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Revision as of 14:59, 18 September 2020
, 14:59, 18 September 2020no edit summary
{{infoboxinfobox2
|title=Ancient Appetites
|author=Oisin McGann
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|date=January 2008
|isbn=978-0552554992
|amazonukaznuk=<amazonuk>0552554995</amazonuk>|amazonusaznus=0552554995|cover=<amazonus>0552554995</amazonus>
}}
Ancient Appetites presents us with an alternative Victorian Ireland in the same way Philip Pullman presented us with an alternative Victorian Oxford to such great effect. While this book doesn't live up to the epic lyricism of Pullman (not a criticism? What does?) it does go further in exploring the social cost of rapid industrialisation and the concentration of wealth in just a few hands. The Potato Famine is mentioned and the Wildensterns use huge engimals to destroy the cottages of hapless tenants if they default on their rent. McGann is careful to differentiate between petty criminals and Fenians. Nate, while presented as less vicious than many of his relatives, comes across as a spoiled and thoughtless son of privilege. If there are further books in the series, I'd like to see his social conscience tested further. It would be interesting to see what choices the character makes.
It's a pacy, bloodthirsty story, taking threads from diverse sources: a Godfather-style Mafia family fighting and infighting; social deprivation of the past; a Pullmanesque blend of history and fantasy; the age -old battle between good and evil. And it's great fun. I wouldn't quite call Ancient Appetites a classic, but I'd certainly look forward to reading another book about the Wildernsterns, and my twelve-year-old devoured it in a couple of days, refusing to put it down even for his dinner. It should probably wait for the very last years of primary school or early secondary, as there's a lot of gore and a few sexually aggressive scenes that may go over the heads of younger, albeit confident, readers.
My thanks to the good people at Random House for sending the book.
If they enjoyed Ancient Appetites, they might also enjoy D M Cornish's [[Monster Blood Tattoo]], which has a lot more fantasy but a similarly Victorian feel. You might also enjoy [[Wisdom of Dead Men by Oisin McGann]] or [[Pawns by Brian Gallagher]].
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