JOSĒ DALE LACE OF JOHANNESBURG’S RANDLORD ERA: A BELLE EPOQUE BOMBSHELL

Hi Pam…

Your novel is excellent; it makes sense to revert to a more conventional and conversational prose style so as not to hamper the narrative impetus and the vast sweep of history encompassed in the whole-life portrait of José Dale Lace…

The novel’s chapter headings as per your previous novels serve as signposts/leitmotifs for the unfolding narrative; as always catchy and appropriate and reflecting the carefully mapped architecture.  The structure of the book is intricately mapped and planned and bears evidence of the two-year gestation period in the writing and voluminous research.

As anticipated the novel reads like the wind, short chapters keep the attention from flagging; your novel is meticulously researched and annotated as expected, fascinating, and does full justice to its subject.  The well-considered layering and accretion of details are especially enjoyable to read, almost serving as cameos which embellish and burnish the character development and narrative; a skilful picture of the manners and social mores and class distinctions of late 19^th Century Britain and dawning era of the new emancipated woman… and equally a most authentic depiction of Johannesburg as an upstart mining town growing at a feverish pace from the late 19^th Century onwards and the affluent lifestyles of the Parktown Randlords.

Your novel gives a convincing sense of a distant time and place and the privileged life of its refined but maverick leading lady as well as the numerous people in her social and family ambit.  I particularly liked the intricate descriptions pertaining to fashion, apparel, hair styling, corsetry, interior décor, equestrian activities, fine dining, modes of transport and most especially the account of the commissioning and construction of Northwards and also the various dwellings and gardens José Dale Lace inhabited/visited viz. hotels, spas and stately homes.

I particularly liked the use of a prologue and epilogue as a framing device for the novel, bookends to the narrative; the observations of the semi-autobiographical narrator-journalist “Grace Kilmartin” pertaining to the Villa Cimbrone on the Amalfi coast as a mirror and counterpoint to Northwards in Parktown, the contrasting fortunes of Ernest Beckett and John Dale Lace being especially clever and the oblique reference to José in the prologue piques the reader’s interest (as does) the seminal role of  Ernest Beckett in José’s life, the roué seducer who compromises her reputation and whose ignoble renunciation of his marriage proposal propels her rebound marriage to John Dale Lace.  The Prologue and Epilogue work effectively as a zooming out and zooming in, and jump cut into the present from a 100-year-old narrative.  The elemental link between José and John Dale Lace, as with many long-time partners, expiring within a few months of each other is quite touching. The chamber music recital at the close of the novel brings the reader up to date with the present-day Northwards restored by George Albu and the lingering charm and atmospherics of the mansion, especially the Great Hall, the focus of Herbert Baker’s architectural plan….

I enjoyed the restrained use of dialogue which is plausible and sounds authentic and in-character; the skilful imagination of correspondence between José and Nellie, her sister, and her various benefactors – the compendious detail of entertainments, lavish dinner menus, suppers and social activities and intrigues befitting the moneyed classes.

The closing of the novel is enigmatic and delivers a witty tiny frisson with the idea of a ghostly José sweeping down the grand stairway towards the Great Hall where she must have made many dramatic appearances….

It was judicious of you to request the use of the portrait (of José Dale Lace) for your cover and a stroke of luck to be granted permission to reproduce the iconic portrait on your cover; José was celebrated for her beauty, glamour, flair for fashion and vivacious personality.  She is the epitome of the Belle Epoque bombshell.  Her appeal was primarily to men….The portrait is larger than life (quite literally) and exquisite and so was she….The novel is dense with historicity and (contains) details relating to inter alia the Anglo Boer War, Jameson Raid, conflicted allegiances and politics of the Randlords, the course of the First World War, sinking of the Galway, eclectic Arts and Crafts architecture in Johannesburg in the early 20^th Century, the humble trade/origins of many of the Randlords, the vagaries of personal fortunes and politics in the lives of the Randlords and the intrusion of bad luck in the lives of John and José Dale Lace.  For a slim novel, it is quite encyclopaedic in scope; not much is speculative or sketchy. The chapter detailing a grand banquet/dinner at Northwards has the full crowd of Randlords and captains of industry in attendance- Lionel Phillips, George Farrar, Solly Joel, Sammy Marks etc.

As always a highly visual and compelling narrative which would translate especially well as a bio-pic or NETFLIX series.  I particularly liked the chapter detailing the temporary exile/relocation of the Dale Laces to East London during the Anglo Boer War and the elaborate preparations for bathing, and the chapter depicting the young José’s maiden voyage to the UK with her chaperone, snappily dressed and hectoring to visit the blue dining room on the cruise ship.

In summary very well done…consider this one (this novel) an unqualified success.

Regards

Carl