Scan barcode
A review by ruthrebecca
Restoration by Rose Tremain
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
This is an essentially long character study set in the 1660s, which feels so alive and real.
Merivel is not a perfect man at all, in fact, if I met him in person I don't think I'd like him. But the gaudy Merivel of Bidnold, the tacky-rifhteous Robert of Whittlesea, and the contemplative physician Robert Merivel of London were all so distinct yet were clearly the same man. A master class in developing a character.
The settings were so well described they felt luscious and within reach. Every detail fit to the time period but didn't feel like a history lesson. Other characters, of which they were many, felt like real people and we as readers know that we only see a small sniper of who they are through Merivel's POV.
There's the theme of perspective in this book. The Indian Nightingale is actually a blackbird - but does it matter if their song is beautiful and their fake identity brings happiness? Rosie Pierpoint is a mistress he is devoted to for years, who is in the business of prostitution and that's how she makes her money - but does it matter if his feelings for her are under false pretencies but are nonetheless real? William Harvey is the physician who is Pearce's great inspiration and who discovered blood circulation - yet in the novel William Harvey is the name given to the building for the most mentally unwell people, who are not allowed to 'circulate' among others or take part in the group dancing.
This book also centers the bromance between Merivel and the king. The King sees the pompous Merivel and sends him away to "find himself to be useful" while reminding him "Do not sleep". And so the quest of being useful is the crux of this novel, I think the blurb is actually quite misleading. Falling for the King's mistress is the inciting incident but not the quest.
The theme of sleeping comes up right at the end of the novel, and Merivel dreams and longs for the past. Especially to return to Bidnold. The ending is confusing, is it a dream or real? He meets the king at Bidnold, yet he was doing to thing the king forbade, 'sleeping' and yearning for old luxuries. The ending, I'm unsure if I got the point.
Great experience with the audiobook, the narrator is fantastic.
Merivel is not a perfect man at all, in fact, if I met him in person I don't think I'd like him. But the gaudy Merivel of Bidnold, the tacky-rifhteous Robert of Whittlesea, and the contemplative physician Robert Merivel of London were all so distinct yet were clearly the same man. A master class in developing a character.
The settings were so well described they felt luscious and within reach. Every detail fit to the time period but didn't feel like a history lesson. Other characters, of which they were many, felt like real people and we as readers know that we only see a small sniper of who they are through Merivel's POV.
There's the theme of perspective in this book. The Indian Nightingale is actually a blackbird - but does it matter if their song is beautiful and their fake identity brings happiness? Rosie Pierpoint is a mistress he is devoted to for years, who is in the business of prostitution and that's how she makes her money - but does it matter if his feelings for her are under false pretencies but are nonetheless real? William Harvey is the physician who is Pearce's great inspiration and who discovered blood circulation - yet in the novel William Harvey is the name given to the building for the most mentally unwell people, who are not allowed to 'circulate' among others or take part in the group dancing.
This book also centers the bromance between Merivel and the king. The King sees the pompous Merivel and sends him away to "find himself to be useful" while reminding him "Do not sleep". And so the quest of being useful is the crux of this novel, I think the blurb is actually quite misleading. Falling for the King's mistress is the inciting incident but not the quest.
The theme of sleeping comes up right at the end of the novel, and Merivel dreams and longs for the past. Especially to return to Bidnold. The ending is confusing, is it a dream or real? He meets the king at Bidnold, yet he was doing to thing the king forbade, 'sleeping' and yearning for old luxuries. The ending, I'm unsure if I got the point.
Great experience with the audiobook, the narrator is fantastic.