Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier

Burning Bright is the story of the Kellaways, a family from Dorset who move to London in 1792 on the brink of the French Revolution. It centres on Jem Kellaway, a thirteen year old boy, who immediately forms a friendship with local London urchin, Maggie Butterfield. Together they make an unlikely pair but are united in their fascination of Jem's next door neighbour William Blake. Blake is a printer, a painter and a poet and both Maggie and Jem are drawn to his curiosities.

As their relationship develops, so too does their relationship with Blake, and Jem and Maggie manage to entangle themselves in all sorts of mishaps and misdemeanours; the seduction of Jem's sister Maisie by the local philanderer, the riot with the Lambeth Association, not forgetting the story behind cut-throat lane.

Burning Bright is an entertaining tale of the relationship between two very different characters, Jem and Maggie. Jem is very likable, he is a hard working boy who supports his family and his sister in particular. Maggie in contrast has had a difficult childhood, her family are more often in the pub than working, and she has had to become quite self-sufficient. Her harsh and brutal ways are somewhat softened by her occasional episodes of innocence and vulnerability, so she too, becomes very likable.

Other than that, the story in itself does not progress. We only see flashes of Blake and he is not that significant a character. 18th Century London is portrayed well, but the historical backdrop for this novel, The French Revolution, was hardly integral either. I didn't learn anything historical particularly, and if I had purchased this book for the purpose of it being historical fiction, then I would have been thoroughly disappointed. However, I did not. I came across this book by accident, I thought I would read it, and I really enjoyed it.

If you want something that is light-hearted, easy to read and entertaining then give this one a go.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars