What do you think?
Rate this book
The Company
London, 1870.
Lucy Braithwhite lives a privileged existence as the heir to the fortune of Braithwhite & Company-the most successful purveyor of luxury wallpapers in England and the world over. The company's formulas have been respected for nearly a century, but have always remained closely guarded and cloaked in mystery. No one has ever been able to explain the originality of Braithwhite & Company's designs, or the brilliance of their colours, leaving many to wonder if the mysterious spell-like effect of their wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or perhaps something more sinister.
When Mr Luckhurst, the company's manager, and the man who has acted as surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children, suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place. Who will run the company and ensure that it-and her family-continue to thrive?
The answer soon arrives in the form of the young and alluring Julian Rivers, who, unbeknownst to Lucy and John, has been essential to the company's operations for some time. At first, he seems like the answer to their prayers, but as Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions, and John begins seeing distortions-and soon spectral visions-in the house's wallpaper, it becomes clear to Lucy that she must do everything within her power to oppose the diabolic forces that have risen up to destroy her family.
Taking place at the height of the arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, The Company is an intoxicatingly atmospheric slice of gothic Victoriana, following one woman's fight to preserve all that she holds dear, and her determination to defeat the monsters that surround her.
Lucy Braithwhite lives a privileged existence as the heir to the fortune of Braithwhite & Company-the most successful purveyor of luxury wallpapers in England and the world over. The company's formulas have been respected for nearly a century, but have always remained closely guarded and cloaked in mystery. No one has ever been able to explain the originality of Braithwhite & Company's designs, or the brilliance of their colours, leaving many to wonder if the mysterious spell-like effect of their wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or perhaps something more sinister.
When Mr Luckhurst, the company's manager, and the man who has acted as surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children, suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place. Who will run the company and ensure that it-and her family-continue to thrive?
The answer soon arrives in the form of the young and alluring Julian Rivers, who, unbeknownst to Lucy and John, has been essential to the company's operations for some time. At first, he seems like the answer to their prayers, but as Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions, and John begins seeing distortions-and soon spectral visions-in the house's wallpaper, it becomes clear to Lucy that she must do everything within her power to oppose the diabolic forces that have risen up to destroy her family.
Taking place at the height of the arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, The Company is an intoxicatingly atmospheric slice of gothic Victoriana, following one woman's fight to preserve all that she holds dear, and her determination to defeat the monsters that surround her.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2023
35 people are currently reading
993 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Varese
3 books18 followersJon Michael Varese (J.M. Varese) is an American novelist and literary historian whose first novel, The Spirit Photographer (2018), was published to critical acclaim. Varese has also written widely on Victorian literature and culture, and has served in various capacities, most recently as Director of Outreach, for The Dickens Project at the University of California for over two decades.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 17, 2023
In a Nutshell: Utterly confused about my opinion because this is an utterly confusing book! This does not realise the potential it had promised, though it has some good points.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
👻 As a Victorian Gothic story, the book has all the right ingredients – an eerie house (with seemingly alive wallpaper), a creepy stranger, a strong heroine, and loads of atmosphere.
👻 The atmosphere deserves a separate mention. The scene setting is absolutely and vividly creepy.
👻 I wasn’t aware of wallpapers being coloured with arsenic back in the day, so it was enlightening to be more aware of the facts related to this.
👻 It was refreshing to see a strong young woman whose focus isn’t on romance or marriage, but on saving her family and her family-run business. Lucy was more capable than the men in the story, not a common occurrence in historical fiction.
👻 The plotline is quite unusual, I’ll give you that. Though it wasn’t my kind of book ultimately, I still felt the urge to read on.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
☠ I am not fond of paranormal elements in books. But when I stumble upon such reads unknowingly, I expect some kind of an explanation for the events, even if it is a sinister one. This book offers none! I still don’t know how or why whatever happened, happened. Just like the characters, I cannot distinguish between what was supposed to be reality and what were hallucinations. It is a befuddling book!
☠ The prologue introduces the book as being published in 1903, and based on Lucy’s writings from 1870 supposedly being discovered in an old abandoned warehouse. But the whats and the hows of this discovery are never revealed.
☠ It was slowwwwwwwwwwwww! And a great chunk of it was also repetitive, with Lucy revealing the same thoughts again and again.
☠ I wanted more focus on the arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, but this aspect stays in the background, with the spectral ingredients taking centre stage.
☠ Other than Lucy, the characters are quite unidimensional. Everyone has only one role to play, and they stick to that throughout the plot.
☠ The ending is almost anticlimactic. After all that build-up about the eerie components, the resolution fell flat and rushed.
All in all, I am definitely disappointed. I love Gothic mysteries, but when the mystery stays a mystery even at the end, I feel like I wasted my time. The story had so much potential, but it was almost as if it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a mystery or a horror or a historical or a Gothic.
This might work better for those who enjoy the reading journey without worrying about the destination. Many Gothic paranormal lovers have enjoyed this as well, so do check out more reviews before you take a call.
2 stars.
Pro Tip: Read the prologue once again after you complete the book. It makes far better sense during the reread.
My thanks to John Murray Press, Baskerville, and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Company”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
1870. Twenty-four-year-old Lucy Braithwhite (Isn’t the right spelling Braithwaite?) is the heiress to the fortune of Braithwhite and Company – the most successful wallpaper manufacturer in England for almost a century. Braithwhite’s designs are original, and their colours unnaturally vibrant, but their wallpapers also seem to create hallucinatory effects or health issues, though no one knows the reason for this.
When Mr. Luckhurst, the long-term manager of the company and surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John, passes away suddenly, a young and eneigmatic man named Julian Rivers presents himself as being the successor appointed by Luckhurst. But the arrival of this stranger sets into motion many sinister happenings, and Lucy realises that it is up to her to save the company and more importantly, her family.
The story comes to us in the form of a book discovered in an abandoned warehouse, supposedly containing the journal entries written by Lucy in first person.
Where the book worked for me:
👻 As a Victorian Gothic story, the book has all the right ingredients – an eerie house (with seemingly alive wallpaper), a creepy stranger, a strong heroine, and loads of atmosphere.
👻 The atmosphere deserves a separate mention. The scene setting is absolutely and vividly creepy.
👻 I wasn’t aware of wallpapers being coloured with arsenic back in the day, so it was enlightening to be more aware of the facts related to this.
👻 It was refreshing to see a strong young woman whose focus isn’t on romance or marriage, but on saving her family and her family-run business. Lucy was more capable than the men in the story, not a common occurrence in historical fiction.
👻 The plotline is quite unusual, I’ll give you that. Though it wasn’t my kind of book ultimately, I still felt the urge to read on.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
☠ I am not fond of paranormal elements in books. But when I stumble upon such reads unknowingly, I expect some kind of an explanation for the events, even if it is a sinister one. This book offers none! I still don’t know how or why whatever happened, happened. Just like the characters, I cannot distinguish between what was supposed to be reality and what were hallucinations. It is a befuddling book!
☠ The prologue introduces the book as being published in 1903, and based on Lucy’s writings from 1870 supposedly being discovered in an old abandoned warehouse. But the whats and the hows of this discovery are never revealed.
☠ It was slowwwwwwwwwwwww! And a great chunk of it was also repetitive, with Lucy revealing the same thoughts again and again.
☠ I wanted more focus on the arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, but this aspect stays in the background, with the spectral ingredients taking centre stage.
☠ Other than Lucy, the characters are quite unidimensional. Everyone has only one role to play, and they stick to that throughout the plot.
☠ The ending is almost anticlimactic. After all that build-up about the eerie components, the resolution fell flat and rushed.
All in all, I am definitely disappointed. I love Gothic mysteries, but when the mystery stays a mystery even at the end, I feel like I wasted my time. The story had so much potential, but it was almost as if it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a mystery or a horror or a historical or a Gothic.
This might work better for those who enjoy the reading journey without worrying about the destination. Many Gothic paranormal lovers have enjoyed this as well, so do check out more reviews before you take a call.
2 stars.
Pro Tip: Read the prologue once again after you complete the book. It makes far better sense during the reread.
My thanks to John Murray Press, Baskerville, and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Company”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
September 24, 2023
An atmospheric gothic tale with a lot of untapped potential and a frustrating conclusion. The Company is inspired by the real-life Victorian scandal of arsenic-laced wallpaper; Varese invents a successful wallpaper manufacturer, Braithwhite & Co, and Lucy Braithwhite, young heiress to ‘the company’, tells the story. We find her in a moment of crisis after the death of Mr Luckhurst, the company’s trusty manager. With Lucy’s brother John afflicted by a mystery illness, the future of the company is in doubt – until the young, charismatic, preternaturally talented Mr Rivers steps in. Lucy is suspicious of Rivers’ motives; as her misgivings grow, her reliability falters too, and her narrative becomes increasingly claustrophobic.
There are some fantastic scenes and details: the intermingling of real and supernatural threats; a surreptitious conversation in a wintry graveyard; Lucy’s creepy bond with Rivers’ young servant. Yet the pacing is off. While parts of Lucy’s narrative drag and repeat, the ending is rushed and inconclusive. By the end, it’s unclear who is victim and who is villain – and I’m sure that’s the point, but it could have been taken so much further. (Indeed, it’s a point that seems to have been missed by those who interpret Lucy – who maintains a wilful, childish ignorance about the arsenic throughout – as some sort of 19th-century girlboss.) Given what’s implied about Rivers’ background, I would have much preferred a version of this story that gave us his perspective too.
There are some fantastic scenes and details: the intermingling of real and supernatural threats; a surreptitious conversation in a wintry graveyard; Lucy’s creepy bond with Rivers’ young servant. Yet the pacing is off. While parts of Lucy’s narrative drag and repeat, the ending is rushed and inconclusive. By the end, it’s unclear who is victim and who is villain – and I’m sure that’s the point, but it could have been taken so much further. (Indeed, it’s a point that seems to have been missed by those who interpret Lucy – who maintains a wilful, childish ignorance about the arsenic throughout – as some sort of 19th-century girlboss.) Given what’s implied about Rivers’ background, I would have much preferred a version of this story that gave us his perspective too.
February 16, 2023
London, 1870.
Lucy Braithwhite lives an extremely privileged and lucky existence as heir to the mass fortune of Braithwhite & Company - the most successful and sought after purveyor of English luxury wallpapers which is known across the globe, the envy of all who lust for such a glamorous adornment.
The company’s formulas are safe guarded and respected and shall forever stay cloaked in mystery for no one has been able to explain their unique designs, nor their flawless brilliance of their colours leaving many to speculate manipulations of artistry or perhaps something much more sinister….
Mr Luckhurst, the company’s manager, and the man who acted as surrogate to both Lucy and her invalid brother John, suddenly dies, Lucy is shook to discover the lack of a succession plan and when young Julian Rivers arrives who claims to have been essential to the success of their business, it soon becomes apparent that his motives for the company’s future may not be as innocent or selfless as they first seem. And it falls to Lucy to not only save herself, but all that her family has built from the vast years of industry and determination, yet will she be able to make sense of just what is happening or will the mysterious Mr Rivers take all that she holds dear?
Deliciously dark, decadent, and malicious, this novel is just as hypnotic as the designs and patterns described within its pages.
Lucy Braithwhite lives an extremely privileged and lucky existence as heir to the mass fortune of Braithwhite & Company - the most successful and sought after purveyor of English luxury wallpapers which is known across the globe, the envy of all who lust for such a glamorous adornment.
The company’s formulas are safe guarded and respected and shall forever stay cloaked in mystery for no one has been able to explain their unique designs, nor their flawless brilliance of their colours leaving many to speculate manipulations of artistry or perhaps something much more sinister….
Mr Luckhurst, the company’s manager, and the man who acted as surrogate to both Lucy and her invalid brother John, suddenly dies, Lucy is shook to discover the lack of a succession plan and when young Julian Rivers arrives who claims to have been essential to the success of their business, it soon becomes apparent that his motives for the company’s future may not be as innocent or selfless as they first seem. And it falls to Lucy to not only save herself, but all that her family has built from the vast years of industry and determination, yet will she be able to make sense of just what is happening or will the mysterious Mr Rivers take all that she holds dear?
Deliciously dark, decadent, and malicious, this novel is just as hypnotic as the designs and patterns described within its pages.
March 16, 2023
London, 1870. Lucy Braithwhite's family are the owners of Braithwhite & Company - a company which keeps them in a comfortable lifestyle off the back of its popular wallpaper designs. Their designs are full of vibrant colour, yet Lucy dislikes them & had the paper lining her room removed as a child as it upset her so much. Since the death of their father & the youngest son, Tom, Lucy, her brother John, & their mother have left the running of the business to Mr Luckhurst. Although he is the eldest son, John, has always had ill-health & is not thought up to running the business day-to-day. One day they receive the news that Mr Luckhurst has died, & the future of the company (& family) is in turmoil.
They are, therefore, surprised when they receive a visit from Julian Rivers, a young man who says that Mr Luckhurst has been training him for over a decade to take over running the company. No-one has heard of this man before, but he is full of reassurances & grand plans, & John & their mother seem to readily acquiesce to Rivers' wishes. Lucy is initially as charmed as everyone else, but at one point glimpses something malevolent behind Julian's charming façade. John suddenly takes a turn for the worst & Lucy is afraid that Rivers has something to do with his decline. As Lucy slowly becomes aware of Rivers' real intentions, she knows that she needs to come up with a plan to defeat him, but Julian Rivers has an almost supernatural ability to know what she is thinking & planning, can he be vanquished?
Wow, I found this to be a stunningly good read. The wallpaper storyline is based in fact. It is known that Victorian England had many uses for small amounts of arsenic: in paints & dyes, in medicines, in make-up. & in the lush colours of wallpaper, especially greens. When hung in homes, the colours could produce fumes in heat & damp conditions which brought about arsenic poisoning & led to deaths. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning were similar to those of cholera, but in severe cases, agitation, disorientation, & even hallucinations were known.
Another reviewer uses the word 'hypnotic' to describe the reading experience of this book & it's entirely apt. I found myself caught up in the creeping menace of Julian Rivers. Is he real or some incarnation of evil? It's not going to be to everyone's taste as it's a slow moving book, especially at first, but for me, it's a mark of good book when you settle down to read for a short while & before you know it, an hour has passed in what seems like five minutes. It's left to the reader to decide on most things, at times I found myself wondering if Julian Rivers even existed. The ending left me slightly dissatisfied & I can't help feeling that I missed something. This is one of those books that I'm definitely going to read again at some point so see if I pick up on anything new second time around. 4.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, John Murray Press/Baskerville, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
They are, therefore, surprised when they receive a visit from Julian Rivers, a young man who says that Mr Luckhurst has been training him for over a decade to take over running the company. No-one has heard of this man before, but he is full of reassurances & grand plans, & John & their mother seem to readily acquiesce to Rivers' wishes. Lucy is initially as charmed as everyone else, but at one point glimpses something malevolent behind Julian's charming façade. John suddenly takes a turn for the worst & Lucy is afraid that Rivers has something to do with his decline. As Lucy slowly becomes aware of Rivers' real intentions, she knows that she needs to come up with a plan to defeat him, but Julian Rivers has an almost supernatural ability to know what she is thinking & planning, can he be vanquished?
Wow, I found this to be a stunningly good read. The wallpaper storyline is based in fact. It is known that Victorian England had many uses for small amounts of arsenic: in paints & dyes, in medicines, in make-up. & in the lush colours of wallpaper, especially greens. When hung in homes, the colours could produce fumes in heat & damp conditions which brought about arsenic poisoning & led to deaths. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning were similar to those of cholera, but in severe cases, agitation, disorientation, & even hallucinations were known.
Another reviewer uses the word 'hypnotic' to describe the reading experience of this book & it's entirely apt. I found myself caught up in the creeping menace of Julian Rivers. Is he real or some incarnation of evil? It's not going to be to everyone's taste as it's a slow moving book, especially at first, but for me, it's a mark of good book when you settle down to read for a short while & before you know it, an hour has passed in what seems like five minutes. It's left to the reader to decide on most things, at times I found myself wondering if Julian Rivers even existed. The ending left me slightly dissatisfied & I can't help feeling that I missed something. This is one of those books that I'm definitely going to read again at some point so see if I pick up on anything new second time around. 4.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, John Murray Press/Baskerville, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
May 8, 2023
4.5 Stars!
THE COMPANY, by J.M. Varese, is part historical fiction, part mystery, and all with a supernatural overtone to it. Set in the Victorian period, it's a take on the arsenic that was used in wallpaper, and one family who had the largest company producing it.
I'm always been intrigued by the factual issues involved in this, and the novel contained elements that made it a compulsive read to me. I felt the writing was just beautiful--almost poetic--at times. The atmosphere was perfectly described, and I truly felt that I was "in" the past with Lucy for the time.
My only complaint is that--aside from Lucy--the other characters didn't feel as "fleshed out", merely secondary characters in a novel that directly affected them all. While some things were easy to predict, others were brought up throughout the novel, making it a mystery that you needed to read the entire novel to understand.
Recommended.
THE COMPANY, by J.M. Varese, is part historical fiction, part mystery, and all with a supernatural overtone to it. Set in the Victorian period, it's a take on the arsenic that was used in wallpaper, and one family who had the largest company producing it.
I'm always been intrigued by the factual issues involved in this, and the novel contained elements that made it a compulsive read to me. I felt the writing was just beautiful--almost poetic--at times. The atmosphere was perfectly described, and I truly felt that I was "in" the past with Lucy for the time.
My only complaint is that--aside from Lucy--the other characters didn't feel as "fleshed out", merely secondary characters in a novel that directly affected them all. While some things were easy to predict, others were brought up throughout the novel, making it a mystery that you needed to read the entire novel to understand.
Recommended.
February 3, 2023
I’ve been interested in the Victorian arsenic wallpaper craze for a long time, and haven’t read about it in fiction.
The Company hits a lot of the classic Gothic tropes really well: the big house, inexplicable illnesses, handsome mysterious strangers, a possible curse, madness, and an isolated young woman, which are always enjoyable.
However, something felt missing - the tension builds brilliantly at the end but the protagonist takes a lot of leaps of thought that the reader is excluded from, which feels strange when they are privy to the rest of her internal monologue.
[I received an advance copy courtesy of Net Galley]
The Company hits a lot of the classic Gothic tropes really well: the big house, inexplicable illnesses, handsome mysterious strangers, a possible curse, madness, and an isolated young woman, which are always enjoyable.
However, something felt missing - the tension builds brilliantly at the end but the protagonist takes a lot of leaps of thought that the reader is excluded from, which feels strange when they are privy to the rest of her internal monologue.
[I received an advance copy courtesy of Net Galley]
October 21, 2024
J.M. Varese's "The Company" is a compelling exploration of human ambition, intrigue, and the dark side of business ethics and family secrets in the 1870s. The narrative weaves together the lives of diverse characters touched in some way or another by the luxurious London wallpaper company, Braithwhite & Company, each driven by their desires, fears, and aspirations, making for a richly textured story.
One of the novel's standout features is its deep and mysterious character development. Varese masterfully creates complex characters who feel real and relatable, even when they make morally questionable decisions based on the horrific experiences they endured as children. The protagonist Lucy Braithwhite, in particular, is captivating, thought-provoking, and strong - highlighting the often blurry line between what may be her personal ambition and ethical compromise as she wavers from resurfaced memories of the damage and death the company has caused and concern for her family’s survival.
The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Varese's writing style is both elegant and intriguing. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady momentum that keeps the reader invested in the outcome of the sinister plot unfolding.
"The Company" can also offer us a critical look at the modern corporate world, raising important questions about the cost of success and the true nature of power. While the story is fictional, its themes resonate deeply with real-world issues, making it a meaningful read as we still see this over a hundred years later where companies place profits over people.
Loosely based on the arsenic wallpaper poisonings in the late 19th century, “The Company" is a highly recommended historical fiction read for those who enjoy haunting, gothic dramas with a touch of suspense. Varese has delivered a memorable and impactful novel that lingers long after the last page.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #JMVarese, and #hachettebookgroup for the digital ARC of #thecompany for my honest review.
One of the novel's standout features is its deep and mysterious character development. Varese masterfully creates complex characters who feel real and relatable, even when they make morally questionable decisions based on the horrific experiences they endured as children. The protagonist Lucy Braithwhite, in particular, is captivating, thought-provoking, and strong - highlighting the often blurry line between what may be her personal ambition and ethical compromise as she wavers from resurfaced memories of the damage and death the company has caused and concern for her family’s survival.
The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Varese's writing style is both elegant and intriguing. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady momentum that keeps the reader invested in the outcome of the sinister plot unfolding.
"The Company" can also offer us a critical look at the modern corporate world, raising important questions about the cost of success and the true nature of power. While the story is fictional, its themes resonate deeply with real-world issues, making it a meaningful read as we still see this over a hundred years later where companies place profits over people.
Loosely based on the arsenic wallpaper poisonings in the late 19th century, “The Company" is a highly recommended historical fiction read for those who enjoy haunting, gothic dramas with a touch of suspense. Varese has delivered a memorable and impactful novel that lingers long after the last page.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #JMVarese, and #hachettebookgroup for the digital ARC of #thecompany for my honest review.
December 30, 2023
Review later but...sigh...so much potential and I was waiting and waiting for something exciting or interesting to happen and it just didn't. I'm sad about this one!!
Slight update because I forgot to do a review. I really wish this book went more into the whole craziness that was arsenic wallpaper. A history lesson didn't seem necessary or apt, but I would have loved a deeper dive and more description into WHY these wallpapers were so controversial. No mention of Scheel's or Paris Green. Perhaps my expectations 🤷🏻♀️ Nonetheless, I just wanted more of this story, it was far more character driven-ish than I was hoping for.
Slight update because I forgot to do a review. I really wish this book went more into the whole craziness that was arsenic wallpaper. A history lesson didn't seem necessary or apt, but I would have loved a deeper dive and more description into WHY these wallpapers were so controversial. No mention of Scheel's or Paris Green. Perhaps my expectations 🤷🏻♀️ Nonetheless, I just wanted more of this story, it was far more character driven-ish than I was hoping for.
November 26, 2023
A compelling, rather unique piece of historical fiction that left me feeling quite conflicted. In fact, it was one of those rare books where I finished and had to sit with my thoughts for a while, piecing together whether I thought it was a good read or not. Ultimately, I think it is, as long as you don't need to know the answers to everything and appreciate the rather unexpected narrative path the story chooses to follow.
The writing is clear, the atmosphere interesting and I was definitely compelled by the fate of the Braithwhite family and the machinations of the mysterious Mr Rivers.
On the other, there are a few loose ends that didn't sit right with me and I couldn't help but feel that I wanted more clarity, even though the purposeful vagueness is effective.
I think this is one of those books that would be very good to do for a book club, as the way it plays out would generate a lot of discussion (and, I think, split opinions as I can see why someone wouldn't enjoy this, even though I did).
Definitely an intriguing work and I'll be picking up whatever J.M. Varese does next!
The writing is clear, the atmosphere interesting and I was definitely compelled by the fate of the Braithwhite family and the machinations of the mysterious Mr Rivers.
On the other, there are a few loose ends that didn't sit right with me and I couldn't help but feel that I wanted more clarity, even though the purposeful vagueness is effective.
I think this is one of those books that would be very good to do for a book club, as the way it plays out would generate a lot of discussion (and, I think, split opinions as I can see why someone wouldn't enjoy this, even though I did).
Definitely an intriguing work and I'll be picking up whatever J.M. Varese does next!
May 25, 2025
I loved the tone of this, and the atmosphere is extremely well rendered. But the plot needed a lot of work.
I adore the idea of centering a novel on the notoriously poisonous wallpaper popular in the Victorian Era and the family who made a mint manufacturing it. This has shown up in other Gothic novels, but it seems like no one has fully gotten the most out of it, and this book is no exception.
I can forgive a lot when the writing is beautiful and the atmosphere is good, and as that was the case here, I didn’t mind reading this at all. But the story, despite its seemingly promising bones, goes through a long build that ultimately whimpers out in the end, and all the excellent Gothic tension is lost to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion.
It’s also hard to know what to do with protagonist Lucy, admirably trying to save her loved ones and herself but willfully oblivious to the fact that her family’s product is effectively a non-sentient mass murderer, something that they all, deep down, were likely very aware of. It’s not that I didn’t want her to best the unappealing Rivers, but the fact that his villainy may have had at least some valid basis is never really addressed.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I adore the idea of centering a novel on the notoriously poisonous wallpaper popular in the Victorian Era and the family who made a mint manufacturing it. This has shown up in other Gothic novels, but it seems like no one has fully gotten the most out of it, and this book is no exception.
I can forgive a lot when the writing is beautiful and the atmosphere is good, and as that was the case here, I didn’t mind reading this at all. But the story, despite its seemingly promising bones, goes through a long build that ultimately whimpers out in the end, and all the excellent Gothic tension is lost to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion.
It’s also hard to know what to do with protagonist Lucy, admirably trying to save her loved ones and herself but willfully oblivious to the fact that her family’s product is effectively a non-sentient mass murderer, something that they all, deep down, were likely very aware of. It’s not that I didn’t want her to best the unappealing Rivers, but the fact that his villainy may have had at least some valid basis is never really addressed.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 22, 2024
Well, well,well... Don't be puzzled by my 2-star rating. This book was not bad.
It started very well with an intriguing premise and an even more appealing historical context. I was so curious to learn more about it, and to know how the author would weave it into the plot. What I expected was an intrecate tapestry, and what I got was, in the end, very underwhelming.
Let's try to sum it up.
What I liked:
- the style - the author knows how to write a novel, no doubt. The writing is pleasant, and quite delicate
- the claustrophobic atmosphere, as described by other reviewers. That was well-crafted
- the hints of horror (
What I did not like:
- the introduction chapter, probably aimed at prepare the reader for a scary, gothic story. It fell flat and I felt it was totally unecessary
- the main character, Lucy
Lucy presents herself as the most perceptive and able family member, but she hardly tries to investigate the source of her main concerns,
- the many, many repetitions
Yes, I get it, we see everything through Lucy's eyes , but come one, this book should have been shorter.
I usually enjoy novels that can lead to diverse interpretations as for the reality of their events (see the brilliant, inclassifiable Memoirs of a Master Forger ) but it simply did not work for me here.
It started very well with an intriguing premise and an even more appealing historical context. I was so curious to learn more about it, and to know how the author would weave it into the plot. What I expected was an intrecate tapestry, and what I got was, in the end, very underwhelming.
Let's try to sum it up.
What I liked:
- the style - the author knows how to write a novel, no doubt. The writing is pleasant, and quite delicate
- the claustrophobic atmosphere, as described by other reviewers. That was well-crafted
- the hints of horror (
What I did not like:
- the introduction chapter, probably aimed at prepare the reader for a scary, gothic story. It fell flat and I felt it was totally unecessary
- the main character, Lucy
Lucy presents herself as the most perceptive and able family member, but she hardly tries to investigate the source of her main concerns,
- the many, many repetitions
Yes, I get it, we see everything through Lucy's eyes , but come one, this book should have been shorter.
I usually enjoy novels that can lead to diverse interpretations as for the reality of their events (see the brilliant, inclassifiable Memoirs of a Master Forger ) but it simply did not work for me here.
March 16, 2023
2.5 stars
The prose is solid, the atmosphere was distinctly gothic, and it was enjoyable to read historical fiction with a competent female protagonist who’s focused on her family and their business concerns. Other than that, I really didn’t get along with this book - the premise had so much potential that simply wasn’t realised for me.
I found the attempts to build tension overly belaboured in the beginning - the feeling of ‘something bad is coming’ was stressed so much, at every opportunity, that through the first chapter it was ~noticeable~ and by the end of the second chapter I was just frustrated with it. In contrast I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic, and it didn’t tie up several of the elements I was most interested it.
Other than Lucy and possibly Mr Rivers, the rest of the characters were quite flat and only seemed to be there for narrative purposes, playing particular roles throughout rather than having proper character development arcs.
Possibly my biggest disappointment with the book was how little it actually addressed or resolved the arsenic allegations. While I enjoyed the use of a very personal lens to show the consequences of the poisoned wallpaper - having the Braithwhite family be directly affected - the actual controversy floated in the background without being properly dealt with. And that was a letdown, considering it was this line in the marketing that made me pick up the book: “Set against the backdrop of the real-life arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century.” But ~backdrop~ needs to be heavily emphasised, since the book is hardly at all about the controversy at all - in fact, ironically, it’s basically the wallpaper in front of which the rest of the story is told.
In general I wish this book just had… more. The premise deserved richer characterisation, meatier plot, a stronger resolution. (This isn’t even a comment on the length, although it’s quite a short novel, because the space it did have felt underutilised.)
I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. The narrator, Beth Eyre, did a great job.
The prose is solid, the atmosphere was distinctly gothic, and it was enjoyable to read historical fiction with a competent female protagonist who’s focused on her family and their business concerns. Other than that, I really didn’t get along with this book - the premise had so much potential that simply wasn’t realised for me.
I found the attempts to build tension overly belaboured in the beginning - the feeling of ‘something bad is coming’ was stressed so much, at every opportunity, that through the first chapter it was ~noticeable~ and by the end of the second chapter I was just frustrated with it. In contrast I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic, and it didn’t tie up several of the elements I was most interested it.
Other than Lucy and possibly Mr Rivers, the rest of the characters were quite flat and only seemed to be there for narrative purposes, playing particular roles throughout rather than having proper character development arcs.
Possibly my biggest disappointment with the book was how little it actually addressed or resolved the arsenic allegations. While I enjoyed the use of a very personal lens to show the consequences of the poisoned wallpaper - having the Braithwhite family be directly affected - the actual controversy floated in the background without being properly dealt with. And that was a letdown, considering it was this line in the marketing that made me pick up the book: “Set against the backdrop of the real-life arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century.” But ~backdrop~ needs to be heavily emphasised, since the book is hardly at all about the controversy at all - in fact, ironically, it’s basically the wallpaper in front of which the rest of the story is told.
In general I wish this book just had… more. The premise deserved richer characterisation, meatier plot, a stronger resolution. (This isn’t even a comment on the length, although it’s quite a short novel, because the space it did have felt underutilised.)
I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. The narrator, Beth Eyre, did a great job.
March 30, 2023
The standout positive, for me, about the audiobook of 'The Company' is the character Lucy Braithwhite's strong voice, and it took no time at all for me to surrender to the slipstream of her first-person perspective and vivid experience.
J. M. Varese can be abrupt and direct, but this is quite pleasing in the relation of dialogue. Varese uses 'he said', 'she said' for reported speech, and, usually, this would bore me. However, this kind of cut-off, brief description that distinguishes Varese's writing style, allies with Lucy's clarity of recollection when relating past events.
I enjoyed some of the early vignettes where Lucy is the unseen onlooker, watching others' interactions with Mr Rivers. Lucy's voice offers such clipped, information-dense snippets that I positively tingled with intrigue at the start of the novel.
It seldom happens that the audiobook narrator so insightfully occupies the voice of the character that readers are treated to the rare illusion where it appears the character herself is speaking to you, intimately. This is what happens here, with the magnificent audio performance by Beth Eyre.
'The Company' reminded me of Diane Setterfield's 'Bellman and Black'. Yet, there are significant differences between this male-authored novel, and the female-authored 'Bellman and Black'. Varese has chosen to put an enigmatic and potent man at the centre of his novel, as did Setterfield. Yet Varese, beyond this, has set all his female characters to flutter about him.
Varese has made a decision to assume the viewpoint of Lucy, who emerges as the put-upon woman, as she is repeatedly illuded by the riddles of the author's mysterious (and I can only presume Varese intends him to be alluring?!) and intimidating male character. Between 60-70% this got really tiresome. Lucy says of going head-to-head in her contest of wits with Mr Rivers:
This dynamic in the novel made me question the author's choices. Overall, I feel 'The Company' does not withstand interrogation. Moreover, the reveal was no reveal at all, but was guessable from the start. Not the best audiobook I've heard this year.
My thanks go to John Murray Press UK Audio, for an advanced pre-release audiobook through Netgalley.
Citations might be subject to change.
J. M. Varese can be abrupt and direct, but this is quite pleasing in the relation of dialogue. Varese uses 'he said', 'she said' for reported speech, and, usually, this would bore me. However, this kind of cut-off, brief description that distinguishes Varese's writing style, allies with Lucy's clarity of recollection when relating past events.
I enjoyed some of the early vignettes where Lucy is the unseen onlooker, watching others' interactions with Mr Rivers. Lucy's voice offers such clipped, information-dense snippets that I positively tingled with intrigue at the start of the novel.
It seldom happens that the audiobook narrator so insightfully occupies the voice of the character that readers are treated to the rare illusion where it appears the character herself is speaking to you, intimately. This is what happens here, with the magnificent audio performance by Beth Eyre.
'The Company' reminded me of Diane Setterfield's 'Bellman and Black'. Yet, there are significant differences between this male-authored novel, and the female-authored 'Bellman and Black'. Varese has chosen to put an enigmatic and potent man at the centre of his novel, as did Setterfield. Yet Varese, beyond this, has set all his female characters to flutter about him.
Varese has made a decision to assume the viewpoint of Lucy, who emerges as the put-upon woman, as she is repeatedly illuded by the riddles of the author's mysterious (and I can only presume Varese intends him to be alluring?!) and intimidating male character. Between 60-70% this got really tiresome. Lucy says of going head-to-head in her contest of wits with Mr Rivers:
'All delight for me was gone, though. Happiness no longer possible. The war was advancing, and my only delight - if one can even call it that - was to be found in preparing myself for the battle that was coming.'Setterfield plainly loves and cherishes her central male:
'Will was pleased with the world and with himself. He was a long way from being a man, he knew that, yet he was no longer a little boy. [...] He still had a lot to learn, but he knew that he would learn it as he had everything else in life - easily.'However, Varese situates his abstruse and discomposing male as the subject of a woman's (Lucy's) attention:
'my thoughts [...] had become so tangled with what my next step should be. The truth is, I was trapped, with no way of breaking out. Mr Rivers had already established such a firm hold on everything. And then there were his plans, his hideous plans, to drench our world in his poison.'Lucy Braithwhite ends up (not really spoiling anything here...) wandering round the house, like a wraith, aimless and hopeless, and really, a bit sickening.
This dynamic in the novel made me question the author's choices. Overall, I feel 'The Company' does not withstand interrogation. Moreover, the reveal was no reveal at all, but was guessable from the start. Not the best audiobook I've heard this year.
My thanks go to John Murray Press UK Audio, for an advanced pre-release audiobook through Netgalley.
Citations might be subject to change.
January 8, 2023
"When the world saw Braithwhite and Company, it saw the picture of our family-generations of artisans and entrepreneurs who had changed the very conception of what a house's walls could be. It saw bright colors and daring strokes and jungles of exotic patterns, and the luxuries shared by royalty...there were papermakers...accountants...office clerks...the miners down in Devon who blasted precious copper from the ore in our mines and extracted all manner of things to be used in our pigments." "Wallpapers made our triumph and our downfall."
When the abandoned Braithwhite house in Devonshire reopened, an "abomination" was discovered. Lucy Braithwhite's journal, written around 1870, recounting the family history, were unearthed as well. Lucy described her two family homes; the fashionable London house and the Devonshire dwelling with its nearby moors where she would frolic with older brother, John and younger brother, Tom.
"As a child, I was the one afraid of the paper...a disgrace to father's memory. The daughter of a Braithwhite, in a room without wallpaper...my skin itched...my eyes burned...the sight of so many vines...the glare of all those little birds...I had irregular outbursts and my visions."
"We trusted Mr. Luckhurst above all others." Upon father's death, Mr. L took charge, seeing himself as guardian of the company. "He did not always want to see what was right there in front of him because he lived...strictly according to the rules...In the end, that did not serve any of us well." Ten years prior, eight year old Tom Braithwhite had died. Cause of death-unspecified. Ten years prior, a mining accident. A narrow shaft necessitated the use of children to enter the mine. A haunting memory of children killed.
Mr. L had assumed the role of running both houses for eighteen years. Upon his death, his "protege", Julian Rivers stepped into the role by displaying an air of trust and business acumen. Julian claimed that Mr. L was like a father to him. How had such as "asset" as himself gone undetected by the family? It was a shocking thing that a "man from nowhere"...could understand the company-and our family-so well." "...no one would ever be able to truly understand the things we experienced in our own house."
"The Company" by J.M. Varese is a gothic, historical thriller taking place in 19th century England. The medical profession was starting to write about the health hazards of wallpaper colored with formulas containing arsenic, green being the most potent color. "Our beautiful paper...I can see it now...how I loathe what I would need to become, but even then there was no stopping it."
Thank you John Murray Press/Baskerville and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When the abandoned Braithwhite house in Devonshire reopened, an "abomination" was discovered. Lucy Braithwhite's journal, written around 1870, recounting the family history, were unearthed as well. Lucy described her two family homes; the fashionable London house and the Devonshire dwelling with its nearby moors where she would frolic with older brother, John and younger brother, Tom.
"As a child, I was the one afraid of the paper...a disgrace to father's memory. The daughter of a Braithwhite, in a room without wallpaper...my skin itched...my eyes burned...the sight of so many vines...the glare of all those little birds...I had irregular outbursts and my visions."
"We trusted Mr. Luckhurst above all others." Upon father's death, Mr. L took charge, seeing himself as guardian of the company. "He did not always want to see what was right there in front of him because he lived...strictly according to the rules...In the end, that did not serve any of us well." Ten years prior, eight year old Tom Braithwhite had died. Cause of death-unspecified. Ten years prior, a mining accident. A narrow shaft necessitated the use of children to enter the mine. A haunting memory of children killed.
Mr. L had assumed the role of running both houses for eighteen years. Upon his death, his "protege", Julian Rivers stepped into the role by displaying an air of trust and business acumen. Julian claimed that Mr. L was like a father to him. How had such as "asset" as himself gone undetected by the family? It was a shocking thing that a "man from nowhere"...could understand the company-and our family-so well." "...no one would ever be able to truly understand the things we experienced in our own house."
"The Company" by J.M. Varese is a gothic, historical thriller taking place in 19th century England. The medical profession was starting to write about the health hazards of wallpaper colored with formulas containing arsenic, green being the most potent color. "Our beautiful paper...I can see it now...how I loathe what I would need to become, but even then there was no stopping it."
Thank you John Murray Press/Baskerville and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2023
Braithwaite and Sons is company that mines copper and makes the most beautiful wallpapers but in the second half of the 19th century there is some concern about the effects of the arsenic in their goods. The company has been run by a trusted advisor since the death of Mr Braithwaite many years ago and Lucy's brother is in ill health so relies on the management. However when the manager dies, his successor takes over and Lucy becomes more and more uneasy both about the dangers of the papers and also Julian Rivers. There is tragedy in the past and now it seems to have reappeared.
This is quite a short book but it packs a punch. There was a scandal about the arsenic content of wallpaper in Victorian Britain, dense colours were enhance but when the aper got damp it released arsenic into the atmosphere. Added to this is a gothic tale of tragedy and haunting. It shouldn't work, too much in too short a book but it does work incredibly well.
This is quite a short book but it packs a punch. There was a scandal about the arsenic content of wallpaper in Victorian Britain, dense colours were enhance but when the aper got damp it released arsenic into the atmosphere. Added to this is a gothic tale of tragedy and haunting. It shouldn't work, too much in too short a book but it does work incredibly well.
September 11, 2024
As a fan of the Victorian novel, I was more than pleasantly surprised by this modern day homage to Henry James. This Gothic thriller is a proper slow burn, building to the crescendo of a finale.
I devoured this novel in two nights. This novel is not for the straight forward modern reader who loves cookie cutter scenarios and straightforward endings.
I devoured this novel in two nights. This novel is not for the straight forward modern reader who loves cookie cutter scenarios and straightforward endings.
April 3, 2025
Finishing the book, I was confused. Captivating the entire time, but the mystery was never unraveled at the end.
May 25, 2023
**Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio-ARC. This was in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
This novel took me by surprise with its eerie Victorian gothic mood. We follow Lucy, the heir of a luxury wallpaper business at the height of the arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 1800s. After her father dies, a man takes his place becoming an imposing and almost intoxicating presence in the family.
It was a moody book that was very well done. It'll appeal to fans of The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, as it has the same kind of uncanny atmosphere. The storytelling was sometimes a little confusing to me and I struggled to always root for Lucy as we know that arsenic wallpaper was most definitely a bad thing. I took her as an unreliable, privileged character in the midst of a family drama.
This novel took me by surprise with its eerie Victorian gothic mood. We follow Lucy, the heir of a luxury wallpaper business at the height of the arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 1800s. After her father dies, a man takes his place becoming an imposing and almost intoxicating presence in the family.
It was a moody book that was very well done. It'll appeal to fans of The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, as it has the same kind of uncanny atmosphere. The storytelling was sometimes a little confusing to me and I struggled to always root for Lucy as we know that arsenic wallpaper was most definitely a bad thing. I took her as an unreliable, privileged character in the midst of a family drama.
January 16, 2023
This book was inspired by real case of arsenic wallpaper.
I have already heard about the topic and am interested in it, so I wanted to see how it can be made into a novel. I find the idea of a gothic novel and a journal/ memories very appealing. Unfortunately the way the author has written this book didn’t really work for me. It was not really suspenseful and I couldn’t identify with the characters, they seemed quite one dimensional for me. I liked the style though, it was really fitting the atmosphere and the time it takes place in.
For me it’s 3 and half stars.
I have already heard about the topic and am interested in it, so I wanted to see how it can be made into a novel. I find the idea of a gothic novel and a journal/ memories very appealing. Unfortunately the way the author has written this book didn’t really work for me. It was not really suspenseful and I couldn’t identify with the characters, they seemed quite one dimensional for me. I liked the style though, it was really fitting the atmosphere and the time it takes place in.
For me it’s 3 and half stars.
August 10, 2024
A bit like watching paint dry, or in this case wallpaper hang. The first person really hindered a lot of the story. There were not a lot of chills or atmosphere and for most of the book I couldn’t tell who was actually experiencing something ghastly or if our narrator had spent too much time licking her dollhouse wallpaper.
Thanks to NetGalley for the freebie, but not a winner for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the freebie, but not a winner for me.
November 24, 2022
At times, I felt I'd missed something in this book, and I was left a bit puzzled. Maybe it was too subtle for me?
There was a lot of good in it too... some slightly sinister parts.
I enjoyed the writing style, and there's some great descriptive passages.
It's an enjoyable read.
There was a lot of good in it too... some slightly sinister parts.
I enjoyed the writing style, and there's some great descriptive passages.
It's an enjoyable read.
August 6, 2023
There are so many great reviews covering the story or lack thereof, that I won't cover what they did extremely well. This is my frank opinion of a book I paid for (and regret doing so) The book has an epilogue that was written in the period but lost and then found. No, it lacks the cadence of a book written then. It says they are wealthy and live in luxury. False, she states that her mother often wears the same old shabby blue dress. She doesn't mention needing a lady's maid to help her dress in the morning nor mention gloves, a hat and the other items a lady would wear even when middle class. Let's not forget the fantastic hairstyles and hours spent on them. Definitely written by a man. As a horror book, it's an epic fail. Creepy wallpaper but no evidence of anything supernatural. Do not consider this book paranormal, that's a fail too. Historically it is somewhat accurate, they did have arsenic in the wallpaper. I think that's where it ends when meeting the description of this book. Saying "No one has ever been able to explain the originality of Braithwhite & Company's designs, or the brilliance of their colours" is also false: Arsenic. Then there is the odd and useless ending, what happens to Rob? Mr Rivers? Lucy? I think Lucy goes back to her hovel in Devon. It mentions no staff to help her, nor acting like a wealthy lady of status which it mentions repeatedly and how Mr Rivers is a man far below her station. Absolutely rubbish. Barely worth one star.
October 6, 2024
J. M. Varese’s The Company is a suspenseful new thriller destined to please all lovers of classic Gothic fiction. And while it’s true you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, this one is an exception. The beautifully ornate Victorian cover is a wallpaper pattern that not only reflects the wallpaper in the home of the novel’s Braithwhite family, but is a representation of the wallpaper made by the family business, Braithwhite & Company. The family began the company three generations earlier. Now it belongs to the third generation, Lucy and her brother John.
I won’t give away the full plot, but I’ll summarize the situation that leads to the novel’s suspense and conflict. Mr. Braithwhite died years before, leaving behind his wife and three children. The youngest, Tom, eventually grew ill and died, leaving Lucy and John with their mother. John has always been sickly, so the family has relied upon the services of Mr. Luckhurst to manage the company for them and keep them apprised of matters. The situation has worked out well and the company has prospered under this arrangement until Mr. Luckhurst’s death at the beginning of the novel. Uncertain about the future of Braithwhite & Company, the family is relieved when Julian Rivers enters their lives. He explains he was a protégé of Mr. Luckhurst, has been with the company for ten years, mostly in the Devon office, and is now managing both the Devon and London offices.
Mr. Rivers quickly inspires confidence in the family, and he gets John more involved in the business. Soon the Braithwhites feel they cannot do without him. He frequently visits and dines with them, and he and John spend hours working together.
But as the novel progresses, Lucy begins to have second thoughts about Mr. Rivers’ role in the company, both because of things he says and does, and because other employees seem not to know him as well or think him as important as he has claimed. Her concerns are heightened when the company’s old problems begin to resurface. The newspapers have made allegations that certain wallpaper companies use arsenic to heighten the colors in their patterns, and the result has been the poisoning and death of children who sleep in wallpapered rooms. At first, the family doesn’t want to believe these allegations, but Lucy recalls as a child she thought the fruit in the wallpapers looked good enough to eat so she touched it and then tasted her finger. She was immediately warned by one of the employees never to taste the wallpaper.
Also hanging over the family is a horrible mining accident from nearly two decades prior. The family owns mines from which it extracts copper to use to color the wallpaper. Although the accident is far in the past, the guilt of it hangs over the family. Lucy was just a small child when it happened, but as the novel progresses, she learns more about the past and the allegations that her family may have been in the wrong.
When Mr. Rivers confesses to Lucy that the company does have certain secrets, she begins to realize something needs to be done to change matters. She also begins to question Mr. Rivers’ motives since her brother, who at first seemed revived by the confidence he placed in the new manager, now begins to sicken. She begins to doubt Mr. Rivers is everything he seems, and before long she starts to fear he is like a vampire intent on draining the company. Worst of all, she begins to suspect he has unfavorable intentions toward her.
Every page of The Company is full of atmosphere. The novel begins with an Editor’s Note written in 1903 stating that the rest of the novel is a manuscript that was found in the Braithwhite’s Devon house. The events described appear to have taken place in 1870 because Lucy, the author of the narrative, at one point mentions Charles Dickens’ death, which happened that year. As Lucy tells her tale, we sense she may not be a wholly reliable narrator, not because she is intentionally withholding information, but because her Victorian sensibilities cause here to shy away from stating explicitly what will shock. She also keeps second-guessing herself about what she perceives to be true, especially in regard to Mr. Rivers, until she finally realizes she must take action if she is to save her family and the company.
The suspense of the narrative never lets up as we wait to learn more about Mr. Rivers’ past and motives. The tone is intense and keeps the reader guessing to the end. Even when the novel ends, we are left with questions. The discerning reader who can read between the lines may well draw conclusions that Lucy may only be hinting at, unable to tell the full scandalous truth.
While the reviews at Amazon of The Company have been mixed, I have to believe those who do not find it to their taste are not very familiar with the Gothic tradition or Victorian literature. Throughout the book, I felt I was in the hands of a master of suspense who can create a chilling atmosphere akin to J. S. Le Fanu. Mr. Rivers continually reminded me of the creepy and supernatural Margrave in Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s A Strange Story. His motives also seem to parallel the revenge of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. I also couldn’t help being reminded of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
Another theme in the novel is the Gothic nature of capitalism. The miners and their children suffer as a result of the company’s actions, as do those poisoned by the wallpaper which is produced by a company more concerned with profit than people. Though set in Victorian times, the theme of the rich oppressing the poor and innocent to get richer is just as relevant today.
I absolutely believe anyone who enjoys the works of J. S. Le Fanu, M. R. James, or any of the other Victorian Gothic authors will thoroughly enjoy this book. While it is hard to say whether a book will become a classic, I believe this one is destined for it. I think literary critics will have a field day with it for years to come as they analyze just who or what Mr. Rivers is, to what extent Lucy is honest in her narrative, and how the Gothic is used to criticize society and the capitalism in the novel. J. M. Varese certainly understands Victorian literature, which isn’t surprising since he is a Victorian scholar himself, as well as the author of another supernatural Victorian-set novel, The Spirit Photographer (2018).
I won’t give away the full plot, but I’ll summarize the situation that leads to the novel’s suspense and conflict. Mr. Braithwhite died years before, leaving behind his wife and three children. The youngest, Tom, eventually grew ill and died, leaving Lucy and John with their mother. John has always been sickly, so the family has relied upon the services of Mr. Luckhurst to manage the company for them and keep them apprised of matters. The situation has worked out well and the company has prospered under this arrangement until Mr. Luckhurst’s death at the beginning of the novel. Uncertain about the future of Braithwhite & Company, the family is relieved when Julian Rivers enters their lives. He explains he was a protégé of Mr. Luckhurst, has been with the company for ten years, mostly in the Devon office, and is now managing both the Devon and London offices.
Mr. Rivers quickly inspires confidence in the family, and he gets John more involved in the business. Soon the Braithwhites feel they cannot do without him. He frequently visits and dines with them, and he and John spend hours working together.
But as the novel progresses, Lucy begins to have second thoughts about Mr. Rivers’ role in the company, both because of things he says and does, and because other employees seem not to know him as well or think him as important as he has claimed. Her concerns are heightened when the company’s old problems begin to resurface. The newspapers have made allegations that certain wallpaper companies use arsenic to heighten the colors in their patterns, and the result has been the poisoning and death of children who sleep in wallpapered rooms. At first, the family doesn’t want to believe these allegations, but Lucy recalls as a child she thought the fruit in the wallpapers looked good enough to eat so she touched it and then tasted her finger. She was immediately warned by one of the employees never to taste the wallpaper.
Also hanging over the family is a horrible mining accident from nearly two decades prior. The family owns mines from which it extracts copper to use to color the wallpaper. Although the accident is far in the past, the guilt of it hangs over the family. Lucy was just a small child when it happened, but as the novel progresses, she learns more about the past and the allegations that her family may have been in the wrong.
When Mr. Rivers confesses to Lucy that the company does have certain secrets, she begins to realize something needs to be done to change matters. She also begins to question Mr. Rivers’ motives since her brother, who at first seemed revived by the confidence he placed in the new manager, now begins to sicken. She begins to doubt Mr. Rivers is everything he seems, and before long she starts to fear he is like a vampire intent on draining the company. Worst of all, she begins to suspect he has unfavorable intentions toward her.
Every page of The Company is full of atmosphere. The novel begins with an Editor’s Note written in 1903 stating that the rest of the novel is a manuscript that was found in the Braithwhite’s Devon house. The events described appear to have taken place in 1870 because Lucy, the author of the narrative, at one point mentions Charles Dickens’ death, which happened that year. As Lucy tells her tale, we sense she may not be a wholly reliable narrator, not because she is intentionally withholding information, but because her Victorian sensibilities cause here to shy away from stating explicitly what will shock. She also keeps second-guessing herself about what she perceives to be true, especially in regard to Mr. Rivers, until she finally realizes she must take action if she is to save her family and the company.
The suspense of the narrative never lets up as we wait to learn more about Mr. Rivers’ past and motives. The tone is intense and keeps the reader guessing to the end. Even when the novel ends, we are left with questions. The discerning reader who can read between the lines may well draw conclusions that Lucy may only be hinting at, unable to tell the full scandalous truth.
While the reviews at Amazon of The Company have been mixed, I have to believe those who do not find it to their taste are not very familiar with the Gothic tradition or Victorian literature. Throughout the book, I felt I was in the hands of a master of suspense who can create a chilling atmosphere akin to J. S. Le Fanu. Mr. Rivers continually reminded me of the creepy and supernatural Margrave in Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s A Strange Story. His motives also seem to parallel the revenge of Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. I also couldn’t help being reminded of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
Another theme in the novel is the Gothic nature of capitalism. The miners and their children suffer as a result of the company’s actions, as do those poisoned by the wallpaper which is produced by a company more concerned with profit than people. Though set in Victorian times, the theme of the rich oppressing the poor and innocent to get richer is just as relevant today.
I absolutely believe anyone who enjoys the works of J. S. Le Fanu, M. R. James, or any of the other Victorian Gothic authors will thoroughly enjoy this book. While it is hard to say whether a book will become a classic, I believe this one is destined for it. I think literary critics will have a field day with it for years to come as they analyze just who or what Mr. Rivers is, to what extent Lucy is honest in her narrative, and how the Gothic is used to criticize society and the capitalism in the novel. J. M. Varese certainly understands Victorian literature, which isn’t surprising since he is a Victorian scholar himself, as well as the author of another supernatural Victorian-set novel, The Spirit Photographer (2018).
April 23, 2023
Well that was a slog to read, I thought of shelving it for a while and go back to it, but I’m a firm believer in finishing what I start so I carried on , but to no avail, it was still a slog !
I feel that if you suffer from insomnia then this is the book to read.
Would I recommend it … no
Would I give it another go in the future… absolutely not.
The one star awarded was purely for a lovely cover.
I feel that if you suffer from insomnia then this is the book to read.
Would I recommend it … no
Would I give it another go in the future… absolutely not.
The one star awarded was purely for a lovely cover.
March 31, 2024
I enjoyed the rather chilling atmosphere, full of dread and anxiety. Given the history of the “Company”, I’d hoped for some other reparation at the end. Made me read about the “arsenic in wallpaper” debates that arose in the 19th century. William Morris was an advocate for fair labour conditions, but took little interest in the workers who laboured in his copper mines from which the arsenic was derived. Fascinating.
June 19, 2024
So disappointed. It was like reading only the middle of a book. Awful
February 20, 2023
‘ Money, money, money, and what money can make of life’
Give me a moment, for a want to cry for joy after having read this masterly written novel as this has been such a capital intense reading experience, with such intensity and strong imagery, I need to come to my senses for a moment.
There is a deep suggestiveness abundant in this novel, and as a reader you need to be aware and focus on thematically important references.
This is an EXTRAORDINARY book about a very EXTRAORDINARY man, and author J. M. Varese has regaled his readers with a flavourful and vivid cast of characters, topped with Gothic imagination.
On first glance, it is a deceptively simple story, but in reality there is a very different truth behind this complex, and multi-layered narrative, and, beware, because as a reader, you need to be aware and focus on thematically important references. And mind, things are not always as they seem, as it seems that something more is going on than meets the eye.
Like I said, I had great expectations when I stumbled upon this beautiful cover, and, fortunately, most of my expectations were largely met.
The narrator in this bildungsroman is an omnipresent one, she appears to have full knowledge of all that is happening, she has access to the mind and feelings of all the other characters. There is an abundant use of similes, style, metaphors and ‘conceits’ throughout the narration. (I dare you to count repeated words such as EXTRAORDINARY in the narration or figure out the truth about ‘John.’, or one of the other characters for that matter. One of the many themes is all about change and transformation (rebirth) , wealth, and class, inheritance, drowning, suffocating, death and keeping up appearances.
Briefly, the tale is about a Victorian family: an absent father (deceased), the eldest son - a John - unfit to take over the family business, who is suffocating by his duty to care for his mother and sister, a ‘Lucy” and a mother as part of the furniture and the domestic sphere of a rather eerie and bleak house, with its suffocating, hushed ambience, ‘Tom’ - dead in childhood- , probably another sibling too, since there is a caged bird named ‘Henry.’ and then there is the ‘Man from Somewhere’ - a certain Mr Julian River(s).
Readers who are still convinced that this is a gothic tale about wallpaper that comes to life and drives people to madness may have ingested a little too much of that particular potion after all: any layman knows that lead and arsenic was used in wallpaper in those days, yet it was quite common to dissolve it in water for an all-cure potion. There is duality in all things, for I believe that this narration is a recreation, using the writing style and characterisation of not only one of the greatest Victorians ever, but who is also seen as the greatest writer ever, who succeeded like no other in bringing everything to life in his narration, for he was most of all an artist, and his stories had great impact on his readers. He used sensationally vivid descriptions to let the world of money, death and deceit come to live. The references to Charles Dickens in the narration are abundant, albeit sometimes in another setting, or a bit Twist(ed): references to the blackening of boots, a convict on the moors, icy rooms as Christmas is nearing, a young, kind-hearted, sweet boy (‘please, please…’ [ red.]) who hangs around the house, having to keep an eye on the streets for his 'master’, but who luckily escapes his fate and is later lovingly taking in with the family at a later moment, a mutual friend, a murder, the use of Gothic elements to put emphasise on the power of isolation, the macabre and the bizarre. And what a twist to have the fiancé rot away instead. Dickens' most popular novels and characters are generously covered, albeit sometimes with alternative outcomes and in different forms.
Be challenged and surprised with this highly original, beautifully written novel. An absolute must-read for any Dickens fan, and a wonderful opportunity for others to plunge into this fascinating, bizarre world, and get carried away. Beautiful language, full of references, metaphors, and repetitions.
I am a great admirer of Dickens' work, he was the reason I went to study English literature. I have all his works in several editions. I think after reading this novel, I want to reread my favourite book of all time: Our Mutual Friend.
I have savoured each chapter, and as far as I am concerned, the book could have been tad thicker, and hopefully this is the prelude to subsequent installments.
Stunning, masterly written, a highly original, 5+ stars.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy, I immensely enjoyed reading this narration.
Give me a moment, for a want to cry for joy after having read this masterly written novel as this has been such a capital intense reading experience, with such intensity and strong imagery, I need to come to my senses for a moment.
There is a deep suggestiveness abundant in this novel, and as a reader you need to be aware and focus on thematically important references.
This is an EXTRAORDINARY book about a very EXTRAORDINARY man, and author J. M. Varese has regaled his readers with a flavourful and vivid cast of characters, topped with Gothic imagination.
On first glance, it is a deceptively simple story, but in reality there is a very different truth behind this complex, and multi-layered narrative, and, beware, because as a reader, you need to be aware and focus on thematically important references. And mind, things are not always as they seem, as it seems that something more is going on than meets the eye.
Like I said, I had great expectations when I stumbled upon this beautiful cover, and, fortunately, most of my expectations were largely met.
The narrator in this bildungsroman is an omnipresent one, she appears to have full knowledge of all that is happening, she has access to the mind and feelings of all the other characters. There is an abundant use of similes, style, metaphors and ‘conceits’ throughout the narration. (I dare you to count repeated words such as EXTRAORDINARY in the narration or figure out the truth about ‘John.’, or one of the other characters for that matter. One of the many themes is all about change and transformation (rebirth) , wealth, and class, inheritance, drowning, suffocating, death and keeping up appearances.
Briefly, the tale is about a Victorian family: an absent father (deceased), the eldest son - a John - unfit to take over the family business, who is suffocating by his duty to care for his mother and sister, a ‘Lucy” and a mother as part of the furniture and the domestic sphere of a rather eerie and bleak house, with its suffocating, hushed ambience, ‘Tom’ - dead in childhood- , probably another sibling too, since there is a caged bird named ‘Henry.’ and then there is the ‘Man from Somewhere’ - a certain Mr Julian River(s).
Readers who are still convinced that this is a gothic tale about wallpaper that comes to life and drives people to madness may have ingested a little too much of that particular potion after all: any layman knows that lead and arsenic was used in wallpaper in those days, yet it was quite common to dissolve it in water for an all-cure potion. There is duality in all things, for I believe that this narration is a recreation, using the writing style and characterisation of not only one of the greatest Victorians ever, but who is also seen as the greatest writer ever, who succeeded like no other in bringing everything to life in his narration, for he was most of all an artist, and his stories had great impact on his readers. He used sensationally vivid descriptions to let the world of money, death and deceit come to live. The references to Charles Dickens in the narration are abundant, albeit sometimes in another setting, or a bit Twist(ed): references to the blackening of boots, a convict on the moors, icy rooms as Christmas is nearing, a young, kind-hearted, sweet boy (‘please, please…’ [ red.]) who hangs around the house, having to keep an eye on the streets for his 'master’, but who luckily escapes his fate and is later lovingly taking in with the family at a later moment, a mutual friend, a murder, the use of Gothic elements to put emphasise on the power of isolation, the macabre and the bizarre. And what a twist to have the fiancé rot away instead. Dickens' most popular novels and characters are generously covered, albeit sometimes with alternative outcomes and in different forms.
Be challenged and surprised with this highly original, beautifully written novel. An absolute must-read for any Dickens fan, and a wonderful opportunity for others to plunge into this fascinating, bizarre world, and get carried away. Beautiful language, full of references, metaphors, and repetitions.
I am a great admirer of Dickens' work, he was the reason I went to study English literature. I have all his works in several editions. I think after reading this novel, I want to reread my favourite book of all time: Our Mutual Friend.
I have savoured each chapter, and as far as I am concerned, the book could have been tad thicker, and hopefully this is the prelude to subsequent installments.
Stunning, masterly written, a highly original, 5+ stars.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy, I immensely enjoyed reading this narration.
December 27, 2024
Oh wow what a brilliant gothic story with such a dark and interesting ending! Braithwhite & Company have been making wallpapers for years, their colours and designs being popular throughout the country and the world, but for Lucy Braithwhite and her family, her brother John and mother, the loss of the man who was managing the company after her father’s death, Mr Luckhurst, is too much. The family is at a loss of what to do, unsure how the business will now be run, until a Mr Rivers arrives, stating that he was trained by Luckhurst in the event of his passing. But there’s something about Mr Rivers that Lucy isn’t sure about. Mr Rivers seems to know all about the business and as he settles into Mr Luckhurst’s old role he becomes indespensible to the family. But while Rivers seems like just what the Braithwhite family needs, there is something about him that Lucy can’t ignore.
This is a brilliant and very chilling gothic story and one I really enjoyed reading! The book begins with an editor’s note, which is part of the story and makes you wonder what happened in the house mentioned, and wonder at the narrator of the story, before the story begins properly with Lucy narrating as she first finds out about Mr Luckhurst’s death and later meets Mr Rivers who helps to take over the running of the family business. I love how easy it was to get into this story right away, and every chapter is so engrossing that I devoured the book in just two days!
Lucy and her family relied so much on Mr Luckhurst for everything, the whole running of the company which her brother is unable to fully do due to ill health, so when Mr Luckhurst died the family were lost. However things change soon when Mr Rivers arrives, and despite the family’s initial misgivings about him it’s soon clear that John and Mrs Braithwhite, Lucy and John’s mother, accept Mr Rivers’ help and grow fond of him. However the narrator of the story,Lucy, feels uneasy. There are things about Mr Rivers that she doesn’t feel comfortable with and there are moments when you just don’t know if Lucy is paranoid or if there is indeed something darker going on.
The story takes place at the time of the real life arsenic scandal when arsenic was used inside the wallpapers used in the Victorian era and was being found to be the cause of death and ill health for many. I like how the mentions of the colours and designs of the wallpaper in this story go a long way to setting the atmosphere in this story and how eerie things become, especially later when certain characters seem to be seeing things. The story has a ghostly gothic vibe and I love how dark this got and what ends up happening to all of the characters. Lucy’s love and care for her brother is plain to see and I love how this story kept me guessing as to what was happening, and as it built up to the final ending, there’s a wonderful twist in this story and it finishes in a way that I really wasn’t expecting and it’s a pretty shocking and dark ending!
The book mentions some deaths, and there are some eerie and ghostly thoughts and sightings, however it’s not too gruesome and it just leaves you feeling more unsettled than anything else, particularly with that shock ending. However despite that ending it’s oddly satisfying given what happens to certain characters and I found myself really enjoying this book so much. Overall this is a brilliant read for anyone who loves a mystery set in Victorian London with a strong gothic thriller/horror vibe! It’s a brilliant quick read and will keep you glued to the pages and keep you guessing as to what will happen at the end. Just be prepared for that ending to shock you! 😀
-Thanks to Baskerville for a free copy.
This is a brilliant and very chilling gothic story and one I really enjoyed reading! The book begins with an editor’s note, which is part of the story and makes you wonder what happened in the house mentioned, and wonder at the narrator of the story, before the story begins properly with Lucy narrating as she first finds out about Mr Luckhurst’s death and later meets Mr Rivers who helps to take over the running of the family business. I love how easy it was to get into this story right away, and every chapter is so engrossing that I devoured the book in just two days!
Lucy and her family relied so much on Mr Luckhurst for everything, the whole running of the company which her brother is unable to fully do due to ill health, so when Mr Luckhurst died the family were lost. However things change soon when Mr Rivers arrives, and despite the family’s initial misgivings about him it’s soon clear that John and Mrs Braithwhite, Lucy and John’s mother, accept Mr Rivers’ help and grow fond of him. However the narrator of the story,Lucy, feels uneasy. There are things about Mr Rivers that she doesn’t feel comfortable with and there are moments when you just don’t know if Lucy is paranoid or if there is indeed something darker going on.
The story takes place at the time of the real life arsenic scandal when arsenic was used inside the wallpapers used in the Victorian era and was being found to be the cause of death and ill health for many. I like how the mentions of the colours and designs of the wallpaper in this story go a long way to setting the atmosphere in this story and how eerie things become, especially later when certain characters seem to be seeing things. The story has a ghostly gothic vibe and I love how dark this got and what ends up happening to all of the characters. Lucy’s love and care for her brother is plain to see and I love how this story kept me guessing as to what was happening, and as it built up to the final ending, there’s a wonderful twist in this story and it finishes in a way that I really wasn’t expecting and it’s a pretty shocking and dark ending!
The book mentions some deaths, and there are some eerie and ghostly thoughts and sightings, however it’s not too gruesome and it just leaves you feeling more unsettled than anything else, particularly with that shock ending. However despite that ending it’s oddly satisfying given what happens to certain characters and I found myself really enjoying this book so much. Overall this is a brilliant read for anyone who loves a mystery set in Victorian London with a strong gothic thriller/horror vibe! It’s a brilliant quick read and will keep you glued to the pages and keep you guessing as to what will happen at the end. Just be prepared for that ending to shock you! 😀
-Thanks to Baskerville for a free copy.
March 25, 2023
“The room’s paper was of a dark emerald green, and it contained things shaped like leaves, and leaves shaping themselves into vines, and strange winding serpents that curved into rivers. It had been father’s favourite. As a girl I’d seen angel wings somewhere in that dense forest, and John had picked out monkeys and pineapples.”
My thanks to John Murray Press Baskerville for an eARC and to Baskerville Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Company’ by J.M. Varese. The audiobook is narrated by Beth Eyre.
This impressive novel, set in 1870s London, was inspired by a real-life controversy about the use of arsenic in luxury wallpapers. I find the designs of Victorian wallpapers fascinating though was unaware of the hidden dangers that had been present.
The plot focuses on Lucy Braithwhite, heir to the fortune of Braithwhite & Company, the most successful purveyor of English luxury wallpapers the world over. Key to the company’s success is their formulas that have remained cloaked in mystery. Alongside the originality of the designs is the brilliance of their colours. Many wonder if the spell-like effect of these wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or something more sinister…. Given that this is a Gothic mystery, I am betting on the sinister explanation.
Then the company’s manager, Mr Luckhurst, suddenly dies. He had also served as a surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children. Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place and it is uncertain who will ensure that the company and her family continue to thrive.
It’s not long until the dishy Julian Rivers arrives on their doorstep. It turns out that he has been deeply involved in the company's operations for some time. At first he seems like the answer to their prayers, though Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions. Meanwhile, John’s condition deteriorates and he starts reporting spectral visions within his bedroom wallpaper. No further details to avoid spoilers.
I found ‘The Company’ a slow burn atmospheric novel that effectively utilised Gothic tropes and its setting to create a sense of creeping unease. Lucy’s journey from an entitled innocent to a woman taking control of her life and destiny was inspiring.
With respect to the audiobook, I have enjoyed a number of titles narrated by Beth Eyre. She has a clear voice with a great deal of warmth, which drew me into the narrative.
Aside from an author of fiction and nonfiction, J.M. Varese is a historian and educator with special interest in 19th Century literature, culture, and the works of Charles Dickens. As a result of this background it is no surprise that ‘The Company’ is grounded in an impeccable sense of its period setting and historical background.
On a side note the colour and design of the cover was very striking.
Overall, I found ‘The Company’ a compelling Gothic tale and I will be interested in reading more of J.M. Varese’s writing.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
My thanks to John Murray Press Baskerville for an eARC and to Baskerville Audio for a review copy of the unabridged audiobook edition, both via NetGalley, of ‘The Company’ by J.M. Varese. The audiobook is narrated by Beth Eyre.
This impressive novel, set in 1870s London, was inspired by a real-life controversy about the use of arsenic in luxury wallpapers. I find the designs of Victorian wallpapers fascinating though was unaware of the hidden dangers that had been present.
The plot focuses on Lucy Braithwhite, heir to the fortune of Braithwhite & Company, the most successful purveyor of English luxury wallpapers the world over. Key to the company’s success is their formulas that have remained cloaked in mystery. Alongside the originality of the designs is the brilliance of their colours. Many wonder if the spell-like effect of these wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or something more sinister…. Given that this is a Gothic mystery, I am betting on the sinister explanation.
Then the company’s manager, Mr Luckhurst, suddenly dies. He had also served as a surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children. Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place and it is uncertain who will ensure that the company and her family continue to thrive.
It’s not long until the dishy Julian Rivers arrives on their doorstep. It turns out that he has been deeply involved in the company's operations for some time. At first he seems like the answer to their prayers, though Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions. Meanwhile, John’s condition deteriorates and he starts reporting spectral visions within his bedroom wallpaper. No further details to avoid spoilers.
I found ‘The Company’ a slow burn atmospheric novel that effectively utilised Gothic tropes and its setting to create a sense of creeping unease. Lucy’s journey from an entitled innocent to a woman taking control of her life and destiny was inspiring.
With respect to the audiobook, I have enjoyed a number of titles narrated by Beth Eyre. She has a clear voice with a great deal of warmth, which drew me into the narrative.
Aside from an author of fiction and nonfiction, J.M. Varese is a historian and educator with special interest in 19th Century literature, culture, and the works of Charles Dickens. As a result of this background it is no surprise that ‘The Company’ is grounded in an impeccable sense of its period setting and historical background.
On a side note the colour and design of the cover was very striking.
Overall, I found ‘The Company’ a compelling Gothic tale and I will be interested in reading more of J.M. Varese’s writing.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
February 5, 2023
London, 1870.
Lucy Braithwhite lives a privileged existence as heir to the fortune of Braithwhite & Company - the most successful purveyor of English luxury wallpapers the world over. The company's formulas have been respected for nearly a century, but have always remained cloaked in mystery. No one has been able to explain the originality of design, or the brilliance of their colours, leaving many to wonder if the mysterious spell-like effect of their wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or something more sinister.
When Mr Luckhurst, the company's manager, and the man who has acted as surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children, suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place. Who will ensure that the company and her family continue to thrive?
The answer soon arrives in the form of the young and alluring Julian Rivers, who, unbeknownst to Lucy and John, has been essential to the company's operations for some time. At first, he seems like the answer to their prayers, but as Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions, and John begins seeing spectral visions in the house's wallpaper, it becomes clear to Lucy that she must do everything within her power to oppose the diabolic forces that have risen up to destroy her family.
The Company
by J.M. Varese
Pub Date: 16 Mar 2023
Set against the backdrop of the real-life arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, The Company is a dark and haunting slice of gothic Victoriana, following one woman's fight to preserve all that she holds dear.
PRAISE FOR THE COMPANY
'A chilling gothic thriller...The story creeps up on you much as the patterns in its poisonous wallpapers do: entrancing, entwining, and entrapping' Hollis Seamon, author of Corporeality
'Varese brings to life the true grittiness of 19th-century London with great enthusiasm, combining historical fiction with a feel for the gothic thriller' Amanda Foreman, author of The Duchess
'The Company creeps up on its readers before it so splendidly pounces. The new master of suspense has arrived' John Bowen, author of Other Dickens
Lucy Braithwhite lives a privileged existence as heir to the fortune of Braithwhite & Company - the most successful purveyor of English luxury wallpapers the world over. The company's formulas have been respected for nearly a century, but have always remained cloaked in mystery. No one has been able to explain the originality of design, or the brilliance of their colours, leaving many to wonder if the mysterious spell-like effect of their wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or something more sinister.
When Mr Luckhurst, the company's manager, and the man who has acted as surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children, suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place. Who will ensure that the company and her family continue to thrive?
The answer soon arrives in the form of the young and alluring Julian Rivers, who, unbeknownst to Lucy and John, has been essential to the company's operations for some time. At first, he seems like the answer to their prayers, but as Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions, and John begins seeing spectral visions in the house's wallpaper, it becomes clear to Lucy that she must do everything within her power to oppose the diabolic forces that have risen up to destroy her family.
The Company
by J.M. Varese
Pub Date: 16 Mar 2023
Set against the backdrop of the real-life arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, The Company is a dark and haunting slice of gothic Victoriana, following one woman's fight to preserve all that she holds dear.
PRAISE FOR THE COMPANY
'A chilling gothic thriller...The story creeps up on you much as the patterns in its poisonous wallpapers do: entrancing, entwining, and entrapping' Hollis Seamon, author of Corporeality
'Varese brings to life the true grittiness of 19th-century London with great enthusiasm, combining historical fiction with a feel for the gothic thriller' Amanda Foreman, author of The Duchess
'The Company creeps up on its readers before it so splendidly pounces. The new master of suspense has arrived' John Bowen, author of Other Dickens
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews