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wordsofclover 's review for:
The Warlow Experiment
by Alix Nathan
I received this book from Serpent's Tail in exchange for an honest review.
In 1793, Welshman Herbert Powyss does not want his name to fall into obscurity and decides to conduct an experiment about the effects of a seven-year solitude on a man's behavior. After constructing underground rooms, Powyss employs semi-literate John Warlow to live there. His clothes and food will be provided for him, but he won't see or speak to another person for over half a decade. Things begin to unravel as Warlow's thoughts wander in the darkness, and Powyss becomes acquainted with Warlow's wife..
This was an unsettling, yet addictive read about a man's slow descent into madness and you really do wonder what you would do in such a situation. I really enjoyed Warlow's POV which was fairly uneducaed but some of things he obsevered were realy interesting, and what he would write in his diary. There's definitely an 'ick' feeling when reading this too because it's obvious that Warlow isn't washing himself or cleaning his surroundings so it's not too long before he's wading through filth and describing all the creepy crawlies on his own body let alone in his chambers.
Powyss as a character was annoying mostly due to his selfishness and his entitled air - to the point that he didn't act entitled but he never really thought about anyone else. It is really intersting that he himself is an extremely solitary person and he decided to undertake such an experiment on someone else. I did find the relationship between Hannah and Powyss a bit predictable. I liked the POV of Catherine, one of the maids, as someone slightly impartial to everything else going on.
One of the things I wasn't mad on in this story was probably the revolutionary side plot. At the time of the novel, one of the French revolutions is ongoing and some men are beginning to think of overthrowing their masters on English soil as well. I wouldn't have a massive interest in the French Revolution - or French history in particular - so I found myself impatient in these parts to get back to Powyss and Warlow - mostly Warlow as his POV was so riveting.
The flip near the end of the book of Powyss's and Warlow's living situations really struck me and I thought it cleverly done. I did very much enjoy this book and how it all played out. I also love that Powyss and Warlow are based on real people and a real experiment, and Alix Nathan has put her own spin on it.
In 1793, Welshman Herbert Powyss does not want his name to fall into obscurity and decides to conduct an experiment about the effects of a seven-year solitude on a man's behavior. After constructing underground rooms, Powyss employs semi-literate John Warlow to live there. His clothes and food will be provided for him, but he won't see or speak to another person for over half a decade. Things begin to unravel as Warlow's thoughts wander in the darkness, and Powyss becomes acquainted with Warlow's wife..
This was an unsettling, yet addictive read about a man's slow descent into madness and you really do wonder what you would do in such a situation. I really enjoyed Warlow's POV which was fairly uneducaed but some of things he obsevered were realy interesting, and what he would write in his diary. There's definitely an 'ick' feeling when reading this too because it's obvious that Warlow isn't washing himself or cleaning his surroundings so it's not too long before he's wading through filth and describing all the creepy crawlies on his own body let alone in his chambers.
Powyss as a character was annoying mostly due to his selfishness and his entitled air - to the point that he didn't act entitled but he never really thought about anyone else. It is really intersting that he himself is an extremely solitary person and he decided to undertake such an experiment on someone else. I did find the relationship between Hannah and Powyss a bit predictable. I liked the POV of Catherine, one of the maids, as someone slightly impartial to everything else going on.
One of the things I wasn't mad on in this story was probably the revolutionary side plot. At the time of the novel, one of the French revolutions is ongoing and some men are beginning to think of overthrowing their masters on English soil as well. I wouldn't have a massive interest in the French Revolution - or French history in particular - so I found myself impatient in these parts to get back to Powyss and Warlow - mostly Warlow as his POV was so riveting.
The flip near the end of the book of Powyss's and Warlow's living situations really struck me and I thought it cleverly done. I did very much enjoy this book and how it all played out. I also love that Powyss and Warlow are based on real people and a real experiment, and Alix Nathan has put her own spin on it.