Emma Donoghue is among a crop of writers combining fact and fiction in their work. And Victorian England offers Donoghue a wealth of material to tap into. Her book Room (inspired by Josef Fritzl's horrific incarceration and sexual abuse of his daughter Elisabeth), shortlisted for the Booker Prize, proves she is a master when it comes to drawing inspiration from fact.
Set in 18th-century England, The Sealed Letter is based on press reports of the Codrington divorce. It chronicles the friendship between Emily "Fido" Faithfull, who runs a printing company, and Helen Codrington, wife of Vice-Admiral Harry Codrington. The readers first meet the two women when they bump into each other on the streets of London after seven years. The author then sweeps readers to Italy and Calcutta (now Kolkata), where Helen grew up, the high seas where Codrington served in the navy with his father Sir Edward Codrington, to Kent where Helen and Fido first met, and to the island of Malta.
The two soon rekindle their bond, but certain issues, including half-truths and manipulation, eclipse their friendship. Things really come to a head two months down the line, when Fido finds herself drawn into the Codrington divorce debacle and compelled to testify in court. This is the last straw that breaks the comradeship.
In this scandal-filled novel, Donoghue combines the best of several genres. As a historical mystery, The Sealed Letter is a captivating portrait of Victorian England. You will explore a thriving city and its newly introduced rail system, building sites and parks. You will meet its lawyers, army officers, activists, curtsying servants and corseted ladies. The book also addresses the conflicts between the sexes and the role of the women's emancipation movement in the fight for equal opportunities. It offers historical figures such as Sir Edward Codrington, hero of Trafalgar, and the major battles that were fought, such as the Crimean War. The historical insights bring 18th-century England to life. It is also an entertaining detective story, with elements of a family saga. In addition the story takes the form of a courtroom drama.
The dialogue is well written and gives perfect period details. The shocking revelations are something out of The Jerry Springer Show. You will hear sordid details of immoral activities committed in gondolas and under the Maltese full moon. Actually, some of the issues addressed in the book — lesbianism, allegations of rape, adultery, fighting over custody of children — are still fodder for today's tabloids.
Once Codrington, with the help of Mrs Watson, Reverend Watson's wife, files for divorce and hires a private investigator to tail his wife, the action moves quickly, with plenty of page-turning suspense. As the legal proceedings continue and the petitioner produces a sealed letter, the story moves to an exciting climax before some unexpected and dramatic truths are revealed.
In a world dominated by men, the author tries to introduce readers to a cast of women who have found ways to empower themselves. However, she portrays them in a stereotypical way. Donoghue paints a picture of women who are dull and given to bickering. Fido and Helen seem a bit exaggerated. Though educated, Fido is so naïve that she blindly signs an affidavit. She runs away, hoping the situation will resolve itself. Helen comes through as a self-centred, heartless woman who manipulates others, has loose morals and even has the guts to blackmail her friend.
Many readers will enjoy this book, which unfolds like a soap opera, though the events only take place over two months. The historical research, however, shines through.
The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue, Picador, 416 pages, £16.99.
-1549353214833_16a4a1597d8_small.jpg)
