The Underground Man

Rating:
Summary: a charming story of an aging aristocrat losing his marbles..
Review: 'The Underground Man' is a most unusual story. Apparently loosely based on a real person, it is about an aging aristocrat in Victorian England who slowly progresses/regresses from being an eccentric (likes to build many tunnels under his massive estate) to a real cuckoo (becomes delusional, and begins to engage into nasty mischief). And he seems to be obsessed with his (real? imagined?) failing health. His staff, while seeming unerringly loyal, struggle to keep up with him.

While all this might sound a bit dull, the book is salvaged by some very sweet and compassionate writing. The dottering old coot is all alone and sad. The reader cannot help but care for him, much like his close servants. I was hoping that someone would come and offer true comfort to the old man. I will let future readers discover as to whether this actually happens.


Bottom line: a sweet, sad story of aging and loneliness. Depressing? No. Recommended? Yes.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written
Review: I chose to read this book mainly because it had been nominated for the Booker Prize although I know this does not always guarantee a good read.I have to say that I was not too excited about the subject matter before I began reading it and I expected the storyline to be a little silly.However,I am now a devoted Mick Jackson reader due to the beautiful prose throughout the book.I was enthralled by the adventures of the Duke and he made me laugh,cry and even squirm while reading.I agree with the reviewer below however, regarding the hypochondria section-it tended to be quite slow-moving,so I'm only giving it 4 instead of 5 stars.The first half of the book,though, is wonderful and this alone makes it worth buying.The ending,although a little contrived,truly shocked me and I can't get it out of my mind.I look forward to more work from Mick Jackson.

Rating:
Summary: Such an oddly charming character
Review: I had no clue what this book was when I bought it...but I'm so glad I did! The Duke is one of the most oddly charming characters I've ever encountered in literature. He referred to the events in his life and his actions in such a way that almost felt detached...almost. I got the impression that he did understand his thoughts, emotional reactions and behavior were strange but also knew who he was an accepted it.

While the ending is tragic, I felt it gave a truly understanding look into a person with serious mental problems who was still able to live a fulfilling life.

Rating:
Summary: good writing..
Review: it certainly is a good writing... simple yet smooth, full of curious metaphors -- just like the duke himself ---.. very well-written.
However, i couldn't really figure out what the author's driving at. the mystery + the duke's ruminations, his adventures, and the title... everything seemed to have its own agenda, not really unifying under one central theme. (correct me if i'm wrong..I was wondering what the author was trying to say the whole time i was reading the book..(while admiring his writing...)
I thought this was going to be about tunnels -- the underground man? --- but they are only small part of the novel.... so, although i did enjoy the book for the writing, i couldn't really grasp the story...

Rating:
Summary: read this book
Review: Jackson's novel about the eccentric Duke of Portland is one of the finest pieces of fiction I have read. Told through the voice of the Duke, Jackson indulges in the Dukes eccentric viewpoint and gives The Underground Man a sense of humor and humanity - and later terror - which few works of prose can claim. Despite the books brevity, the character of the Duke is strongly developed, and his deteriorating sanity self-evident through the diary entries.

In brief, The Underground Man was a thoroughly entertaining book, and should be read by all.

Rating:
Summary: A Bizarre Divergence From Reality
Review: Just finished reading Mick Jackman's THE UNDERGROUND MAN. He creates a tremendous and quick story to describe the life of the quirky, eccentric Duke of Portland in England in the mid-1800's. It's great language, and many interesting ideas explored - eccentricities, anatomy, trepanning, phrenology, bits of everything seem to work their way into the Duke's journal.

Nicely done with some WAITING FOR GUFFMAN-like asides delivered by his staff, neighbors, etc. on how they perceive the Duke as he slowly drifts away from their reality.

Good read.

Rating:
Summary: underground man
Review: one of the most compelling and interesting books i have read in a very long time. the ending was so bizarre and satisfying - never would have even guessed anywhere near to what actually happened. I felt as if I was in the tunnels with the main characters, in the bed when he was being served his unusual meals and felt the loneliness the underground man endured. fabulous book.

Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary book about an extraordinary man
Review: The book is based on the life of William John Cavendish Bentinck-Scott, the Duke of Portland and a resident of Nottinghamshire, England. The Duke of Portland was one of Victorian England's most famous eccentrics, who built a series of underground tunnels large enough for carriages and horses, that enabled him to move around his vast property. Although some of the book is based on facts, Mick Jackson admitted to have taken downright liberties in writing it.

The novel enfolds in the form of journal entries by the duke himself, and is supplement of various neighbours, servants and service men's accounts of Your Grace. The plot develops around the Duke's observations of the world around him, his somewhat hypochondriac obsession with his body, the steadily degeneration of his mind and his search for something missing in his life. It is drawn to a shocking and somewhat bizarre climax in the end of the novel.

It is beautifully written tragic and comic novel, with a character and plot that won't easily be forgetten.

Rating:
Summary: Over-rated
Review: This book is tripe.
I bought this book when first published because of an interest in Welbeck Abbey. I normally wait for paperback editions to be issued before buying. This time I put my trust in the fact that the book had been nominated for a major book prize. Anyone thinking this is anything like good writing must be very easily pleased. For this codswallop to be nominated for a literary prize is astounding!
The book is drivel.
It is the worst written book I have read for 40 years (when I stopped reading "Janet and John"). I only bothered to finish it just to see if it was as badly written all the way through. The only redeeming feature is the low page count.

Rating:
Summary: Well done, and certainly different
Review: This is an interesting book, about the type of truly eccentric and driven man that can only have been produced by the Victorian aristocracy. It is an interesting mixture of the main character's journal (which is by far the majority of the text) and the observations of the local people and staff on his estate.

It is certainly a fascinating and richly detailed account of what would be considered at any time chronic eccentricity bordering on madness - the endless underground tunnels and odd eating habits alone are enough to convince you of this, but what I feel is a small weakness of the novel is that there is simply not enough external observations of the Duke. Those observations by the house-keeper and the footman etc are little gems of insight, but they are too few.

The prose itself is beautiful, and once again invokes the feeling of the time wonderfully. It is a fine novel, well worth a read.