Pilcrow (novel)
Encyclopedia
Pilcrow is a novel by Adam Mars-Jones
first published in 2008 by Faber
.
at an early age and is confined to bed under a misdiagnosis of rheumatic fever
. When the nature of his disease is finally realised he is transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital
in Taplow
, Berkshire
under the care of Dr. Barbara Ansell
but by then he has very little movement left in his joints. Later he moves to a special school in Farley Castle
where he is reliant on the 'able-bodied' to help him move around, and realises that he is homosexual.
comments in the London Review of Books
, 'Pilcrow is a peculiar, original, utterly idiosyncratic book. It is admirably courageous, both in what it heaps on us, and in what it holds back. While it drops us deep into the everyday, it boldly refuses the everyday consolations of plot and dramatic structure.'
Adam Mars-Jones
Adam Mars-Jones is a British novelist and critic.Mars-Jones was born in London, to parents William Mars-Jones, the Welsh High Court judge and President of the London Welsh Trust, and Sheila . Mars-Jones studied at Westminster School, and read Classics at Trinity Hall, Cambridge...
first published in 2008 by Faber
Faber and Faber
Faber and Faber Limited, often abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in the UK, notable in particular for publishing a great deal of poetry and for its former editor T. S. Eliot. Faber has a rich tradition of publishing a wide range of fiction, non fiction, drama, film and music...
.
Plot
The book is in the form of a memoir by an adult John Cromer telling the story of his childhood and adolescence in the 50's and early 60's. He develops Still's diseaseJuvenile idiopathic arthritis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common form of persistent arthritis in children. JIA is a subset of arthritis seen in childhood, which may be transient and...
at an early age and is confined to bed under a misdiagnosis of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
. When the nature of his disease is finally realised he is transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital
Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital
The Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, was a pre-war civilian hospital and a centre for research into rheumatism in children...
in Taplow
Taplow
Taplow is a village and civil parish within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames facing Maidenhead on the opposite bank. Taplow railway station is situated near the A4 south of the village....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
under the care of Dr. Barbara Ansell
Barbara Ansell
Barbara Mary Ansell CBE, FRCP, FRCS was the founder of paediatric rheumatology.Born in Warwick, Warwickshire, England, and educated at King's High School for Girls there, Ansell qualified at Birmingham in 1946 and did her post-graduate training at Hammersmith...
but by then he has very little movement left in his joints. Later he moves to a special school in Farley Castle
Farley Castle
Farley Castle is an early 19th century modern house situated at Farley Hill, Berkshire, Swallowfield, Berkshire.The Gothic-styled, two-storey house in red brick with battlements and round turrets, was built by Martin-Atkins and Woodbury circa 1810, and was the former home of Benjamin Brodie.From...
where he is reliant on the 'able-bodied' to help him move around, and realises that he is homosexual.
Reception
It has received mixed reviews; as James WoodJames Wood (critic)
James Wood is a literary critic, essayist and novelist. he is Professor of the Practice of Literary Criticism at Harvard University and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine.-Background and education:...
comments in the London Review of Books
London Review of Books
The London Review of Books is a fortnightly British magazine of literary and intellectual essays.-History:The LRB was founded in 1979, during the year-long lock-out at The Times, by publisher A...
, 'Pilcrow is a peculiar, original, utterly idiosyncratic book. It is admirably courageous, both in what it heaps on us, and in what it holds back. While it drops us deep into the everyday, it boldly refuses the everyday consolations of plot and dramatic structure.'
Continuation
The book finishes with John Cromer at the age of sixteen. The next installment of his life is called Cedilla and was published in 2011External links
- Book Reviews - Pilcrow by Adam Mars-Jones gives links to reviews from The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, New StatesmanNew StatesmanNew Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
, Times Literary Supplement, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and The Daily TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
.