The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

Genre: Historical Fiction / Magical Realism

Rating: 4 stars

“For mermaids are the most unnatural of creatures, and their hearts are empty of love.”

Historical fiction meets magical realism in the beautifully written debut, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, as Imogen Hermes Gowar takes us into 1780’s London. The story starts as the city is plunged into intrigue and wonder as Jonah Hancock, a merchant, receives the captain of one of his trading vessels at his door. When he is told that the captain has traded in his ship for a dead mermaid, not the kind of mermaid he is used to from stories, at first, Jonah is hesitant and angry. But soon, he and his niece, Suzie, devise a way to make a fortune by putting the mermaid on display for the people of London to see the hideous, infant-sized creature and be delighted at the morbid sight. During the incidents caused by his possession of the mermaid, he comes in contact with Angelica Neal, a beautiful but shallow woman on the run from a bawdyhouse owner.

Despite the presence of not one but two mermaids, completely opposite when it comes to description, Gowar plays down the magical realism aspects. More than the actual being, she explores the reactions of the different characters to it. Therefore, the book is a gripping read beyond the mythical references. Gowar’s writing is beautiful and lyrical. She is exceptional at building atmosphere and scene-setting to the point that while reading certain episodes in the book, you almost feel like you are there. For instance, the music, dance and flirtations during the party at Mrs Chappell’s house were described to perfection, exuding the dark charm that such parties definitely had. While reading this book, I had the feeling that Gowar didn’t use any word that was not needed and cleverly moved from one scene to the next. The almost poetic passages that are included in between the story of Jonah and Angelica are written beautifully and read like it is the mermaid talking, giving the same sense of melancholy and sadness that the mermaid caused in the minds of everyone around her.

“The words spoken from behind a mask may be bolder than those uttered barefaced, but this need not mean they are more honest.”

Mermaids, as magical creatures, are often associated with trapped women trying to make the most of their beauty. In this book, Gowar takes this idea further by giving us several female characters trapped and yet trying to make the best of the circumstances. Angelica’s undying will to emerge as successful, Mrs Chappell’s knack for business, Bel Fortescue's feminist way of viewing prostitution, and even Suzie’s whipsmart character who takes on the reins of the mermaid business when her uncle is ready to give up are just a few of the exceptionally written female characters. Even though the main character of the book is a man, there is no doubt when I say that it is the female characters who shine through. The conversations between these women, as they try to keep up the pretence of politeness expected of them in 1780s London, bring an angle of humour in contrast to the more literary aspects of the book.

What Gowar also does well is touch upon important issues like sexism, racism, the taboo of sex work and the class divide without actually being obvious about it. However, the book does have a few shortcomings. Among the several side characters, some of them disappear without any closure on their stories, which left me a little confused. The one that bothered me the most was Polly, a mixed-race bawdyhouse mate of Angelica who runs off during a party she is hired for, and then we never know what happens to her except for a tiny chapter about the miserable conditions she has found herself in. This was especially disappointing because her struggles of coming to terms with her identity as half-black and her arguments with the servants in the house brought an interesting angle to the story till she vanished into thin air, of course. But despite this, with its attention to historic detail and lyrical writing, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is a beautiful read, and I loved the unusual take on literary fiction.

“And a man of nobility is always such in his soul; however, he may fall; and a man of the humble sort is always such in his soul; however, he may rise.”