Dan Leno And The Limehouse Golem

Throughout the morning, from the middle of the night until some time after lunch, continuous pattering from overhead; swishing of wet wheels and gentle breezes outside, signalled return of the rains; when they ceased indigo skies required inside lights to remain switched on for me, even beside my window, to complete my reading of

Although the imagined golem is briefly described in the book, this is not really about the magical mythical clay creature brought to life in Jewish legend; more about the panic instilled in a gullible public horrified by a set of serial killings.

Ackroyd has created a thrilling murder mystery story displaying his in-depth knowledge of the less salubrious sights, sounds and smells of mid-Victorian London; the atmosphere, popularity, and practices of the Music Hall stage and its performers; poets, novelists, and other notable personalities of the time all woven into the fabric of a tale beginning with a trial and ending with a hanging – but not quite as expected.

The professional name of George Wild Galvin was Dan Leno, considered “the funniest man on earth”. His influence pervades the music hall, although he is not the main protagonist carrying the stage element of the story. The British Museum reading room is the location linking writers and others, some of whom are familiar with Limehouse, one of the most deprived areas of the capital, which is presented in all its unsavoury aspects.

Just as he interweaves all the aspects of his story and his invented characters he skilfully brings his historical people into play.

Ackroyd’s prose is fluid and well paced with a good grasp of credible dialogue. Chapters are of varying lengths usually presented from differing viewpoints. Indeed this 1994 novel could almost read as the script for a film to which it was adapted in 2016 under the title of “The Limehouse Golem”.

The novel was acclaimed by various UK newspapers and by the New York Review of Books.

This evening we all dined on succulent chicken Kiev; roast potatoes both crisp white and soft sweet; juicy ratatouille; tender runner beans and broccoli stems, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Garnacha.

34 comments

  1. Your description of Ackroyd’s prose as “fluid and well paced with a good grasp of credible dialogue” makes me want to check him out. Thanks, Derrick. Have a great day!

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  3. Sounds like the perfect book to ‘escape’ into on a breezy, rainy day.
    You had me at…”a thrilling murder mystery story…” 🙂 Sounds like a book I’d like to read. I do remember seeing the film.
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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  12. I haven’t read the book, but I have seen the film which sells at Amazon for “3.99 and passes an hour or two. The book sounds quite good, though.

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  14. That is an interesting and well done cover for the book! I always enjoy your reviews, Derrick.

    Jackie’s dinners sound so delicious. The two of you could have opened a restaurant! 🙂

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