Just Finished Reading: The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan (FP: 2019) [276pp] 

Hereford, England, 1793. It is the Age of Revolution, both in politics and science. Europe is still reeling in shock at the French Revolution with repression and paranoia at home increasingly showing its hand. In science the world seems to be changing by the day after discovery follows discovery. Local horticulturist Herbert Powyss is desperate to be part of that world. Famous locally for his production of exotic fruit and vegetables – often to the bemusement of locals – and with the publication of several letters in scientific journals to his name is looking for something else, something to take his name above the ordinary and have it spoken about with admiration at the Royal Society in London. Being a solitary himself he wonders at the impact of a completely solitary lifestyle on the human psyche. Inspired by the tale of Robinson Crusoe he hires local ploughman, John Warlow, to live in his basement, without the prospect of direct human contact, for seven years with the promise of a handsome reward at the end of it. The problem for both men is that neither understands exactly what is being asked of them. Neither understands how solitude, even voluntary, can erode the chains of common humanity and Powyss had no idea of the charm of Warlow’s wife. A revolution is coming... 

As always, I picked this up some years ago because it sounded different and interesting. It was certainly both – in spades! The late 18th century is one of those ages where everything seemed ‘up for grabs’ or at the very least up for debate. It was the age of the subversive coffee houses and the age of great discovery. It must have seemed to those ‘in the know’ that the very ground was moving beneath their feet. The core of the novel is the ‘experiment’ with John Warlow in the basement. It seems more than a little ‘odd’ to modern sensibilities but I can see it being thought of as reasonable in an age before scientific ethics or even any great understanding between the classes. Even without the attractions, as such, of Hannah Warlow you could see that the experiment was going to be a ‘car crash’ for a host of reasons and it’s interesting to watch that unfold. The secondary plot (in both senses) in the household I thought was the more interesting with revolutionary sentiment fermenting in the staff as power structures come under increasing strain. Powyss is an interesting, if rather bizarre, character but my favourite was the kitchen/housemaid Catherine who was in that position through no fault of her own and longed to be a teacher. I liked her a lot. Well written, full of interesting ideas and characters and with more than a few fascinating looks at British society struggling to be modern, this was a fun and often thought provoking read. I shall be checking out some of the author’s other works. Definitely recommended.  

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