The Merest Loss

by Steven Neil

[Lynn]

The Merest Loss is a fascinating fictional portrayal of several equally captivating characters who lived in Victorian times. The focus is on Elizabeth 'Eliza' Ann Harryet, a headstrong young girl from Norfolk and how she became known as the actress Harriet Howard, mistress to Louis Napoleon and later Comtesse de Beauregard.

I enjoyed the contrast between Harriet Howard's life and Jem Mason's racing world. I respect how the author wove their lives together to create an enthralling narrative and I quickly became absorbed as their stories unfolded. There's an overwhelming feeling these two people are destined to be together, but the reality was something very different. The love they had for each other was constant, but circumstances and outside interference played a huge part in keeping them apart.

Steven Neil's interpretation of the lives and events of the protagonists and secondary characters are impeccable and palpable. The covert actions of the British Government at the time and how they manipulated citizens to carry out their work by blackmail is shocking. It is this which throws Harriet's character under the spotlight. As an actress with ambitions, she is the darling of London Theatre-land, strong, ambitious and stubborn. Yet, the plans the British establishment had placed her in a vulnerable position, one where she acts only to keep those closest to her safe; manipulated to act as directed resulting in a heartfelt sacrifice. Somehow, though, she has an inbuilt resilience to retaliate and I particularly enjoyed the scene where she demanded an audience with Queen Victoria...which much to her satisfaction was granted.

Despite the narrative jumping back and forth between Harriet's secretive life and Jem's racing background, the writing flows effortlessly keeping me engaged within the narrative which was unputdownable.

Clearly, my favourite novels in 2018 have been fictional adaptations of historical figures and The Merest Loss is joining them on my top reads for the year.

***review copy received courtesy of the publisher Matador***