One of the Family
Encyclopedia
One of the Family was the last novel written by Monica Dickens
, great granddaughter of Charles Dickens
. It is set in Edwardian London
where the world, like main character Leonard Morley's life, is changing.
We start the book with a single note which seems to leave a smudge on Leonard and his family life. The book continues with himself, two sons, a daughter and a wife as well as a large extended family all making room for one more, when curiously charming 'Doctor' Tobias Taylor appears on the scene. However curiosity killed more than just a cat
, as the family soon finds out.
Leonard Morley, in the very first chapter, receives a threatening note, requesting blood money in the absence of Mr Whiteley, his manager and Leonard informs his wife of it, who dismisses it avidly. However, over time more of these notes turn up, and when the fourth has found its way to Leonard, he resolves to tell Mr Whiteley. But whilst waiting to speak to him, Mr Whiteley is shot, and is lying in a pool of blood.
In the court scene, where Leonard stands as witness, all over London
people flock to see the trial. In the end, Horace Rayner is charged with murder, and given a life sentence.
This book very cleverly entwines fact
with fiction
, and Whiteley's assassination being involved is the first example that comes to mind.
Monica Dickens
Monica Enid Dickens, MBE was an English writer, the great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens.-Biography:...
, great granddaughter of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
. It is set in Edwardian London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where the world, like main character Leonard Morley's life, is changing.
We start the book with a single note which seems to leave a smudge on Leonard and his family life. The book continues with himself, two sons, a daughter and a wife as well as a large extended family all making room for one more, when curiously charming 'Doctor' Tobias Taylor appears on the scene. However curiosity killed more than just a cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
, as the family soon finds out.
Leonard Morley, in the very first chapter, receives a threatening note, requesting blood money in the absence of Mr Whiteley, his manager and Leonard informs his wife of it, who dismisses it avidly. However, over time more of these notes turn up, and when the fourth has found its way to Leonard, he resolves to tell Mr Whiteley. But whilst waiting to speak to him, Mr Whiteley is shot, and is lying in a pool of blood.
In the court scene, where Leonard stands as witness, all over London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
people flock to see the trial. In the end, Horace Rayner is charged with murder, and given a life sentence.
This book very cleverly entwines fact
Fact
A fact is something that has really occurred or is actually the case. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability, that is whether it can be shown to correspond to experience. Standard reference works are often used to check facts...
with fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, and Whiteley's assassination being involved is the first example that comes to mind.