Description

A gothic, historical tale of found family and friendship, loss and redemption, Once a Monster is a dazzling reimagining of the myth of the Minotaur set in 19th century London.

‘Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache . . . Richly textured and with an appropriately labyrinthine plot . . . Book of the Month’ – Book of the Month, The Sunday Times

Some villains are meant to be heroes . . .

London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers, she spends her days searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.

But one day, Nell discovers a strange body on the shore. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head is the suggestion of horns. Nell’s fellow mudlarks urge her to steal what she can, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath – and Nell is forced to make a decision that will change her life for ever . . .

From the critically acclaimed author of The Toymakers, Robert Dinsdale. Perfect for lovers of historical fiction with a mythical twist, such as Stone Blind and Madeline Miller’s Circe.

‘A wonderful magic trick of a story . . . Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller’ – Stuart Turton, bestselling author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

‘Imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic’ – The Times

‘Historical writing at its finest’ – Essie Fox, bestselling author of The Fascination

Publisher Review

A wonderful magic trick of a story, full of very human monsters and monstrous humans. Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller. — Stuart Turton, bestselling author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle [An] imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic. * The Times * Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache in Once a Monster — The Sunday Times Book of the Month (Nick Rennison’s historical fiction picks) What if the Minotaur survived, and followed Ariadne’s string out of the twisting darkness of the labyrinth? From this thread, Dinsdale spins an engaging yarn about dreams, second chances, and monsters both ordinary and supernatural. The story flows as smoothly as the waters of the Thames, and is just as dark and deep. Of note is Dinsdale’s ability to turn a phrase, shimmering like fine crystal held to the light. A dazzling and heartfelt book. — Luna McNamara, author of Psyche and Eros An inventive and irresistible retelling of the legend of the Minotaur. * I News * A labyrinthine delight of a novel where a world of Dickensian darkness is infused with ancient myth. Historical writing at its finest . . . unique, seductive, and accomplished. — Essie Fox, bestselling author of The Fascination I was very moved by this story about shame, the costs of survival, and being loved in all one’s brokenness. Minos makes perfect sense as a character living at the margins in Victorian London, and the different ways Nell searches for beauty in the dirt will stay with me for a long time. — Kate Mascarenhas, author of The Psychology of Time Travel and Hokey Pokey Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read. — Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series, on The Toymakers The crystalline prose, deep characterisation and compelling story carry you along. Highly recommended. * Historical Novel Society *