I mentioned a little while back that Neil Bartlett had a new book out, Skin Lane, and that the reviews sounded good.
Well, I’m here to tell you that the reviews were right. The story is simply superb. It grips from the opening prologue and never lets go. A retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale, it is set in London in 1967 and observes the events centred around a certain Mr. Freeman (known to his colleagues as Mr F). Mr F works as a cutter in London’s fur trade, and in that year of 1967 – a year that has a special significance for those of us who grew up gay in Britain at the time – he becomes possessed of an obsession that will irrevocably change his life, and the life of those around him.
The whole novel reads as though you are caught in a dream (or nightmare) helplessly watching the events play out. I was reminded of the writings of Angela Carter at times. Almost as important as the players in the story is the setting. London itself becomes another character, through the descriptions of the places and the times. Bartlett’s descriptions of the fur trade are convincing – Skin Lane itself is actually Skinners Lane, which was indeed the centre of the fur trade in London.
Highly, highly recommended.
Ps – for Chris and Ed: Bartlett will be reading from Skin Lane at the Brighton Festival on May 18…
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