Book Review: The Eyre Affair

Reviewed By: Sandi - RAM

The Eyre Affair     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jasper Fforde
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Science Fiction   Time Travel   Alternate History
Series: Thursday Next # 1
February 2003; New English Library, 374 pp.

What a fun, fun book! Jasper Fforde has combined crime, literature, time travel and cloning into one delightful read.

It is 1985 in Great Britian. Literature has been elevated to a well-respected and protected art form. A Special Operations Network (SpecOps) has been created to control and discontinue “literary crimes”. This is where Thursday Next is employed. She has a military and law enforcement history, and is well-educated regarding British literature.

At the beginning of the book, Thursday is working out of London where she faces the formidable opponent of Acheron Hades. He has stolen the original manuscript of “Martin Chuzzletwit” (by Dickens). Meanwhile, Thursday’s ‘absent-minded professor’, Mycroft, has developed a Prose Portal through which you can travel in and out of literary works. Hades kidnaps Uncle Mycroft and his portal.

To continue her search (and arrest) of Hades, Thursday must return to her home town of Swinton. She must deal with her “slightly irregular” family and her former fiancé. While in Swinton, the original manuscript of “Jane Eyre” is stolen. To avoid the altering of the story, and catch Hades, Thursday must enter “Jane Eyre.”

You will enjoy Thursday’s travels (and visits from her time-traveling father), her interactions with her family members and former fiancé, and the chase for Acheron Hades. It is amusing and entertaining. I recommend it and am looking forward to Thursday’s next adventure, “Lost in a Good Book.”

Sandi - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Sandi - RAM