Edward Carey - Little

Rating: 5/5

Review:
Terrific

I thought Little was terrific. It’s beautifully written, utterly engaging and extremely interesting.

This is the somewhat fictionalised story of the childhood and younger adulthood of Madame Tussaud, narrated by her. Born Marie Grosholtz in Switzerland we get the story of this small, odd-looking orphaned girl who finds a talent making wax anatomical models. Moving eventually to Paris, her story is of servitude, the desperation to express her talent and her yearning for love and humanity. There is a beautifully created atmosphere of pre-Revolutionary Paris, of life in the Palace of Versailles and of the Revolution and The Terror. All is seen from Marie’s – or “Little’s” plain point of view and described in quite simple, unemotional language, which makes it all the more impactful and real.

I found the story and its telling wholly gripping. It is sometimes macabre, sometimes fascinating, sometimes profoundly touching and is wonderfully illustrated with the author’s drawings, done as a part of Marie’s narrative. The characters that Edward Carey creates are complex, human and completely convincing and his research into both Marie’s life and the historical background is plainly extensive but never intrudes; it simply paints a wonderful picture of the woman and her times.

Little is one of the best books I have read this year. Very warmly recommended.