In 18th century London, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing…

Book blurb

When ambitious apprentice chemist and secret alchemist Peter Woulfe is tasked with caring for a mysterious illustrated book, the Mutus Liber, he quickly realises that the grimy underworld of Georgian London is even more dangerous than he first believed.

Soon the book is stolen by the light-fingered Sukie and Peter finds himself being pursued by threatening men who are willing to do anything to get the book back. Where in teeming London might Sukie be found? Why is Peter so enthralled by her? And what is it about the Mutus Liber that is so enticing? As the search for the book becomes an urgent game of cat and mouse, it seems that the key to Peter’s present dilemma might only be found in half-remembered events from his childhood, and then further back still, in the mists of Irish myth.

A spell-binding and unputdownable tale about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic.

My thoughts

We move from Ireland to England and back, briefly to Paris during the eighteenth century. Life is hard and for those who don’t inherit or marry it can mean separation from their family and travel to find a better life. Sadly, for many, life is little more than existence. In Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell the settings, especially of London, are written so well that you can picture them, smell them, feel the cold, the tension and hear the noise and sounds. You are with the characters living their lives.

In Sparks of Bright Matter Leeanne O’Donnell brings to life Peter Woulfe, (al)chemist; Sukie Bulmer, a young woman who earns her living in various occupations; Bridey Leary a teller of tales and more; Shapsel ‘Nico’ Nicodemus Stein pawn broker and his wife Katia; Danby Scott and his cousin Robert Perle; Mal Burkiss and many others. We come to know each to some degree and love or dislike them sometimes both but are always eager to follow their stories. Stories that are wonderfully written within the overarching and connective story of Peter.

This is partly a book about a book, the Mutus Liber, which becomes valuable to Peter when apprenticed to Sweetman, alchemist and bookbinder, one summer in London. It is a valuable book not only because of its content but because of what is hidden in it. For that it is valuable to Sweetman and to the Jacobite supporters of the 18th century. He entrusts Peter to deliver the book to Baron Swedenborg but due to a strange incident involving the Baron and his first meeting with Sukie not only does he fail to deliver it to the Baron he loses it. The consequences of which are far reaching. There is a reckoning that Peter didn’t see coming in quite the way it does.

The story however begins in London when an older Peter deals badly with his assistant Mal Burkiss when he lets the fire go out. Bringing in Robert Perle to help sort things out is a mistake Peter will surely regret.

From here we go back and forth between time and place as we learn about Peter and how he got to this situation. How his path crosses with the enigmatic Sukie when they are both younger. Of his childhood in the shadow of Mount Gabriel near Cork where he befriends Bridey Leary. How he comes to Paris and to London.

As characters appear and interact, as we move from childhood to youth and adulthood, from one place and back again Leeanne O’Donnell weaves a complicated, magical story that takes the reader into their worlds. She has taken Peter, a real person of that time, his world, some actual events and has given us a wonderful, immersive story of her own.

With scenes of minute detail, did you know there was such a thing as someone who collected dog faeces, which used it as a siccative for bookbinding leather, for sale to tanneries? To sweeping scenes of riots in London. From the beautiful Irish landscape to the putrid streets of London. Here is a story of life changing moments, of love, lust and obsession with a dose of political intrigue and with a smattering of madness and magic.

It is a terrific read for anyone interested in historical fiction/faction, alchemy, magic, books about books, who enjoy wonderful characters and books set in Ireland and/or London.

I found this a fascinating book, a wonderful story, enjoyable and well worth reading.

Thanks

Many thanks to Tracy at CompulsiveReaders for the invite to this wonderful BlogTour and to Eriu Books via NetGalley for an eCopy of Sparks of Bright Matter to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

BlogTour

Why not take a magical ride with these lovely bloggers and read more about Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell then see below for links to purchase your own copy or get a copy, meet the author at the launch event (see below) today 16th April in London.

Information

Published: Black & White Publishing | Eriu Books (an imprint of Bonnier Books UK)| 11 April 2024 | 304 pp

Buy: Bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Hive | AmazonSmileUK | Your local bookshop | Your local library | see event below

Author

Leeanne O’ Donnell was born in Dublin and now lives in an old farmhouse on the foothills of a mountain in the remote south west of Ireland. She feeds her cats, dogs, chickens, daughters and wife reasonably regularly – and occasionally waters her poly-tunnel. She has yet to learn to write a proper shopping list but has managed to finish her first novel while hiding in an old caravan in the garden. 

SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER was inspired by the magic of the mountain where she lives and the whispers of the ancient stories buried in the surrounding landscape. She is interested in all the big questions like what it means to be alive, and which crisps go best with a pint of Murphy’s stout. In SPARKS OF BRIGHT MATTER she explores the liminal spaces between magic and reality, spirit and matter, love and lust.

She started her storytelling career working in radio with RTE and BBC – and has made a number of award winning documentaries for RTE’s Doc on One series. Notably THE LADIES OF LLANGOLLEN about two Irish aristocrats who ran away together in the 18th century and DIVING AND FALLING about dancer and artist Lucia Joyce. She is also a trained psychotherapist and is frequently awed by the sacred work of helping people to understand and transform their own real-life stories.

Leeanne O’Donnell’s agent | On Instagram

Event: 16 April, Sparks of Bright Matter

Tickets to the launch of Sparks of Bright Matter at @WaterstonesTraf, London. Join Eriu books and author Leeanne O’Donnell as she brings a fresh perspectives to the world of historical fiction, in conversation with Stacey Thomas along with @floracarr and Elle Machray.

Waterstones, London – Trafalgar Square

Tuesday 16th April 2024
19:00

Book & Ticket: Sparks Of Bright Matter (HB) £18; The Tower (HB) £18; Remember, Remember (HB) £18

General Admission: £6

Further Information

Peter Woulfe 1727 – 1805 | Independent chemist |Born: Ireland |Nationality: British; Irish

The date and place of Woulfe’s birth are uncertain. His name is frequently misspelt. Fellow of the Royal Society and part-time alchemist he discovered picric acid.

Science Museum Group: Woulfe Bottle

Wikipedia: Peter Woulfe – overview

Dictionary of Irish Biography: Peter Woulfe

Mutus Liber |Philosopher’s Stone | Mutus Liber

History Extra: Your guide to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rebellion, plus 10 facts you might not know.

National Trust for Scotland: The Jacobites.

U.K. Parliament: Catholics and Stuarts – Catholic Relief Acts.

U.K. Parliament: Catholic Relief Act (1791)

June, 1780: Hundreds die in an anti Catholic riot in London.

Gresham College: The Gordon Riots of 1780: London in Flames, a Nation in Ruins.

Britannica: George-III/George and the Younger Pitt (1783-1806)