hidden-peopleby Alison Littlewood

Jo Fletcher Books, out now

Is anything really what it seems?

The Hidden People is Alison Littlewood’s fifth novel, and deals with the dangers of the fairies in 19th century Yorkshire – not the cute little winged creatures in storybooks or on film, but dark and dangerous; often downright cruel.

Recently married to the eminently sensible Helena, living with his father, Albie Mirrell is shocked to hear news of the horrific death of his cousin, Lizzie Higgs. Albie and Lizzie had met only once, some years before, but the golden-haired girl had left a lasting impression on her cousin’s heart. He decides to travel to her home in a small village in Yorkshire and see to the arrangements for her funeral – he feels he owes her that much, and that the family should be represented.

He finds the village environment strange and backward to his city-educated eyes, and is amazed to find that Lizzie’s death was due to her husband’s belief in changelings. Helena follows him to Yorkshire, and as they spend time in Lizzie’s cottage, reality becomes elusive. Are the villagers’ belief in fairies – in changelings, and fairy rings, and the fairy world under the hill – to be trusted? Has he been wrong all this time to believe in the rational world he’s known up to this point?

The author paints a vivid picture of village life, and of Albie’s sense of dislocation – there’s a creeping sense of unease that builds throughout the novel until its conclusion, and Albie – for all his good intentions – exhibits a decidedly unflattering attitude towards women: the fairer sex, who he deems incapable of understanding matters or even existing without a man to support and educate them. His inability to understand anything outside his limited experience lies at the heart of his travails in The Hidden People, and ultimately his inability to fully comprehend the truth.

Verdict: A story of madness and violence underlying the calmness of the everyday. 7/10

Marie O’Regan

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