The Quickening Maze

by Adam Foulds

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize

After a lifetime's struggle with alcohol, critical neglect and depression, in 1840 the nature poet John Clare is incarcerated. The asylum, in London's Epping Forest, is run on the reformist principles of occupational therapy. At the same time, the young Alfred Tennyson, moves nearby and became entangled in the life of the asylum. This historically accurate, intensely lyrical novel, describes the asylum's closed world and Nature's paradise outside the walls: Clare's dream of home, of redemption, of escape.

• ISBN10: 1101447028
• ISBN13: 9781101447024
• Publish Date: 29 June 2010 (first published 7 May 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Penguin Group
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[Eve1972]

This was just such a gorgeously written novel! Set in a mental hospital near London in 1840, the novel follows the experiences of several people linked to the hospital. The main one being the poet John Clare and is based on real events that took place in Epping Forest during that time. It's not a very long book, but the author's writing just makes it come alive (I believe the author is also a poet??). This was just a really wonderful book and I can see why it was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize this year.