THE DRESS LODGER is an incredible tale. It is the story of a
prostitute who struggles to save her sick child, a doctor torn
between his conscience and his dedication to medicine, the struggle
between the rich and the poor, science and superstition, public and
private concerns, all set in England, during the cholera epidemic
of 1831. The novel is full of convincing, engaging, and
unforgettable characters, including the omniscient, omnipresent
Narrator through whose voice the events unfold.
THE DRESS LODGER is more than just a well-written, well-told story.
It also provides a wealth of information concerning the class
struggle of the Victorian Age, the life of the working poor, the
obstacles facing medical science, the scandal surrounding the
procurement of corpses for science - including both murder and
corpse-stealing - and the institution of the Anatomy Act, which saw
the corpses of the poor handed over to doctors for dissection. The
author's interview at the end of the novel provides references for
further reading on these subjects.
This novel will appeal to anyone interested in the early history of
medicine, the mores of Victorian England, or those simply looking
for a exciting story.