The Unburied

by Charles Palliser

Book Overview

In Victorian England, Dr. Courtine is invited to spend the days before Christmas with Austin, a friend from his youth, in the Cathedral Close of Thurchester. Courtine hopes to research an unsolved mystery at the cathedral library, but when Austin captivates him with the story of the town ghost -- a macabre tale of murder and deception dating back two centuries -- Courtine finds himself drawn instead into a haunting world of avarice, skullduggery,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743410513
• ISBN13: 9780743410519
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.0" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

It is not what you think. It is far more interesting.

Charles Palliser's most recent novel, "The Unburied," is utterly fascinating for so many reasons, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to clearly articulate all of them. It is best, perhaps, to be clear about what this novel is not: it is not a Dickensian family drama on the order of his masterpiece, "The Quincunx." It is not a ghost story, Henry James-esque or otherwise. It is not a gothic adventure, a creepy page, turner, or just about anything else you might think. It is, in fact, one of the most clever and enjoyable works of post-modern deception that I have ever read.The novel is packaged as a Victorian ghost story, and I can't quite tell if that is part of the deceptive plan or if the publisher is merely looking to find a wider audience for this clever little gem. Indeed, the novel begins as though it is going to be a ghost story, and it also wanders recklessly into the murder mystery genre, but it is something beyond either of those kinds of tales. At its heart, Palliser is interested in writing about personal ghosts, and the kinds of narratives we tell our selves to keep from confronting those ghosts - and the kinds of narratives we seek out as a distraction. The protagonist in "The Unburied," is a scholar named Courtine who comes to a small cathedral down in England during the late 19th century to uncover a mystery that relates to his studies of the 9th century king, Alfred. Along the way he gets caught up in a murder mystery from the 17th century, and then a mysterious murder perpetrated during his visit. How do all of these things tie together? They don't. They are not suppose to. As he attempts to uncover these mysteries of the past and the present, Courtine must come face to face with the mysteries of his own past, and rather than discovering the motives of medieval historians or puritan plotters, he realizes he would be better off confronting his own motives.Unfortunately, this is a puzzle whose picture is only clear once you have completed it. Readers who curl up with their Earl Grey and scones to lose themselves in Victorian delights will soon find themselves befuddled by the details in which Courtine delights. Frankly, I hit a point at about page 150 where I almost threw the book away. I didn't care anymore about the 17th century murder, and we read so many different accounts, involving so many different characters, that the whole thing becomes a big muddle. But I forced myself over that page 150 hump, and it was well worth it. Reader, I finished it, and in the end it was well worth the efforts.

The Triumphant Return of the Victorian Novel

Charles Palliser is the author who brought the Victorian novel out of the drawing room with The Quincunx, a fast-paced novel of adventure and intrigue.With The Unburied, however, he takes us back into the drawing room...literally. Much of this book involves fireside conversation over sherry or port, and much of it moves at a pace that would make writers such as Dickens and George Eliot proud.At first glance, The Unburied seems to be no more than a ghost story, and it is certainly atmospheric, filled as it is with all the spookiness and gloom one usually finds only in the Gothic form of the genre. Palliser, however, deviates somewhat from a standard thriller as he leads us down first one unexpected path, then another.The book centers on the character of Dr. Edward Courtine, an academic who has come to the English town of Thurchester to visit an old acquaintance. Courtine gradually learns the details of a murder at the local cathedral more than two centuries earlier and of a ghost that some still believe to haunt the area. Courtine, however, hasn't come to Thurchester to hunt ghosts; he has come to look for a lost book about Alfred the Great. So great is his preoccupation with his search, in fact, that he overlooks what the reader can see quite clearly: all of the townsfolk are acting as if they had something to hide.It is at this point that the unexpected paths make their first appearance. Unexpected paths, red herrings, false clues, the reader really doesn't know what to make of this story. Is the centuries old murder the book's focal point or is it, instead, the murder that has just been committed? Perhaps it both.Palliser cleverly uses a recently revealed manuscript as a framing device and proceeds to tell his tale in the first-person, with Courtine as the narrator. The story is rewoven many times and readers who fail to pay attention will find themselves at a loss.The Unburied unfolds in a typically slow Victorian fashion as Courtine embarks on a personal journey, addressing old wounds and looking towards a newly bright future. There is a lot of exposition is this book, but that is all to the good and Palliser has succeeded in creating one of those dark, brooding and intensely atmospheric Victorian novels that he, himself, loves so very much. Some readers, however, may find this frustrating. The Quincunx balanced its nineteenth century setting with a sense of urgency about the plot; The Unburied takes its time as gaslights, fog, architecture and landscape come to be regarded almost as characters in their own right.By the time we near the end of this amazing book, we begin to wonder if this is a story of murders long ago or ghosts that still walk. Or is it even more? Is it an exploration of the things that can, and often do, haunt a man internally? The answer is something that each reader will have to decide for himself, for this is certainly an ambitious work. The Unburied is a book for mystery lovers and for non-mystery lover

A masterpiece of lies and deceit

In this book the author has spun an intricate web of manipulation and murder. A mysterious invitation, unsolved murders, a lost ancient manuscript and secret ambitions all form an integral part of the story. This book is like a maze, an ultimate search for the truth along twisted pathways with new surprises at every turn.The ending is impossible to guess although all of the pieces do fall perfectly into place. It is worth it read this book again and try to look for the clues that the author has sprinkled throughout. A deeply atmospheric book, the author has done a superb job of recreating a small, Victorian cathedral town and all of its mystery. Some have compared An Instance of the Fingerpost to this book. In my opinion, there is absolutely no comparison. The Unburied is far superior to the dry, dull An Instance of the Fingerpost. Indeed, most mysteries seem dull and boring compared to this tour de force. Never to be forgotten by me or any other mystery fan.

Dickens revisited

Charles Palliser once again scores with a crisply written English and stylishly legal/murder 'who done it'!Thrusting the reader into the 19th century, Palliser's haunting prose is vivid and enthralling.This is not a book for those who do not like twists and turns, although this book is easier than Pallisers masterpiece, The Quincunx (which I have read 5 times at last count!).Palliser uses intriguing techniques to tell his story - an editors Foreward followed at the end by an editors Afterword, in which the mystery is more clearly defined. There is a ghost-story, tales of King Alfred, and even a fairy tale thrown in for good (or should I say bad?) measure. It's a wonderful mix!In this book, you can feel the English countryside - its fogs and mists and rains and gloom-laden scenery; its strange mixture of suspicious and creepy characters. It is a quintessentially English novel - every page evokes emotions; I found myself drifting off into the English countryside I once knew well so vivid are the descriptions.This is a book to be read in one sitting, preferably beginning late afternoon, settling into a cozy chair by a roaring log fire, glass of red wine to hand. As darkness descends, and, with luck, the rains begin and the winds rattle the windowframes, the added atmosphere will add to the excellent story-telling.Savor the wonderful language. It is a pleasure. Its the English language that should be - like Mervyn Peake and J R R Tolkien.Enjoy! And, for those who have not read The Quincunx I urge you to rush to read it. The Quincunx is truly sensational!

"It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." WSC

The title of this review was borrowed from Sir Winston Churchill. I use the quotation here, as I believe it describes this book beautifully. This book is my first introduction to the work of Mr. Palliser who was unknown to me prior to this volume. I actually bought the novel based upon a quote on the jacket that referred to Mr. Palliser unburying the Author Wilkie Collins as well as others not named. Mr. Collins is credited by some for creating the mystery novel, and is known for such works as "The Moonstone" and "The Woman In White". He was a friend of Charles Dickens and they published a paper together for a time. Some Scholars suggest that the book Mr. Dickens was writing but died before finishing; "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood" was influenced by Mr. Collins. This is one of the top 10 books of this genre I have ever read. I actually bought the Author's previous book "The Quincunx" before I had reached the mid-point of "The Unburied". If as some have written the book prior to this was even better, I look forward to it being astonishing. If it were only as good as this book, I would be thrilled. The book has an interesting structure with an unusual Note at the beginning and end. I will say no more than that. Between those notes is a mystery of the highest caliber. Characters whose names are reminiscent and a tribute to Dickens, not simply badly copied. A plot that while complex can be followed but the reader must pay careful attention. Paper and pen to diagram relationships amongst the players does not hurt, it also allows you to continue hypothesizing when reading is impractical. For those who like naming the conspirators or detailing the crime before the book reveals it's secrets, just as objects and people, both living and dead, throughout the book do, will I believe find this tale wonderfully frustrating. It keeps its secrets until the end, but there is more. Every time you are tempted to think aha! I got it; a few pages later will have you questioning how you ever could have had such a solution. And the Author does not use simplistic literary tricks, the information is there, the reader has to find it. This Author pays tribute to his readers by challenging them to match wits, as opposed to handing down a cliché or re-write of a familiar tale. Mr. Palliser makes you work, he makes you think, he offers bits of information that are false leads unless you catch them before being duped, and admitting for the 10th time your aha! was really another trap presumption led you into. The book is like the wind and the Author the wind's master, your hat or paper are blown from you, and each time it pauses and you reach away it flies once more. When you finally grasp it you stand to find you have been lead into a Labyrinth, and the task you thought was complete has just begun. Get this prize of a book you will not be disappointed. I am off to start The Quincunx!