The Lives of Shadows

by Barbara Hodgson

In the spring of 1914, a restless young man leaves England for a tour of the exotic east. A bit of Egypt, a glimpse of Syria, a nod to Constantinople -- that's all that was supposed to happen. Instead, Julian Beaufort becomes mesmerized. Wandering in idle admiration through the labyrinthine streets of Damascus, he stumbles upon Bait Katib, a house that takes possession of his heart. It is elegant; it is ancient; and it is, after a bit of negotiation with the owner, his. He has every intention of staying there for the rest of his life. But the world doesn't relinquish its hold so easily. Two bloody wars -- one in Europe and one in Syria -- leave Julian wounded and the city of Damascus in ruins. He returns from battle to find his precious house still standing, but no longer entirely his. It seems someone else may be occupying the shadows of Bait Katib. A mystery, a love story, and a journey to a sepia-toned past, Barbara Hodgson's new illustrated novel will haunt and delight her many devoted readers and tempt legions more to take a guided journey into another world.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Art, Historical, Magical Realism

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Barbara Hodgson is a book designer with a degree in archeology and a diploma in graphic design. She began her career in book design by working for Douglas & McIntyre, moving from freelance designer to art director prior to taking on freelance work for other publishers and ultimately forming the book-packaging company Byzantium Books with Nick Bantock in 1993.

Designing books led to writing books: Hodgson is the author of No Place for a Lady, Dreaming of East, and Italy Out of Hand, all published by Greystone Books, and several other highly praised non-fiction books. She is also the author of four acclaimed illustrated novels Lives of Shadows, Hippolyte’s Island, The Sensualist, and The Tattooed Map.

Hodgson’s books are unique in that they combine her writing with a multitude of illustrations of various types drawn from a wide range of sources, including engravings, lithographs, photographs, stereo-cards, postcards, movie stills, and pulp magazine and novel covers. These days, the flea market is the consummate collector’s primary source of research and inspiration.

Barbara Hodgson lives in Vancouver.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julian Beaufort, a young British man, comes across the house Bait Katib as he's traveling in Damascus in 1914. He falls in love with it and agrees to buy it from its owner, but isn't able to return to take possession of it until 1925 after he serves in World War I. When he returns, the city is being bombed by the French. The old owner and his wife have died, and their daughter Asilah Katib has suddenly gone missing. Fast-forward to 1945, when a cousin-in-law of Asilah's wants to claim the house for his own. As Julian struggles to justify his keeping the house, Asilah, who seems to have been hiding in the house for twenty years without detection, secretly writes down her own memories in the back of Julian's journal to help him justify his ownership.

As the story goes on and Julian and Asilah's memories from 1925 to 1945 unfold in Julian's journal, the reader begins to realize there is something very strange about Bait Katib. Asilah describes how she was able to access an older part of the house that shouldn't have been there anymore and see scenes from the past, yet she could only get there just after Julian would try the door. Meanwhile, she was able to physically manipulate her surroundings to help Julian, but when they finally encountered each other he didn't seem to be able to see her.

A twist ending implies that Julian and Asilah both, in fact, died in 1925 and have been existing on semi-separate planes within the ghost of what was once Bait Katib. The author makes it clear that Asilah died when she was shot outside shortly before Julian arrived in the house. She also implies that Julian died by including an article at the end about a bomb that dropped on a "vacant lot" in 1945, the lot that had been occupied by Bait Katib until it was blown up twenty years earlier. The "shadows" of the title, then, are Julian, Asilah, and Bait Katib itself.

I'm not one hundred percent sure that my interpretation of Julian already being dead is correct, though. The author described him interacting with other people for some of his time in the house, then seeing his own dead body at the end just before he joined Asilah, so I'm not certain what she meant by including the article that inspired her.

Either way, though, the book is an exotic, ghostly read with all of the wonderful illustrations that Hodgson included. The true star of the book is the richly-described house and its journey through the history of Damascus.

For you gamers out there, the atmosphere reminded me of playing Myst and Riven.

[Tiffany {Beyond the Stars Books} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captivating

I feel like I have more questions that I started with. I wish I could speak with the author to further my understanding of the novel. I did enjoy the read, very much so. It was very intriguing and I was absolutely captivated by the story of Bait Katib. I do recommend, and would probably give more stars if I am able to be in contact the author.

[Anne Lind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this rather strange story on my Kindle. Unfortunately, the illustrations were too small to be made out, so I missed out on part of the pleasure of the book. The protagonist is a young man who buys a house in Damascus and lives there with a ghost between the world wars.

[Courtney Jimmie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting book (the letters/diary format + illustrations), but not the book for me. It felt to me that the author spends more time describing the house and city than exploring the characters. Maybe it's easier for others, but even with the pictures, I had a hard time visualizing the scenes. Also, it feels like the characters just roam from room-to-room and wax poetic about the house; existing just out of each other's orbits and unable to create much action until the end. The sort of twist didn't feel that shocking, but the last page was super confusing to me. It made me wonder if any of it happened at all, which irritates me as a reader. Don't tell me a story then unravel the entirety of it. That just makes it feel like my time was wasted.

Anyway, I know that this book has a lot of good reviews and I'm glad that I read it, but I think I'm just not the right person for it.

[Chy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a movie, years back, that did this to me. I loved that, and I thought there was no way any story would ever do that specific thing to me again.

But this did. And I loved that.

I had to let go of trying to compare this to House of Leaves before I could really enjoy it, though there are some...similarities. In a completely different way.

I don't know. I don't feel like it's all that great of a book, but it was great for me.

[DoctorM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and beautifully illustrated novel that begins with a simple enough real estate question-- who exactly owns a house in Damascus, just after WW-2? --and moves into lovely gentle realms of memory and loss and dream. Hodgson's illustrated novels are always a delight, and this is better even than her "Tattooed Map".

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book at an artist's book conference hosted by the Getty. I bought it for its design and incorporation of graphics. The graphics are much more compelling than the story or the writing.

[Kim]

What an odd book. I don't know what it was about, or how it ended. I think it was about the natural of reality but I need to think about that for a bit
Odd but beautifully presented

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

The writing flows easily, and I found myself captured by Julian's wistful longing for a special home and by the historical events.

The premise is, however, ludicrous: two people live in the same (albeit large) house for decades, one often observing the other, but despite numerous near misses they never directly encounter one another and the woman is not even known to live there at all. [Edit with spoiler: a review tells me this is a ghost story, which puts this into a new perspective, but doesn't make the presentation better.]

Add to this that many descriptions of the building itself only leave vague impressions. I couldn't fully picture it. The male main character seems too oblivious to pay attention to the small details around him that would bring the place more to life for the reader.
This is an illustrated 'novel' (more a novella), but the photos don't show much of the house. Perhaps the ebook format isn't ideal for this type of work, but the photos and illustrations added only very little to the reading experience.

DNF at 44%.

[Dawn Peterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

For being such and exotic time, place and subject material-- early 20th Century Damascus and ghosts-- the writing/editing (and I'll make the people who formatted it for Kindle share some blame too, because there were formatting errors) all made it more of a skimmer than a story to lose myself in. There were odd changes of tense, so that I thought I was reading about 1926 and it was actually 1945 (or some other iteration of dates). There were also odd changes of voice. I think maybe this was to give clues as to who is the ghost and who is the living person? It didn't work for me. I kept backtracking to see why "he" just became "I" and then I would get frustrated with myself for over-investing.

The only reason I finished this book is because it is so short. Several times, I said to myself, "Come on, just finish it now and be done," but I just didn't feel like picking it up, and then I would read an article on line or play solitaire on my phone.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julian is a damaged veteran of World War I, who buys a house in Damascus from an ancient family before the War to End All Wars and returns there to live in 1925 during the revolution of that year. In 1945 during a period of strikes and turmoil, he is informed that the house has been claimed by a distant relation of the ancient family. This sets in motion Julian's effort to defend his claim through his memories of his time in the house. He has spent the 20 years trying to find Asilah, the only child of the family and re-doubles his efforts in hopes that she can help him.

The Lives of Shadows tells in gentle and tentative terms of the relationship of Julian, Asilah, and the house, for Asilah exists in the shadows of the house. The language is lovely and evocative of the atmosphere of Damascus during times of trouble, sometimes terrifying and loud, sometimes retreating and still.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A beautiful old house in Damascus enchants a young Englishman so he talks the owner into selling it to him but allows the family to continue to live out their lives there. Wars and life circumstances keep him from returning to the house until many years later. He happily lives there for 20 years until some ownership questions cause him to review events surrounding the house and its residents. I admit to being baffled by the timing and the characters in this novel. Too many shadows for me.

[Holly C Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisitely written and researched with stunning illustrations, clippings, maps and photographs to bring you completely into the rich world of early century Damascus. If you're a big reader like me, this book is small, only 2-3 days to read, which is a shame but I really can't see how it needed anything more added to it. The ending really makes you stop and think and look at the entire story as a whole in a different way.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures were somewhat hard to see and of course, I don't read Arabic, so the illustrations in the book were somewhat lost on me. I however, liked this book that explored magical realism and the architecture and history of Damascus. It was a free Goodreads deal, so the price was definitely right!

[Sunhawk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get into it. Seemed like it started in the middle of things, but immediately flashed back before I could get a sense of the narrator. Billed an "illustrated novel" I could see that it relied heavily on imagery that did not work for me on a little Kindle paperwhite. Maybe this book would be better as an ... uh did we used to call them? Oh, yes: book.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't understand this book at all. Barely a story line, hard to follow, and no real resolution or even clarity. The graphics, while interesting, don't really enhance the story in any way. The idea of visuals embedded within the novel is a neat concept, but the whole thing didn't package well on this occasion.

[Jean St.Amand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very unusual mysterious story that I feel was all explained in the last page or two. The illustrations and pictures didn't necessarily help the story but in spite of that, I really liked them. They somehow added to the story in a way I can't really explain.

[Susan Knell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had hoped this would be a historical novel about Damascus, but it was unfortunately a failed attempt, in every respect.

[Jessamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Gorgeously written and illustrated this is a lovely travel back in time to a lost Damascus. How I wish I could go.

[Jessica Lucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Lives of Shadows" is a subtle cost story of time travel, romance, and hope. Written with a lavish style.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the most depressing book ever...!

[Amanda Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the ending, in particular. Great imagery and a wonderful conclusion.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual way of writing. Interesting perspective.

[Barbara Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read .

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

"By the time I'd sailed in a felucca to Aswan, trekked by camel across the Sinai to Petra, and ridden with a caravan into Damascus, I knew that my love for the East was different from others', even though I followed their well-trodden path. I belonged to this part of the world. I felt it with every nerve, every instinct. Any attempt to live elsewhere would have been a sham. It wasn't an esoteric yearning but rather, an emotion that hits you when the rhythm and temperament in a certain place matches your own to a degree that you've never experienced before. Within the enduring, sepia-toned walls of Damascus especially, I envisioned a place for myself with such clarity that leaving threatened to break my heart."

The Lives of Shadows by Barbara Hodgson is about Julian, who first visits Damascus in 1914. He becomes enthralled with the city and in particular, with a house dating back to the Ottomans, Bait Katib. He intends to live peacefully within its beautiful walls but war intervenes. Injured in battle, Julian retreats to his beloved home, which is barely standing amidst war torn Damascus. He becomes obsessed with the history of the house and the memory of a young woman, Asilah, who once lived there.

Illustrated with old photographs, postcards, maps, architectural sketches, newspaper articles, and lovely Arabic script, The Lives of Shadows is a visually stunning reading experience. The pages and art are in varying shades of sepia, transporting me back to a time before French Syria was ravaged by world wars.

"I looked up from the windows to the elaborately painted, lofty ceiling...each beam and plank was painted with dwellings and temples, wild landscapes and gardens, and earthly and heavenly skies. The effect put me in mind of storytellers who unravel their tales over many nights or of an enthralling ride through the streets of a magical city...

"...

"I crawled over to the window and peered through the screen. All that I could see of Damascus had been reconstructed, and it was beautiful beyond words. The dome of Sinaniyya Mosque reflected gold and lapis lazuli; minarets everywhere glowed. Orchards lapped up to the city walls like green waves upon a shore.

"I poked my head to look at the passersby. The clothing the women wore! Veils of carmine or turquoise or amber were draped over robes of contrasting hues, creating a street awash with the palate of a watercolorist gone mad. On their feet these multi-colored ladies wore dizzyingly high qabaqib inlaid with colored stones and mother-of-pearl...

"Men riding horses and donkeys eased their way down the narrow lane. Their turbans were fanciful creations: candy stripes, starry skies, sunbursts. A troupe of camels crossed the junction at the end of the street. Their bridles were fitted out in scarlet, indigo, ivory, and orange...

"Where was I? In Damascus to be sure, but where in Damascus?"

The story of Julian is a haunting one. How many of us have thought we were stuck in the wrong place, even the wrong time? Julian wants to return to a Damascus that is long gone, or perhaps has never been; he falls in love with a girl who may or may not be dead, who may or may not be haunting Bait Katib.

Hodgson's writing is elegant and evocative. I felt Julian's helpless longing for a more beautiful time and place. By the end of this book, I too wanted to visit his imagined Damascus.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this book years ago when I was still buying books and I loved it and kept it. Just pulled off the book shelf and read it a 2nd time. It was even better the 2nd time around

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Hodgson has striven mightily, and I think successfully, to create novels whose illustrations are as rich as their prose. These are not like the adult comic books known as "graphic novels," but books in whose pages are included maps, architectural details, newspaper clippings, family photographs, and similar visual accoutrements to the underlying narrative. In a strict sense, these may not be necessary to following the plot, so it should be of no concern that many of them may be in languages that are unknown to the reader, but they do act as visual aids, like mementos of places we have never visited. Both for their creativity and for their sheer sensual fun, Hodgson's books can be joys to read, especially for those who like to pause during a stroll to smell the flowers or watch a grazing rabbit. Hodgson's books don't race; rather, they amble and invite readers to pause to consider the non-narrative, non-linear details offered along the way.

The Lives of Shadows is a wonderful example of how this visual approach to crafting a novel can work. Yes, it is filled with ambiguity, but so are successes as literary as Turn of the Screw or as visual as the game Myst. Yes, it leaves one wondering and pondering unknowables, but isn't that one of a fine novel's gifts? For those who love romance, mystery, an otherworldly ambience, and visual richness, this book is a delight.

[Ann]

When a young Englishman, Julian Beaufort, visits Syria in 1914, Bait Katib, a home in the labyrinth of Damascus's Old Medina, makes such an impression on him that he buys it.

He intends to retreat quietly into the cool, comforting shadows of Bait Katib, but he is called away to war, and it is many years before he can return.

When he returns he settles into the house, and becomes possessed by the house, and obsessed with the daughter of the previous owners. She occupies the most obscure corners of the house, while Julian remains unaware of her presence.

This book, like every book I've read by Barbara Hodgson was such a pleasure to read. It was rich in beautiful artistic detail, from sepia photographs, to Arabic calligraphy, and even photos of architecture; a real feast for the eyes as well as a beautiful, haunting story. Beyond that, it was rich in historic detail of a very specific time and place.

The Lives of Shadows was a real pleasure to read. I cannot recommend it highly enough, especially for fans of Nick Bantock. Really, I think this book would be enjoyed by almost anyone. It sparkles like a multi-faceted diamond.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting, but confusing book. Again, another novel where I'm not sure what to think. I loved the illustrations and the amazing detail on the descriptions, but I have to admit that there were definitely times where I was just confused. Was one of the characters dead or alive? Or was she just a ghost? I actually had to look up the plot and figure it out from there. I can't deny the language used is beautiful, but I just couldn't follow what was happening. Unfortunate because the blurb looked so good.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where does one draw the line between fantasy and reality?

It was so accurate and complete that I became confused and believed I had been pulled into a fable. p124

Whether or not this is a fictional account of a real story, or a true account of a long dream, the gorgeous layout is convincing and seductive.