In 1840, the nature poet John Clare is incarcerated. The asylum, in Epping Forest, is run on the reformist principles of occupational therapy. Clare yearns for freedom, whilst descending into madness. At the same time, Alfred Tennyson moves nearby and becomes entangled in the life of the asylum.
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Reviewed by: Liz Illidge 29/05/2025
The Thursday evening book group started by finding out a little of John Clare’s history and listening to one of his most famous poems, I Am. The novel is descriptive of the natural world and some of the grimmer aspects of life in the asylum. Some members enjoyed the lyrical style of writing (the author himself is a poet) and reading about different aspects of mental illness and its treatment in the 19th century. Others struggled to follow the story and felt the characters were underdeveloped. Quite a sad and depressing tale but it led a few of us to do further research into John Clare’s life and poetry. Overall, mixed reviews ranging from 4/10 to 7/10.
