House for allowing me the opportunity to review this edition for the Net Galley system.
Displaying 1 of 1 review