Product Description

The Quincunx is an epic Dickensian-like mystery novel set in 19th century England, and concerns the varying fortunes of young John Huffam and his mother. A thrilling complex plot is made more intriguing by the unreliable narrator of the book - how much can we believe of what he says? First published in 1989, The Quincunx was a surprise bestseller and began a trend for pastiche Victorian novels. It remains one of the best.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50176 in Books
• Published on: 1995-06-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 1248 pages

About the Author
Charles Palliser was born in the US but has lived in the UK since childhood. For a number of years he lectured in English at the University of Strathclyde but resigned to write full time after the success of The Quincunx. He is the author of four novels

Customer Reviews

Best of its Kind
In response to an earlier review, I have just reached the point where I can read this again, 10 years after first reading it, and I can confirm that it just gets better with time. Wilkie Collins, Dickens, Conan Doyle are all pastiched wonderfully and knowingly in this book, but with a level of interpretation which eludes all but the most observant readers on first reading - myself included. I finished the book on first reading with the nagging feeling that the understanding the narrator arrives at by the end is missing something important - and the joy reading this the second time around is tracking this hidden plot beneath the explicit plot. With the apparent revival of interest in the Victorian mystery in recent years - witness the success of Fingersmith, another great read - I am amazed that this masterpiece is relatively little known. Perhaps it is the 1200 pages that put off casual readers? If you are willing to lose yourself completely for weeks or months, this is the book to do it in.

Brilliant
This is breathtakingly good. I literally couldn't stop reading - in fact one morning last week I took the absurd step of setting my alarm an hour early so I could get my fix before starting the day. I came to The Quincunx circuitously, having loved The Crimson Petal and The White, The Meaning of Night, and a slew of other Victorian semi-pastiches. This knocks them all into a cocked hat - not only is it vastly superior to any of them, but it's a work of sheer imaginative brilliance in its own right, regardless of when it might be set. I couldn't recommend it more - but be prepared to set aside days of your life, because it's compulsive, up-till-three reading.

historical masterpiece
I wanted a complete change from the type of books I had been reading and after The Unburied, also brilliant! I brought Quincunx. I can sympathise with one reviewer on the US site who wouldn’t get passed the first few pages, I made it after the forth attempt and I’m so glad I persevered for this is a wonderful book!! The plot is just unrelenting, hurling the main character(s) from one adventure to the next. The detail is breath taking, the descriptions of poverty seem so real and the characters, well drawn out and in so much detail... I can’t recommend this book enough, it’s brilliant!