The Underground Man

by Mick Jackson

Book Overview

The Fifth Duke of Portland was known as The Underground Man. This fictionalized story of the last six months of his life is told through his notebooks and the accounts of those who knew him. The Duke... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140274375
• ISBN13: 9780140274370
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Dear Diary... I'm Insane.

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.

read this book

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.

A truly impressive debut by Jackson

Mick Jackson's debut, a part fictional novel based on the life of the Duke of Portland, is one of the best novels I have read this year. It's written in the style of a mystery - the secret is unveiled only in its final pages - and told through the eyes of the protagonist via his journal entries and those around him. Jackson is a brilliant writer - his prose is sharp, witty and even poetic in places and he has that rare ability to hold you spellbound and on knife's edge as you partake in the unraveling of the mystery. There are hints along the way but the secret is preserved right till the very end. A small criticism - I found the middle section dealing with the Duke's hypochondria a little long and slow. This trips up the natural velocity of the plot which otherwise moves briskly along. As if to compensate for this minor hiccup, Jackson's prose tightens up again as he gives a truly unnerving account of the final stages of the Duke's physical breakdown. The sharpness and pinpoint accuracy of this descriptive passage makes your stomach queasy and your knees want to buckle. Jackson's writing is deceptively simple but it hits you right between the eyes. Beautiful. Stay tuned. You will hear and read alot more of him. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderfully sad and terrific novel.

Gripping narrative written with a razor sharp pen!

Thumbs up for Mike Jackson's debut novel. It is hard to believe that this book did not receive wider acclaim. The plot is highly engaging, and the writing style, distinctive. I was as thoroughly engrossed by the turns of phrase and sharp wit, as with the antics of the eccentric anti-hero. I highly recommend this title to anyone who savours the pleasure of reading a piece of fine modern literature, which penetrates the psyche and whittles away at your sense of absurd realism. I sincerely hope that Mike Jackson will revisit his writing quarters in the very near future.

I want more!

Mick Jackson does an excellent job of detailing the life of a truly eccentric, quirky man. I read this book in two days, but wished it had gone on many more. I laughed aloud many times and noticeably cringed while reading about his surgery. People on the subway were straining to see what I was reading. Truly entertaining, extremely heartreaking. I can't wait for more from Mr. Jackson.