Customer Reviews

The Underground Man

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an interesting book, about the type of truly eccentric and driven man that can only have been produced by the Victorian aristocracy. It is an interesting mixture of the main character's journal (which is by far the majority of the text) and the observations of the local people and staff on his estate.

It is certainly a fascinating and richly detailed account of what would be considered at any time chronic eccentricity bordering on madness - the endless underground tunnels and odd eating habits alone are enough to convince you of this, but what I feel is a small weakness of the novel is that there is simply not enough external observations of the Duke. Those observations by the house-keeper and the footman etc are little gems of insight, but they are too few.

The prose itself is beautiful, and once again invokes the feeling of the time wonderfully. It is a fine novel, well worth a read.

Mick Jackson's debut, a part fictional novel based on the life of the Duke of Portland, is one of the best novels I have read this year. It's written in the style of a mystery - the secret is unveiled only in its final pages - and told through the eyes of the protagonist via his journal entries and those around him. Jackson is a brilliant writer - his prose is sharp, witty and even poetic in places and he has that rare ability to hold you spellbound and on knife's edge as you partake in the unraveling of the mystery. There are hints along the way but the secret is preserved right till the very end. A small criticism - I found the middle section dealing with the Duke's hypochondria a little long and slow. This trips up the natural velocity of the plot which otherwise moves briskly along. As if to compensate for this minor hiccup, Jackson's prose tightens up again as he gives a truly unnerving account of the final stages of the Duke's physical breakdown. The sharpness and pinpoint accuracy of this descriptive passage makes your stomach queasy and your knees want to buckle. Jackson's writing is deceptively simple but it hits you right between the eyes. Beautiful. Stay tuned. You will hear and read alot more of him. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderfully sad and terrific novel.

Just finished reading Mick Jackman's THE UNDERGROUND MAN. He creates a tremendous and quick story to describe the life of the quirky, eccentric Duke of Portland in England in the mid-1800's. It's great language, and many interesting ideas explored - eccentricities, anatomy, trepanning, phrenology, bits of everything seem to work their way into the Duke's journal.

Nicely done with some WAITING FOR GUFFMAN-like asides delivered by his staff, neighbors, etc. on how they perceive the Duke as he slowly drifts away from their reality.

Good read.

I chose to read this book mainly because it had been nominated for the Booker Prize although I know this does not always guarantee a good read.I have to say that I was not too excited about the subject matter before I began reading it and I expected the storyline to be a little silly.However,I am now a devoted Mick Jackson reader due to the beautiful prose throughout the book.I was enthralled by the adventures of the Duke and he made me laugh,cry and even squirm while reading.I agree with the reviewer below however, regarding the hypochondria section-it tended to be quite slow-moving,so I'm only giving it 4 instead of 5 stars.The first half of the book,though, is wonderful and this alone makes it worth buying.The ending,although a little contrived,truly shocked me and I can't get it out of my mind.I look forward to more work from Mick Jackson.

The book is based on the life of William John Cavendish Bentinck-Scott, the Duke of Portland and a resident of Nottinghamshire, England. The Duke of Portland was one of Victorian England's most famous eccentrics, who built a series of underground tunnels large enough for carriages and horses, that enabled him to move around his vast property. Although some of the book is based on facts, Mick Jackson admitted to have taken downright liberties in writing it.

The novel enfolds in the form of journal entries by the duke himself, and is supplement of various neighbours, servants and service men's accounts of Your Grace. The plot develops around the Duke's observations of the world around him, his somewhat hypochondriac obsession with his body, the steadily degeneration of his mind and his search for something missing in his life. It is drawn to a shocking and somewhat bizarre climax in the end of the novel.

It is beautifully written tragic and comic novel, with a character and plot that won't easily be forgetten.

Jackson's novel about the eccentric Duke of Portland is one of the finest pieces of fiction I have read. Told through the voice of the Duke, Jackson indulges in the Dukes eccentric viewpoint and gives The Underground Man a sense of humor and humanity - and later terror - which few works of prose can claim. Despite the books brevity, the character of the Duke is strongly developed, and his deteriorating sanity self-evident through the diary entries.

In brief, The Underground Man was a thoroughly entertaining book, and should be read by all.

Mick Jackson does an excellent job of detailing the life of a truly eccentric, quirky man. I read this book in two days, but wished it had gone on many more. I laughed aloud many times and noticeably cringed while reading about his surgery. People on the subway were straining to see what I was reading. Truly entertaining, extremely heartreaking. I can't wait for more from Mr. Jackson.

Like a great meal you want over and over, this book delivers delight on 3 rd and 4th readings. Each time, I pick up something new. The prose is like poetry, and the images!-- God only knows from where this man conjured them. The subject itself is novel, but it is the writing that smacks the ball out of the park.
If you love spellbinding writing, read this book.

I had no clue what this book was when I bought it...but I'm so glad I did! The Duke is one of the most oddly charming characters I've ever encountered in literature. He referred to the events in his life and his actions in such a way that almost felt detached...almost. I got the impression that he did understand his thoughts, emotional reactions and behavior were strange but also knew who he was an accepted it.

While the ending is tragic, I felt it gave a truly understanding look into a person with serious mental problems who was still able to live a fulfilling life.

Mick Jackson expertly crafts an intriguing, captivating, and altogether beautifully-represented world within the Duke's mind, resulting in a novel that's extremely enjoyable.

However, my only complaint would be the fact that the apparent 'mystery' is not strong until the conclusion, and hardly seems like a mystery at all until it is finally uncovered.

Regardless, 'The Underground Man' will have you laughing, feeling sympathetic, even squirming; and I thoroughly recommend it.