The Luminaries is an epic read. At over 800 pages this tome requires commitment, application and stamina! Eleanor Catton’s 19th Century gold-rush tale is beautifully written and rich with sublime prose that’s deserving of the huge critical acclaim and Booker recognition.

The story unfolds in a New Zealand gold mining outpost, home to prospectors and financiers from Europe and China, and centres around twelve key townsmen dealing with a mysterious death. As an historic novel this era of extreme hope and optimism, alongside harsh toil and bitter hardship, is rendered exceptionally. The Wilderness of the setting creates a microcosm in which the central characters exist alongside blurred lines and fabricated personal histories. Impeccable research, along with the framing of the narrative around two strong females make this a compelling read for fans of historic drama.

Structurally the book is a marvel- but therein lies the rub. Concentration is seriously required to tie together the fragmented narrative which swings backwards and forwards in time as it focuses on each character. The risk for the occasional reader is that the plot will essentially be lost in a tangle of timelines and intricate relationships. The chapters become progressively shorter (a reference to the overarching lunar theme) which drives the pace forward brilliantly and each chapter begins with a 19th Century style resume which readers of classical fiction will recognise and appreciate.

The plot itself is well conceived and packs a punch in terms of twists and turns so long as you can follow them! The lunar calendar theme possibly plays a larger part then alluded to in this piece however, to the untrained this will be a secondary device to the character driven plot.
Identity is one of the main conceits in the narrative which has plenty of intriguing personalities and back stories. The characters are all believable; particularly the linch pin Anna whose fortunes wax and wane throughout the story. Another engaging character is Ah Sook the owner of an opium den in the nearby Chinese settlement.

In short, The Luminaries is an engaging experience and a reminder how good great writing can be. The key reward for readers here is to simply enjoy literature at its best. Eleanor Catton literally leads you into labyrinth world which you are unlikely to forget. Let the prose sweep you up!

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