A Man of Genius
A Man of Genius by Janet Todd, published by Bitter Lemon Press in 2016, is a reprint edition comprising 347 pages in English. This novel unfolds a psychological journey set against the backdrop of Regency England and the decaying beauty of Venice. It follows Ann, a woman who, after a troubled childhood, finds independence as an author of Gothic novels. Her life takes a turn when she becomes captivated by Robert James, a man believed to be a poetic genius, leading them into a complex relationship marked by obsession and secrecy.
Readers will encounter a narrative rich in themes of love, obsession, and the burdens of charisma, as Ann and Robert navigate a Europe still reeling from the Napoleonic Wars. Their journey leads them to Venice, a city filled with spies and intrigue, where Robert’s mental state deteriorates, and Ann is forced to confront her past. The story delves into questions of identity and parentage, revealing unsettling truths about both characters. A Man of Genius presents a haunting exploration of the nature of genius and the complexities of human relationships.
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“Strange and haunting, a gothic novel with a modern consciousness.” –Philippa Gregory
“A haunting, sophisticated story about a woman discovering the truth about herself and the elusive, possibly illusive, nature of genius.” —Sunday Times
“Mesmerizing, haunting, imbued with a complete sense of historical verisimilitude” —Times Literary Supplement
“A psychologically haunting and disturbing tale as full of mystery, exotic foreign places, and questions of parentage as any penned by her protagonist.” —Library Journal
“Thrilling and heartbreaking, a gothic novel with emotional heart and depth.” —Foreword Reviews
“A darkly mischievous novel about love, obsession and the burden of charisma, played out against the backdrop of Venice’s watery, decadent glory.” –Sarah Dunant
“A mesmerizing story of love and obsession in nineteenth-century Venice: dark and utterly compelling.” –Natasha Solomons
Set in bustling Regency England and decaying Venice, A Man of Genius portrays a psychological journey from safety into secrecy and obsession. After a troubled childhood, Ann achieves independence earning her living as an author of Gothic novels. Within a group of male writers, she meets and is enthralled by the supposed poetic genius, Robert James. They become uneasy lovers. Ann and Robert travel from London through a Europe exhausted by the Napoleonic Wars. They arrive in a Venice of spies and intrigue, where their relationship becomes tortuous and Robert descends into near madness. Forced to flee with a stranger, Ann delves into her past to be jolted by a series of revelations about her lover, her parentage, the stranger, and herself.
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