This novel, written in 1896, reflects the atmosphere of Victorian society. This end of the 19th century is full of hypocrisy. John Meade Falkner, born in 1858, is an English writer. He immerses us in this period with this novel that could be a thriller. This mysterious coat of arms brings death. There is a secret about the lineage of the Blandamer family.
The old church threatens to collapse; it needs restoration. The villagers keep a watchful eye on each other. There are old ladies preoccupied with speaking ill of their neighbors. There is the boarding house, the architect, the organist, and so many characters, each with their own secret. Then there is the painting that seems to be the key to the whole story. Who is this lord who has returned to the country?
John Mead Falkner gradually reveals the plot to us. First, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre must be saved. Then there is the succession of the old lord; his grandson should succeed him, except! Westray, the architect, discovers papers, but should he speak?
The author maintains us in suspense where each page should hold the answer to this mystery, yet the twists and turns challenge what seemed logical. Despite its age, this novel is very current in its conclusion, where ultimately, morality triumphs even if the church’s spire collapses after a storm.
Another attraction of this work is making us live in this late 19th century England, where Queen Victoria left her rigorist mark on British society. A society hypocritical and marked by differences in social classes.
Thierry Jan
