Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth Review

Title: Theatre of Marvels

Author: Lianne Dillsworth

Genre: Historical

Publisher: Cornerstone (UK), HarperCollins (US)

Pages: 432

Release Date: 28 April 2022 (UK), 12 April 2022 (US)

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Hello fellow booklovers, today I’m sharing my review for the incredible Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth. As you’ve probably realised I’m a huge historical fiction fan and this deliciously detailed, richly atmospheric and empowering tale of identity and morality is an absolute must read.

Dillsworth expertly highlights issues of race and class, shedding light on the hardships women faced in 19th C England, particularly women of colour that I hope you’ll find just as eye opening.

Synopsis

Crowds gather at Crillick's Variety Theatre, where curiosity is satisfied with displays of intrigue and fear. They're here for the star of the show - the Great Amazonia warrior. They needn't know this warrior is in fact Zillah, a mixed-race actress from the East End fooling them each night with her thrilling performance.

But something is amiss, and when Crillick's new act goes missing Zillah feels compelled to investigate, knowing the fates that can befall women in Victorian London.

From the bustle of the West India Docks to the coffee houses of Fleet Street to the parlours of Mayfair, Zillah's journey for answers will find her caught between both sides of her own identity, and between two men: her wealthy white admirer, and an African merchant appalled by her act.

Will Zillah be forced to confront the price of her own performance? And in risking everything can she also save herself?

Featuring a defiant heroine for our times and a theatrical world of fragile dreams and ruthless ambition, THEATRE OF MARVELS shines a light on the experience of being Black and British in Victorian London through one woman's journey to live her life on her own terms.

Review

This was absolutely incredible! It’s richly detailed, emotionally thought provoking and utterly addictive, I literally sped through most of it in a single evening, a true testament to Dillsworth’s exceptional writing skills.

The historical, Victorian London setting was spectacularly atmospheric and unapologetically gritty, there’s absolutely no sugar coating the life experiences and prejudices faced by the working classes (particularly women and people of colour), which I found both interesting and absolutely heart-wrenching.

The sheer level of historical accuracy was phenomenal and definitely sheds a light on a huge part of British history; involving marginalised groups that society as a whole has all but forgotten (such as The Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme) which was incredibly eye opening.

Zillah was a strong, empowering and utterly endearing character, in fact many of the characters are full of depth and brought a realism to the narrative such as Barky (Zillah’s co-worker/manager and father figure.) I despised Crillick, who was utterly despicable and Ellen (Zillah’s friend) who wasn’t much better but, they were both really well written (even if they were both unlikable.)

Overall, this was a phenomenally written and beautifully evocative story that tackled the themes of slavery, exploitation and racism magnificently to create an utterly compelling and unforgettable read—its a must read for fans of historical fiction.

Also, thanks to Random House UK and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

About The Author

Lianne Dillsworth has MAs in Creative Writing and Victorian Studies and won a place on the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. She was first runner up in the 2020 SI Leeds Literary Prize for Black and Asian Women Writers in the UK. Lianne lives in London where she works on growing inclusion within the Civil Service. Theatre of Marvels is her debut novel.

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