One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel.
A sumptuous book full of feisty women (and a couple of mermaids) and set in Georgian England. The easy, lyrical writing style is totally fitting for the roiling waves of the story and carried me along on a tide of desire to know how things would work out for all concerned. I became completely immersed in the tale and absolutely loved it.
