Book Review - The Cockney Sparrow by Dilly Court
ISBN-13: 978-0099499640
The Cockney Sparrow is one of a number of novels by the author Dilly Court that are set in Victorian East End London.
The Story
Dilly Court’s trademark style is to start her books by throwing us straight into the plot. The fast starts to her books means that they are often described as being ‘page turners’. The Cockney Sparrow follows this tradition and within a few pages we are following the main character, Clemency, with interest.
Clemency, is a feisty character with a strong determination to care for her alcoholic mother and crippled brother. At first she uses her skills as a pickpocket, but when the manager of a wandering band of minstrels hears her sing like a nightingale, the adventures of the ‘Cockney Sparrow’ begin as she becomes a member of the group.
Dilly Court continues to write with great verve as the action moves from theatre land, where Clemency fulfills her heart’s desire and sings on stage, to the salons of the London social scene and across the Channel to the streets of Paris.
The Style
This is a fast paced book and Dilly Court’s obvious passion for the period and sharp attention to detail and authenticity allows the stench of poverty and decay to permeate the pages. She writes with an acute knowledge of the era within which the book is set and the reader is transported to an underworld of deprivation and squalor in the East End of London at the turn of the Twentieth century.
The book will appeal to people who enjoy historical fiction and are fans of books by authors such as Catherine Cookson.
Who Should Read This Book?
This book is good for people who:
* Have a love of historical fiction
* Enjoy a fast moving plot
* Welcome a happy ending
Is this book suitable for Book Clubs?
The Cockney Sparrow would work well for book clubs - although it is important to bear in mind the genre and the style. It provides a combination of a fast moving plot, strong characters and an interesting backdrop. This would make a good read for a book club looking for a book that is not too taxing, but still provides plenty to think about.
Some of the points to discuss might include:
* What do we learn about what Victorian London had to offer its poor?
* Are the main characters believable - did you care what happened to them?
* What future would Clemency have had without her ability to sing?
Books by Dilly Court
- The Cockney Sparrow
- The Best of Sisters
- Tilly True
- Doll makers Daughter
- A Mermaid Singing
- A Mothers Courage
Further Reading: Dilly Court Website
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