Dark Clue [Paperback]

James Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2002

Walter Hartwright is married, prosperous and a little bored. When he is approached to write a life of the painter Turner he accepts, unaware that his subject lived a life more dark than light. Researching the painter's life, he is soon affected with its possibilities of violence and even murder that he no longer trusts his own sanity and character.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This debut novel by Wilson, acclaimed nonfiction author of The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America, is an evocative and sophisticated literary thriller set in 1850s Victorian England. Taking his cue from an archetypal Victorian suspense novel, Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White, Wilson composes an epistolary fiction in letters and diary entries, reviving Collins's classic characters Walter Hartright and his sister-in-law Marion Halcombe. Here, Hartwright and Halcombe are partners in a search to uncover the truth about elusive Romantic landscape artist J.M.W. Turner. Commissioned by the royal Lady Eastlake to write a definitive biography of the misunderstood artist, the duo meet members of the British elite, eccentric and reserved, all of whom have conflicting memories of the reclusive Turner. The upright Hartright discovers a "dark clue" in Turner's paintings, and he becomes obsessed with unraveling the myth and mystery of a man so many people have misunderstood. Art history lovers will take pleasure in the fascinating details of Turner's squalid upbringing and his early years at the Royal Academy. Wilson's exacting, detailed descriptions of Victorian England from Dickensian slums to the gilded drawing rooms of royalty make for vivid storytelling. The tale's pace is stately, but readers tuned to the frequency of 19th-century novels will appreciate Wilson's measured tone and deft treatment of Turner's murky history and Collins's exquisite legacy.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This new novel from British author Wilson (The Earth Shall Weep) consists of a series of letters and journal entries purportedly written by Walter Hartright and Marian Halcombe, characters from Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White. At the request of Lady Eastlake, Walter begins researching a biography of J.M.W. Turner to counteract the work of a journalist trying to produce an unflattering portrayal of the artist. At first reluctant, Walter soon becomes obsessed with uncovering the secret of Turner's genius, in part to improve his own artistic work. The more he delves into Turner's life in the mansions of the wealthy and the slums of London, the more Walter loses touch with his own respectable life and engages in actions he deplores. Only Marian's investigations and interventions save him from self-destruction, though they come at considerable risk to herself. But what if both are mere pawns in a plot to discredit Turner? Wilson's extensive research about Collins and Turner may be lost on many U.S. readers, but avid fans of historic suspense will appreciate the political and artistic intrigue. Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (May 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571202764
• ISBN-13: 978-0571202768
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an enthralling read, November 12, 2001

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Clue: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

Note: "The Dark Clue" by James Wilson has absolutely nothing to do with Wilkie Collins's "The Woman in White," eventhough Wilson has made Marian Halcombe and Walter Hartright, the two avenging righters of all wrongs, from Collins's novel, the chief protagonists in "The Dark Clue." Having said that, if you enjoyed Collins's novel for its gothicky atmosphere, the absolutely brilliant manner in which both the plot unfolded and the novel was executed, and for the investigative zeal with which both Marian and Walter carried out their quest, then "The Dark Clue" cannot fail to satisfy. For James Wilson has written a truly enthralling novel, that successfully evokes the feel of the rather prissy yet dark passions of the Victorian period.

Marian Halcombe has recognised a kind of malaise in her dear brother-in-law, Walter Hartright, for some time now. Realising that part of the problem is boredom, coupled with a sense of uselessness, Marian is at a loss as to how to help him, when fate puts the solution in her hands. Lady Eastlake, a friend of Marian's, is looking for someone credible and competent to write a biography of one of England's most talented of artists, J. M. W. Turner. Apparently, a gossiping hack journalist has decide to embark on exactly such a task, and Lady Eastlake fears that his take on Turner will be a tittle-tattle backbiting biography, that will tarnish Turner's good name. Lady Eastlake wants to commission a biography that will counter this hack's book. Walter is eager to embark on the project, however, he does make it clear to Lady Eastlake that he intends to tell the 'truth' about Turner, warts and all -- this will be no sugar coated biography! And so armed with the names of Turners remaining friends, and colleagues, Walter and Marian set out to do a little investigative foraying into Turner's life.

What they find perplexes them. There seems to be two views of Turner: some see Turner as a generous but deeply misunderstood genius, much abused, sensitive, and secretive; while others view him as stingy, cruel and proud. And then there are the hints that Turner led a darker and very secret second life, with suggestions of depraved behavior involving prostitutes. Can there be any truth to such rumours? While Marian uses the information that they have gleaned from the interviews and the insights that they have gained from viewing Turner's art to arrive at some kind of profile of the artist, Walter gets sucked into speculating about Turner's supposed depravities. Utterly obsessed, Walter takes to haunting the slums of London that Turner rose from, looking for clues as to whether or not the Great Man had a darker side. It isn't too long before this preoccupation consumes him and makes him utterly oblivious to everything and everyone, and leaves Marian wondering if the cure for Walter's malaise may prove to be far worse than the disease.

"The Dark Clue" is a truly engrossing read. James Wilson does a wonderful job of depicting the sentimental Victorian sensitivities of Marian and Walter, who for quite a while seem to be totally unable to cope with both Turner's earthier side and the power of his art. And I liked the manner in which he split Marian's and Walter's investigation into Turner's life, showing the two ways in which a look into someone's life could go -- having Marian use careful research and intuition to arrive at certain conclusions, juxtaposing it with Walter's fixation to prove that there was indeed something dark at the heart of Turner's genius, an obsession that spirals completely out of control. I also liked the manner in which he brought out more of Marian's feelings, fears and regrets, making her a much more rounded character.

"The Dark Clue" is well written and brilliantly executed novel, that does indeed evoke images of fog filled London streets, teeming with vice and conspiracies. James Wilson does a wonderful job of maintainning the suspense and tension in the novel; the plot unfolds seamlessly and effortlessly. The characters are all well depicted and portrayed, and (a bonus here) we get to appreciate all over again the intelligence, courage and loyalty of Marian Halcombe. This novel is a truly remarkable read.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great until the last 50 pages., January 17, 2002

By 

G. Styles (Vienna, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dark Clue: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

I was drawn to this novel both by my great enjoyment of Collins's "The Woman in White" and its characters, as well as a long interest in the art of J.M.W. Turner. The novel is atmospheric, suspenseful, and fascinating. If I had stopped reading prior to reaching the resolution that Wilson creates for the mystery of Turner's life that turns into an obsession for Walter Hartright, I'd have been tempted to give this book 4 or even 5 stars. But the events of the final chapters left me feeling betrayed and literally turned my stomach.

Perhaps it is naive of me to think that, when an author employs characters created by another--particularly from an acknowledged classic--he owes them a certain degree of respect. I see little appeal in deliberately degrading them or making them depraved, regardless of how logically the case for this is built up.

For a more pleasant, lighthearted novel reviving classic characters, the reader might try Jasper Fforde's "The Eyre Affair", instead.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tedious, July 16, 2002

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Dark Clue: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

I don't like gimmicks in general and I find them a bit of a fraud when used to mislead a potential reader about a book. Wilkie Collins is generally considered the inventor of the mystery novel and whether you agree with that or not, he was one of the exceptional writers of Victorian England. "The Moonstone", and, "The Woman In White", are just two examples of his work that remain in print in the 21st century. Author James Wilson borrows 2 characters from one of Mr. Collins's novels, and, by insinuation at the very least suggests there is more than that of Mr. Collins to be expected. Borrowing these characters was meaningless to the telling of this story, a bit of vacuous name dropping is all that it amounts to.

The tale is the writing of a biography, a book within a book. The subject is the 19th century painter J.M.W. Turner, and the author has used all 7 major biographies of the man to write his novel. I have read none of them, but I cannot imagine any of them being less enjoyable than this book, and I bet they even have pictures! My complaints in general are that the book is too long, the story presumes the reader to be obtuse, the ending is completely unsatisfying, and this book must be amongst the entries for the most obsessive use of commas. The first two sentences have 4 commas, 2 hyphens, and a parenthetical. The cadence of this book is an uncertain staccato.

I have read Mr. Wilson's other book which was non-fiction and extremely well written. I don't know if he has the ability to eventually write a great or even a good novel, but he will never get there by trying to imitate the work of another. He makes his attempt exponentially more difficult by trying to mimic the writing of an author who has endured for centuries, and he even borrows a character from the man he seeks to emulate.

As the main character in this book sinks in to depravity, the story becomes confused, unsure of what it wants to be, and who is in charge. Many authors say they create their characters and then let them lead. Allowing them to lead, and allowing them to run amok are very different.