In 1785 young provincial engineer Baratte is charged with clearing a stinking, overcrowded cemetery in Paris. With a team of taciturn Normandy miners and his erstwhile friend from home the task seems straightforward for a modern man of reason. But together with bones, underlying passions are unearthed and 'reason' balances on a knife edge with violence. Tangibly atmospheric, hauntingly compelling and written in beautiful, lucid prose, I found it utterly bewitching.
(Annabel Bedini - bwl 65 Summer 2012 ) |
