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Sally Lockhart #3
The Tiger in the Well
Pullman is fast becoming a modern-day Dickens for young adults. The setting is the same, the strong eye for characters is there, as are the brooding atmosphere, the social conscience, and the ability to spin plot within plot.
Sally Lockhart is now a young woman, left alone with a toddler. Nothing prepares her for the shock of receiving a summons from a man she has never even heard of, suing for divorce and the custody of her beloved Harriet. Sally struggles against the net closing around her, seeking to find out who is persecuting her and why.
The writing style is lively and direct, and there's lots of action.
"This is a suspense novel with a conscience, and a most enjoyable one."-- School Library Journal.
Sally Lockhart is now a young woman, left alone with a toddler. Nothing prepares her for the shock of receiving a summons from a man she has never even heard of, suing for divorce and the custody of her beloved Harriet. Sally struggles against the net closing around her, seeking to find out who is persecuting her and why.
The writing style is lively and direct, and there's lots of action.
"This is a suspense novel with a conscience, and a most enjoyable one."-- School Library Journal.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
About the author
Philip Pullman
256 books24.5k followersAs a passionate believer in the democracy of reading, I don't think it's the task of the author of a book to tell the reader what it means.
The meaning of a story emerges in the meeting between the words on the page and the thoughts in the reader's mind. So when people ask me what I meant by this story, or what was the message I was trying to convey in that one, I have to explain that I'm not going to explain.
Anyway, I'm not in the message business; I'm in the "Once upon a time" business.
Philip Pullman is best known for the His Dark Materials trilogy: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass, which has been named one of the top 100 novels of all time by Newsweek and one of the all-time greatest novels by Entertainment Weekly. In 2004, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He lives in Oxford, England.
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August 17, 2012
The publisher's blurb on the back of my edition of TTITW reads "THE PLOT GRIPS LIKE A DROWNING MAN AND DRAGS THE READER DEEP INTO THE SEWERS OF VICTORIAN VILLAINY." Yes. That is exactly what the plot is like/does. I would add only: "IT'S REALLY FUN TO READ AHH!"
Pullman always hero-worships his protagonists a bit, but he writes such compelling ones it's impossible to blame him. Take Sally Lockhart, our heroine: She pulls off unwed motherhood in Victorian London like it ain't no thang. She runs her own business. She has very blonde hair and yet dark eyes. She's not afraid to use her pistol. When nervous or excited, she has a tendency to "trembl[e], intent as a tigress." A tigress!
And Sally is nothing on Daniel Goldberg. The man is so charismatic he can defuse bloodthirsty mobs single-handedly--by telling stories! He speaks most of the European languages and possibly some other ones! He gets shot at! He's wanted for murder in Hungary! Hungary!
The machinations of the plot are very enjoyable to follow, but is is Pullman's larger-than-life characters who really make this book for me. I don't have a crush on Mr. Goldberg the way I did when I was younger* but by god he's fun to read about--a perfect counterpart for Sally.
*I might still have a slight crush on Mr. Goldberg
Pullman always hero-worships his protagonists a bit, but he writes such compelling ones it's impossible to blame him. Take Sally Lockhart, our heroine: She pulls off unwed motherhood in Victorian London like it ain't no thang. She runs her own business. She has very blonde hair and yet dark eyes. She's not afraid to use her pistol. When nervous or excited, she has a tendency to "trembl[e], intent as a tigress." A tigress!
And Sally is nothing on Daniel Goldberg. The man is so charismatic he can defuse bloodthirsty mobs single-handedly--by telling stories! He speaks most of the European languages and possibly some other ones! He gets shot at! He's wanted for murder in Hungary! Hungary!
The machinations of the plot are very enjoyable to follow, but is is Pullman's larger-than-life characters who really make this book for me. I don't have a crush on Mr. Goldberg the way I did when I was younger* but by god he's fun to read about--a perfect counterpart for Sally.
*I might still have a slight crush on Mr. Goldberg
January 3, 2022
It is not surprising that Philip Pullman is best known for the fantasy trilogy "His Dark Materials series". These books have created an interesting, full of dangers, lively and charming steampunk world, whose heroine Lyra Belakva competes with Harry Potter himself, and the film and TV series add popularity. Nothing contributes to it more than a successful film adaptation. And few people know that Lyra's predecessor was Sally Lockhart in the tetralogy of her own name.
The four-book "The Mysterious Adventures of Sally Lockhart", which Pullman wrote from 1985 to 1994, is not yet a fantasy, but already a step away from it. A pseudo-historical cycle about the adventures of a smart, bold, energetic heroine-emancipation in Victorian England.
Кто был охотник, кто добыча?
Она опять протянула руку — перед ней было пустое пространство.
Неудивительно, что Филип Пулман более всего известен фэнтези-трилогией "Темные начала". Эти книги создали интересный, полный опасностей, живой и обаятельный стимпанковый мир, героиня которого Лира Белаква составляет конкуренцию самому Гарри Поттеру, а фильм и сериал добавляют популярности. Ничто так не способствует ей, как успешная экранизация. И мало кто знает, что предшественницей Лиры была Салли Локхарт в тетралогии имени себя.
Четырехкнижие "Таинственных приключений Салли Локхарт", которое Пулман писал с 1985 по 1994 годы, это пока еще не фэнтези, но уже в шаге от него. Псевдоисторический цикл о приключениях умной смелой энергичной героини-эмансипе в викторианской Англии. У девушки был: "мощный фундамент в основах военной тактики и бухгалтерии, близкое знакомство с делами фондовой биржи . Кроме того, она отлично ездила верхом, и на 14 лет отец купил ей маленький бельгийский револьвер."
Впервые читатель встречает осиротевшую, но не намеренную покоряться обычной для женщин того времени судьбе Салли, в ее шестнадцать. Приключения девушки начинаются романом "Рубин во мгле" с расследования событий, приведших к гибели отца; продолжаются "Тенью "Полярной звезды", где повзрослевшая Салли управляет собственной конторой и противостоит могущественной корпорации, разоряющей вкладчиков финансовыми пирамидами.
"Тигр в колодце" третий роман тетралогии. Мисс Локхарт (по-прежнему мисс - ее возлюбленный погиб прежде, чем они успели зарегистрировать отношения) в статусе матери-одиночки, что не мешает ей чувствовать себя счастливой и довольной жизнью. Не в последнюю очередь благодаря стабильному благосостоянию: она владелица большого лондонского особняка с садом, бизнес процветает и приносит хороший доход, у Салли надежные друзья и она может доверять людям, которые на нее работают. А главное - малютка Харриэт, девочке скоро два года и молодая женщина наслаждается радостями материнства, тяготы которого средства позволяют переложить на других.
Не представляя, насколько хрупкой окажется защитная оболочка, отделяющая ее уютный мирок от бед и горестей большого мира. Когда на пороге появляется человек с предписанием явиться в суд в качестве ответчицы по бракоразводному процессу, Салли, воспринимает это как недоразумение или чью-то неудачную шутку. Какой, к черту, развод, когда она и замужем-то отродясь не бывала? Британская судебная машина. однако, уверена в обратном, есть некто мистер Пэрриш, который утверждает. что женился на ней два года назад, и обвиняет ее в пьянстве, склочности, аморальном поведении, в оставлении супружеского очага - наконец! Проблема в том, что в приходских книгах есть записи о бракосочетании и о рождении Харриэт, и верят не ей, а этому господину.
Вр��мя, как специально, выбрано такое, когда друзья Салли в отъезде. да не в соседнем графстве, откуда можно призвать, а в сельве Амазонки. И если вы думаете, что развод с тем, за кем и замужем никогда не бывала, самое страшное, что грозит девушке, вы сильно заблуждаетесь. "Отец" настаивает на лишении Салли родительских прав и единоличной опеке над девочкой. А также, та-дамм - на переходе всего ее имущества в его владение. И суд удовлетворяет требование. Героине предстоит в одиночку сразиться с неведомым коварным врагом. Впрочем, совсем одна она не останется.
Линия Салли переплетается в романе с темой еврейской эмиграции из России, которую люди покидают, спасаясь от погромов, и хлеб чужбины горек для них. Бедные бесправные, не владеющие языком иудеи, которых мерзавцы разного рода грабят, лишают последнего, продают в рабство и обрекают на нищенское существование. Выразителем идей социальной справедливости становится талантливый журналист полиглот, космополит и пламенный трибун Гольдман. Стоит ли удивляться, что помощь и поддержку беглянка Салли найдет именно у него.
Как не стоит удивляться и тому, что причину бед героини следует искать в ее прошлом. Наступая тигру на хвост, будь готова встретиться с его клыками. О книге говорят как о самой интересной и яркой в тетралогии, и первые две трети романа оправдывают ожидания. Но окончание и финал превращаются в невразумительно-водевильную мешанину из драк, погонь, похищений, разоблачений, покушений, изобилуя роялями в кустах и богами из машин в количестве, несовместимом с жизнью.
И еще, "Тигр в колодце" в сути апология бандитизма, терроризма и провозглашение принципа "цель оправдывает средства". Если гангстер за нас - он хорош. Что не есть правильно, как показала история прошлого века.
The four-book "The Mysterious Adventures of Sally Lockhart", which Pullman wrote from 1985 to 1994, is not yet a fantasy, but already a step away from it. A pseudo-historical cycle about the adventures of a smart, bold, energetic heroine-emancipation in Victorian England.
Кто был охотник, кто добыча?
Она опять протянула руку — перед ней было пустое пространство.
Неудивительно, что Филип Пулман более всего известен фэнтези-трилогией "Темные начала". Эти книги создали интересный, полный опасностей, живой и обаятельный стимпанковый мир, героиня которого Лира Белаква составляет конкуренцию самому Гарри Поттеру, а фильм и сериал добавляют популярности. Ничто так не способствует ей, как успешная экранизация. И мало кто знает, что предшественницей Лиры была Салли Локхарт в тетралогии имени себя.
Четырехкнижие "Таинственных приключений Салли Локхарт", которое Пулман писал с 1985 по 1994 годы, это пока еще не фэнтези, но уже в шаге от него. Псевдоисторический цикл о приключениях умной смелой энергичной героини-эмансипе в викторианской Англии. У девушки был: "мощный фундамент в основах военной тактики и бухгалтерии, близкое знакомство с делами фондовой биржи . Кроме того, она отлично ездила верхом, и на 14 лет отец купил ей маленький бельгийский револьвер."
Впервые читатель встречает осиротевшую, но не намеренную покоряться обычной для женщин того времени судьбе Салли, в ее шестнадцать. Приключения девушки начинаются романом "Рубин во мгле" с расследования событий, приведших к гибели отца; продолжаются "Тенью "Полярной звезды", где повзрослевшая Салли управляет собственной конторой и противостоит могущественной корпорации, разоряющей вкладчиков финансовыми пирамидами.
"Тигр в колодце" третий роман тетралогии. Мисс Локхарт (по-прежнему мисс - ее возлюбленный погиб прежде, чем они успели зарегистрировать отношения) в статусе матери-одиночки, что не мешает ей чувствовать себя счастливой и довольной жизнью. Не в последнюю очередь благодаря стабильному благосостоянию: она владелица большого лондонского особняка с садом, бизнес процветает и приносит хороший доход, у Салли надежные друзья и она может доверять людям, которые на нее работают. А главное - малютка Харриэт, девочке скоро два года и молодая женщина наслаждается радостями материнства, тяготы которого средства позволяют переложить на других.
Не представляя, насколько хрупкой окажется защитная оболочка, отделяющая ее уютный мирок от бед и горестей большого мира. Когда на пороге появляется человек с предписанием явиться в суд в качестве ответчицы по бракоразводному процессу, Салли, воспринимает это как недоразумение или чью-то неудачную шутку. Какой, к черту, развод, когда она и замужем-то отродясь не бывала? Британская судебная машина. однако, уверена в обратном, есть некто мистер Пэрриш, который утверждает. что женился на ней два года назад, и обвиняет ее в пьянстве, склочности, аморальном поведении, в оставлении супружеского очага - наконец! Проблема в том, что в приходских книгах есть записи о бракосочетании и о рождении Харриэт, и верят не ей, а этому господину.
Вр��мя, как специально, выбрано такое, когда друзья Салли в отъезде. да не в соседнем графстве, откуда можно призвать, а в сельве Амазонки. И если вы думаете, что развод с тем, за кем и замужем никогда не бывала, самое страшное, что грозит девушке, вы сильно заблуждаетесь. "Отец" настаивает на лишении Салли родительских прав и единоличной опеке над девочкой. А также, та-дамм - на переходе всего ее имущества в его владение. И суд удовлетворяет требование. Героине предстоит в одиночку сразиться с неведомым коварным врагом. Впрочем, совсем одна она не останется.
Линия Салли переплетается в романе с темой еврейской эмиграции из России, которую люди покидают, спасаясь от погромов, и хлеб чужбины горек для них. Бедные бесправные, не владеющие языком иудеи, которых мерзавцы разного рода грабят, лишают последнего, продают в рабство и обрекают на нищенское существование. Выразителем идей социальной справедливости становится талантливый журналист полиглот, космополит и пламенный трибун Гольдман. Стоит ли удивляться, что помощь и поддержку беглянка Салли найдет именно у него.
Как не стоит удивляться и тому, что причину бед героини следует искать в ее прошлом. Наступая тигру на хвост, будь готова встретиться с его клыками. О книге говорят как о самой интересной и яркой в тетралогии, и первые две трети романа оправдывают ожидания. Но окончание и финал превращаются в невразумительно-водевильную мешанину из драк, погонь, похищений, разоблачений, покушений, изобилуя роялями в кустах и богами из машин в количестве, несовместимом с жизнью.
И еще, "Тигр в колодце" в сути апология бандитизма, терроризма и провозглашение принципа "цель оправдывает средства". Если гангстер за нас - он хорош. Что не есть правильно, как показала история прошлого века.
October 28, 2019
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
The longest book out of the series, I think this would be a challenge for any young reader. If you wish for younger reads to have a taste of Dickens and Victorian mysteries, this series is the place to start. However, this instalment is quite dense and the subject matter rather heavy.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
The longest book out of the series, I think this would be a challenge for any young reader. If you wish for younger reads to have a taste of Dickens and Victorian mysteries, this series is the place to start. However, this instalment is quite dense and the subject matter rather heavy.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
January 10, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, extremely well written. Totally recommend this book.
August 14, 2015
Pre-review
This looks terrifying, but I still gotta read it.
Review
It was terrifying. But it was also very good, like the rest of this series, and basically everything Phillip Pullman writes is fabulous. I was so scared at many points and empathised so much with Sally. I can't imagine how awful it would be, to have some hidden enemy know everything about you and always be one step ahead of you. I did guess the villain, mostly because of , but that was only half-way through and before that I honestly had no idea who it was. Like I said in one of my status updates, the great thing about this series is that you're never entirely sure who the villain is until the very end.
That's not to say this book was without problems. The villain's death seemed very anti-climactic, and Also, there could have been a few more pages at the end just to tidy things up more, and we could have had Sally's or Goldberg's perspective on the meeting at the prison. Which brings me to my main point: the romance was insta-love in the finest degree. If we had had more dialogue and interaction between the two that would have made it so much more believable.
And lastly, I spent the entire book wondering what the hell the villain wanted to do to Harriet, and then when we finally found out, I was just like, "That's it?" I think it would have been so much creepier if he wanted to . Obviously I'm glad he didn't want to do this as I'm not a totally horrible person, but all of those things are so much more terrifying than what he actually was going to do. And it makes me sad to say that, because the villain is anything but tame.
However, despite all that, it was an excellent addition to one of my favourite series.
This looks terrifying, but I still gotta read it.
Review
It was terrifying. But it was also very good, like the rest of this series, and basically everything Phillip Pullman writes is fabulous. I was so scared at many points and empathised so much with Sally. I can't imagine how awful it would be, to have some hidden enemy know everything about you and always be one step ahead of you. I did guess the villain, mostly because of , but that was only half-way through and before that I honestly had no idea who it was. Like I said in one of my status updates, the great thing about this series is that you're never entirely sure who the villain is until the very end.
That's not to say this book was without problems. The villain's death seemed very anti-climactic, and Also, there could have been a few more pages at the end just to tidy things up more, and we could have had Sally's or Goldberg's perspective on the meeting at the prison. Which brings me to my main point: the romance was insta-love in the finest degree. If we had had more dialogue and interaction between the two that would have made it so much more believable.
And lastly, I spent the entire book wondering what the hell the villain wanted to do to Harriet, and then when we finally found out, I was just like, "That's it?" I think it would have been so much creepier if he wanted to . Obviously I'm glad he didn't want to do this as I'm not a totally horrible person, but all of those things are so much more terrifying than what he actually was going to do. And it makes me sad to say that, because the villain is anything but tame.
However, despite all that, it was an excellent addition to one of my favourite series.
February 12, 2012
Meeehhhhh, Sally's second book was good, and this one...was not.
Okay, I was still digging the setting of Victorian London. Sally, I was just at the Assyrian exhibit at the British Museum! I walked along Fleet Street. I can totally picture every single place we were hanging out. But omigosh, I cannot tell you how frustrating every other part of this book was. One, Sally is back to annoying me. Two, everybody that I liked, like Jim, is not in the book (until the end, when he, of course, saves the day). Three, Sally! Why are you so stupid? Your solicitor so obviously sucks and I can't believe you put up with his crap. You're supposed to be too much of a badass chick to deal with his incompetence. Also, why did it take you so long to realize who was behind everything? I mean, it was implied that you kind of knew, but just took you FOREVER to deal with it, but I'm not buying that. Again, badass chick. And four, why is everybody else so stupid? Sally cut and dyed her hair, people, she didn't change her entire face. Really, bad guys? You don't recognize her when she shows up at your house to work as a maid? *Slaps hand to forehead*
(Just realized points one and three are...kind of the same thing. But she's so stupid and annoying in this book that it probably warrants two separate points.)
In the end, Sally ends up with a sexy, smart political leader, who I kind of dig, but I still miss Fred :(
Okay, I was still digging the setting of Victorian London. Sally, I was just at the Assyrian exhibit at the British Museum! I walked along Fleet Street. I can totally picture every single place we were hanging out. But omigosh, I cannot tell you how frustrating every other part of this book was. One, Sally is back to annoying me. Two, everybody that I liked, like Jim, is not in the book (until the end, when he, of course, saves the day). Three, Sally! Why are you so stupid? Your solicitor so obviously sucks and I can't believe you put up with his crap. You're supposed to be too much of a badass chick to deal with his incompetence. Also, why did it take you so long to realize who was behind everything? I mean, it was implied that you kind of knew, but just took you FOREVER to deal with it, but I'm not buying that. Again, badass chick. And four, why is everybody else so stupid? Sally cut and dyed her hair, people, she didn't change her entire face. Really, bad guys? You don't recognize her when she shows up at your house to work as a maid? *Slaps hand to forehead*
(Just realized points one and three are...kind of the same thing. But she's so stupid and annoying in this book that it probably warrants two separate points.)
In the end, Sally ends up with a sexy, smart political leader, who I kind of dig, but I still miss Fred :(
September 14, 2012
Sally Lockhart is a rare woman in Victorian England. She’s a single mother, competent, independent, and a successful and prosperous business owner. She has never been married, so when she is served with divorce papers, she cannot understand how such a mistake could be made. It soon becomes clear it is not a mistake. The details about her in the document are correct -- all except one. She has never met the man claiming to be her husband, the man who wants to take custody of her daughter.
I would not have labeled this a YA book. There is nothing juvenile about it. It is a suspenseful Dickensian story of vengeance, greed, cruelty, and corruption, which vividly captures the social conflicts of the time. The images of Victorian London are detailed and clear. The contrasts between rich and poor, worker and owner are sharp. The only YA aspect may be a carryover from the first book in the series, The Ruby in the Smoke, in which Sally is first introduced as a 16-year-old orphan. I didn’t see that book as specifically YA either, though.
My only criticism, and it’s not a strong one, is that I thought Sally should have been a bit quicker on the uptake in identifying the real force behind her troubles. I figured it out long before she did, but then I, as a reader, understand this is a novel and therefore must make sense. Real life, of course, is not like that.
I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those fond of Victorian mysteries. It’s a great story.
I would not have labeled this a YA book. There is nothing juvenile about it. It is a suspenseful Dickensian story of vengeance, greed, cruelty, and corruption, which vividly captures the social conflicts of the time. The images of Victorian London are detailed and clear. The contrasts between rich and poor, worker and owner are sharp. The only YA aspect may be a carryover from the first book in the series, The Ruby in the Smoke, in which Sally is first introduced as a 16-year-old orphan. I didn’t see that book as specifically YA either, though.
My only criticism, and it’s not a strong one, is that I thought Sally should have been a bit quicker on the uptake in identifying the real force behind her troubles. I figured it out long before she did, but then I, as a reader, understand this is a novel and therefore must make sense. Real life, of course, is not like that.
I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those fond of Victorian mysteries. It’s a great story.
August 29, 2020
It become more mystery and more of Sally's choice of her company. But it was a little slow in the middle. I like how much detail Philip Pullman has added in this series and the historical event that has happened in the history of many politicians drama have happened and how Sally has seen about it. But I like the ending and what will happen next in Sally Lockhart's life.
December 16, 2015
The third book in the series of the Sally Lockhart Quartet is the longest and also by far the most interesting. Sally now has a two year old daughter named Harriet, whose father was the late Frederick Garland. Her financial business is successful and she live in a house in Richmond with old friends, Jim and Webster Garland, who are away in South America on a photographic assignment. But Sally's idyllic and unconventional middle-class life is shattered when she receives legal papers from a Mr Parrish, a man she's never heard of, who claims to be her husband. He is requesting custody of Harriet and he aims to ruin Sally and take her daughter and all her assets for himself. All of Victorian male society is against Sally and she is gradually stripped of everything she holds dear. Without her old friends to help her, she must once more use her wits and bravery to defend herself against the mysterious Mr Parrish as she sets out to discover the purpose of his plot and to right the injustice that he has brought upon her.
It all sounds a bit melodramatic, but as usual the writing is brilliant, suspenseful and character driven. The plot is really a chance for Phillip Pullman to explore in detail the issues of Victorian London, from women's lack of marital rights to the suffering and lack of rights of the East End poor and the Toynbee-esque charities trying to help them. We meet dockers, London gangs, Jewish refugees fleeing the pogroms and the socialist radicals among them – here represented by Dan Goldberg, the stories other hero. All of these social-historical issues are subtly woven into a dramatic and action packed edge-of-the seat story, and you never feel like Phillip Pullman is crowbarring in his research. Instead the characters who represent these issues become friends and allies of Sally in her fight against the evil Mr Parrish, his shadowy employer (whose identity is pretty obvious if you read the first two books in the series), and the patriarchal Victorian Law. As the story goes on Sally gets to witness and assist her friends in their own struggles, which, as it unsurprisingly turns out, are connected with her own.
Interestingly, there are little ideas and themes that link with His Dark Materials. The villainous Tzadick and his pet monkey that people claim is an evil spirit or a part of his soul, and that feeds him and defends him from those who would do him harm. The child kidnapping plot - albeit here seen from Sally, the Tiger-mother's, point of view. At one point, Sally and Dan Goldberg have a glass of Tokay, which is apparently a Hungarian Wine and is also a favourite tipple in His Dark Materials – I always wondered what it was.
The London detail has got more believable as the Sally Lockhart series has gone on, there was alway a quality of description but the social and historical detail seems to be much better and subtler in this book. Altogether my favourite in the series so far.
It all sounds a bit melodramatic, but as usual the writing is brilliant, suspenseful and character driven. The plot is really a chance for Phillip Pullman to explore in detail the issues of Victorian London, from women's lack of marital rights to the suffering and lack of rights of the East End poor and the Toynbee-esque charities trying to help them. We meet dockers, London gangs, Jewish refugees fleeing the pogroms and the socialist radicals among them – here represented by Dan Goldberg, the stories other hero. All of these social-historical issues are subtly woven into a dramatic and action packed edge-of-the seat story, and you never feel like Phillip Pullman is crowbarring in his research. Instead the characters who represent these issues become friends and allies of Sally in her fight against the evil Mr Parrish, his shadowy employer (whose identity is pretty obvious if you read the first two books in the series), and the patriarchal Victorian Law. As the story goes on Sally gets to witness and assist her friends in their own struggles, which, as it unsurprisingly turns out, are connected with her own.
Interestingly, there are little ideas and themes that link with His Dark Materials. The villainous Tzadick and his pet monkey that people claim is an evil spirit or a part of his soul, and that feeds him and defends him from those who would do him harm. The child kidnapping plot - albeit here seen from Sally, the Tiger-mother's, point of view. At one point, Sally and Dan Goldberg have a glass of Tokay, which is apparently a Hungarian Wine and is also a favourite tipple in His Dark Materials – I always wondered what it was.
The London detail has got more believable as the Sally Lockhart series has gone on, there was alway a quality of description but the social and historical detail seems to be much better and subtler in this book. Altogether my favourite in the series so far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2016
Antes que nada, debo admitir que con esta saga hice todo mal. Sabía de su existencia desde hacía años, pero no tenía mucha idea, tan solo me llamaban la atención. Un verano, compré uno en oferta. Con mi suerte de siempre, resultó ser el cuarto (La princesa de hojalata). Con mi suerte de siempre, resultó ser el único que no trata de Sally, sino de otros personajes secundarios. Lo disfruté mucho.
Este año, encontré otro, también en oferta. Con mi suerte de siempre, resultó ser el tercero —al menos voy en orden, aunque sea inverso—. Bien, el único problema que tuve fue comerme spoilers gigantescos sobre los finales de los otros libros, pero eso estaba visto. Me molestó más no generar la empatía necesaria a causa de esos sucesos. En fin.
El libro me sorprendió varias veces, algunas gratamente, otras no tanto. Toda la primera parte se me hizo eterna, aburrida, desesperante. Debo resaltar que la sensación de paranoia y desesperación de Sally al ser acosada por un enemigo invisible y del que no sabe sus motivos se siente en carne propia. Y ta, eso.
Después, al iniciar el segundo libro y al empezar a moverse un poco más las cosas, lo terminé muy rápido. La trama es interesante y se nota una planificación previa. Qué decirles, amiguitos, es Philip Pullman. ¿Necesita acaso presentación? Es el autor de La materia oscura, una historia que considero fundamental. Si bien la saga de Sally es mucho más «informal», solo podemos esperar calidad de Pullman. He leído varios libros suyos; infantiles, juveniles, adultos... Es bueno. Give him a chance.
Hay un par de cosas que no me convencen nadita.
No esperaba de este libro, eso sí, que fuera tan político. No es una crítica, me encanta. Que se cuestione así la sociedad, que se muestren la pobreza y la miseria de forma tan cruda es importantísimo. Para Sally y para cualquier lector. Daniel Goldberg es un personaje que me gustó mucho conocer.
En fin, fue un libro que me dejó sensaciones mezcladas, pero que terminé por devorar. Sentí como Sally, que no es poco. Eso sí, recomiendo que lean la saga en el orden correcto. No soy un buen ejemplo, ¿eh?
Este año, encontré otro, también en oferta. Con mi suerte de siempre, resultó ser el tercero —al menos voy en orden, aunque sea inverso—. Bien, el único problema que tuve fue comerme spoilers gigantescos sobre los finales de los otros libros, pero eso estaba visto. Me molestó más no generar la empatía necesaria a causa de esos sucesos. En fin.
El libro me sorprendió varias veces, algunas gratamente, otras no tanto. Toda la primera parte se me hizo eterna, aburrida, desesperante. Debo resaltar que la sensación de paranoia y desesperación de Sally al ser acosada por un enemigo invisible y del que no sabe sus motivos se siente en carne propia. Y ta, eso.
Después, al iniciar el segundo libro y al empezar a moverse un poco más las cosas, lo terminé muy rápido. La trama es interesante y se nota una planificación previa. Qué decirles, amiguitos, es Philip Pullman. ¿Necesita acaso presentación? Es el autor de La materia oscura, una historia que considero fundamental. Si bien la saga de Sally es mucho más «informal», solo podemos esperar calidad de Pullman. He leído varios libros suyos; infantiles, juveniles, adultos... Es bueno. Give him a chance.
Hay un par de cosas que no me convencen nadita.
No esperaba de este libro, eso sí, que fuera tan político. No es una crítica, me encanta. Que se cuestione así la sociedad, que se muestren la pobreza y la miseria de forma tan cruda es importantísimo. Para Sally y para cualquier lector. Daniel Goldberg es un personaje que me gustó mucho conocer.
En fin, fue un libro que me dejó sensaciones mezcladas, pero que terminé por devorar. Sentí como Sally, que no es poco. Eso sí, recomiendo que lean la saga en el orden correcto. No soy un buen ejemplo, ¿eh?
November 22, 2019
The Tiger in the Well is now my favourite in these Sally Lockhart Mysteries. It handles injustices against women and other vulnerable parties in such a way that made me furious. I had to put this down once or twice because the ways in which Sally was disenfranchised from all her rights were so realistic and plausible. While it's fiction, this could be the stories of many women through history. Powerful man has vendetta against woman and decides to ruin her life. And it brings the story from the first two volumes full circle.
I definitely recommend these books if you like well-written, diverse historical mysteries based in England but with international scope. One more left though I've heard Sally isn't the main character...so that will be very different from the first three.
I definitely recommend these books if you like well-written, diverse historical mysteries based in England but with international scope. One more left though I've heard Sally isn't the main character...so that will be very different from the first three.
January 18, 2020
火車上讀完。繞著維多利亞時代女子的財產問題打轉，普曼這個系列大概就屬本集最好。
March 4, 2009
This is the best out of all of them! Very very good!! It's totally a "on the edge of your seat" and "wanting to kill the villian" book. I loved it!
I always knew that Ah Ling was behind the whole thing. I mean who else from Sally's past that would want revenge? Everyone else died so it could only be him. The only thing that I didn't perdicted was that Mr. Lee was Ah Ling. That was a surprize. Okay, it wasn't that much of one. Once Sally started to learn more about Mr. Lee, I knew that he was Ah Ling. You can't fool me. I've seen to many detective and mystery shows.
There was a lot more information about that time period, too. I had no idea about the whole thing with the Jews. Of course I don't live in England, so that might explain that. Anyway, it kind of reminded me of today. Back then they were all hating on the Jews. They thought that the Jews were the source of all the problems in London, which to tell you the truth were pretty bad. Now that I think about it, it reminds me of what was happening in Germany before World War II. There was propaganda that the Jews were the people that they should hated because they are the problem of the world.
Anyway, back to what I was saying. Today people are kind of doing that with Muslims. It was Muslims that were behind 9-1-1, and it is Muslims that are attacking people in the middle east. People have a reason to hate Muslims. Do they? I mean because of this it's Muslims that are stopped at the airport more than anyone else, and being thought to be terrorists than anyone else. But not all Muslims are terrorists! Just like not all Americans are fat. You can't just tell what people are like based on their religion, race, looks, or where their from. Everyone is different. Everyone is a different human being. You can't jugde them like that! It's just not right.
This book shows a lot of the problems of London in the late 1800's. Some of them are pretty nasty and sad. Very very sad. And to think that stuff was really happened! I can't believe it. And think to that some of that stuff is happening today. Yah, today we're much better off, but some of that stuff is still going on and probably not going to stop any time soon. Horrible, right? I knew that these things were and are going on but I never really thought about them. I live a sheltered life and things like that usually don't come into my everyday life. Gosh that's really sad. I should know and think about them. Some where there's human beings going through horrible things. That matters! But again, I really am incapable of doing that. I will forget these kind of things in a day or two. It's for the best. I mean what would I do if I thought about those things all the time? I would become very very down and paranoid. I don't want to feel that. I'll just try to remember it sometimes, instead. Yah, that would be better.
There's a lot more charaters, suspense, settings, conflics, and more in this book. This is a very good ending to the Sally Lockhart series. I know what your thinking, "But what about The Tin Princess?" Yah, it's part of the Sally Lochart series but, to my understanding, Sally's not in this one. Jim is, but not Sally. So that's what I'm talking about. The end of the Sally Lockhart series.
There's more of Sally in this book. I mean with Jim away and all, there's bound to be. But there was less villian chapters and more of Sally chapters and that's a change. In the other books, Sally is not always shown. This one Sally is almost always shown.
I'm so glad that Jim got to take part of this whole mystery, though he came when everything was wrapping up. Almost the whole book I was thinking, "When is Jim going to come back?" or "I wonder what would happen if Jim was there." It was so cool to see him come back. I loved it!
The whole time I was rooting for Sally. I was mad for her, sad for her, and just plain scared for her. The whole situation was very scary for Sally. I so wanted to kill who ever was behind this whole thing. Sally didn't deserve this. How dare someone try and take her child away from her. How dare they!
So, that's it. Wow, I typed a lot. I guess that's what happens when your talking about a book that you love.
I always knew that Ah Ling was behind the whole thing. I mean who else from Sally's past that would want revenge? Everyone else died so it could only be him. The only thing that I didn't perdicted was that Mr. Lee was Ah Ling. That was a surprize. Okay, it wasn't that much of one. Once Sally started to learn more about Mr. Lee, I knew that he was Ah Ling. You can't fool me. I've seen to many detective and mystery shows.
There was a lot more information about that time period, too. I had no idea about the whole thing with the Jews. Of course I don't live in England, so that might explain that. Anyway, it kind of reminded me of today. Back then they were all hating on the Jews. They thought that the Jews were the source of all the problems in London, which to tell you the truth were pretty bad. Now that I think about it, it reminds me of what was happening in Germany before World War II. There was propaganda that the Jews were the people that they should hated because they are the problem of the world.
Anyway, back to what I was saying. Today people are kind of doing that with Muslims. It was Muslims that were behind 9-1-1, and it is Muslims that are attacking people in the middle east. People have a reason to hate Muslims. Do they? I mean because of this it's Muslims that are stopped at the airport more than anyone else, and being thought to be terrorists than anyone else. But not all Muslims are terrorists! Just like not all Americans are fat. You can't just tell what people are like based on their religion, race, looks, or where their from. Everyone is different. Everyone is a different human being. You can't jugde them like that! It's just not right.
This book shows a lot of the problems of London in the late 1800's. Some of them are pretty nasty and sad. Very very sad. And to think that stuff was really happened! I can't believe it. And think to that some of that stuff is happening today. Yah, today we're much better off, but some of that stuff is still going on and probably not going to stop any time soon. Horrible, right? I knew that these things were and are going on but I never really thought about them. I live a sheltered life and things like that usually don't come into my everyday life. Gosh that's really sad. I should know and think about them. Some where there's human beings going through horrible things. That matters! But again, I really am incapable of doing that. I will forget these kind of things in a day or two. It's for the best. I mean what would I do if I thought about those things all the time? I would become very very down and paranoid. I don't want to feel that. I'll just try to remember it sometimes, instead. Yah, that would be better.
There's a lot more charaters, suspense, settings, conflics, and more in this book. This is a very good ending to the Sally Lockhart series. I know what your thinking, "But what about The Tin Princess?" Yah, it's part of the Sally Lochart series but, to my understanding, Sally's not in this one. Jim is, but not Sally. So that's what I'm talking about. The end of the Sally Lockhart series.
There's more of Sally in this book. I mean with Jim away and all, there's bound to be. But there was less villian chapters and more of Sally chapters and that's a change. In the other books, Sally is not always shown. This one Sally is almost always shown.
I'm so glad that Jim got to take part of this whole mystery, though he came when everything was wrapping up. Almost the whole book I was thinking, "When is Jim going to come back?" or "I wonder what would happen if Jim was there." It was so cool to see him come back. I loved it!
The whole time I was rooting for Sally. I was mad for her, sad for her, and just plain scared for her. The whole situation was very scary for Sally. I so wanted to kill who ever was behind this whole thing. Sally didn't deserve this. How dare someone try and take her child away from her. How dare they!
So, that's it. Wow, I typed a lot. I guess that's what happens when your talking about a book that you love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2020
I think this is my favorite in the Sally Lockhart series so far, I can't say enough about how wonderful Anton Lesser is as the reader.
He's amazing and his voices add so much to the story as a whole that once I started with the first audio book 'The Ruby in the Smoke' I no longer considered reading the books, it just wouldn't be the same.
So frugal as I am and consummate library patron that I am, I had to buy the audio book of 'The Tiger in the Well' because none of the libraries in my area (or any other library for that matter) have a copy of it available. I have remedied that, and now that I'm done listening, I donated my copy to our library. (And yes, I did the audio download to play on my mp3 player and it just wasn't working for me no matter how I tried it. I needed to be able to listen and drive not have to fiddle with the technology and for that I needed the story on CDs).
So, the story goes something like this: Sally Lockhart is enjoying the good life, she has a successful business and a happy if somewhat unconventional home life. She lives with her two platonic male companions Webster Garland and Jim Taylor who are away traveling in South America. Sally is the mother of a charming little girl named Harriet, Harriet's father was Fred Garland, Webster's nephew and sadly, Fred passed away before Harriet was born. The story opens as Sally is served with divorce papers for a marriage that never happened, as Sally learns more she sees that someone has a horrible hatred for her and intends to take away everything she has including Harriet. Those of us who know Sally also know she will do everything in her power to make sure that doesn't happen.
The story I loved, the historical context was wonderful. The politics, the violence and persecution of the Jews was frightening. I loved the new characters Pullman created and while it wasn't difficult to figure out who master-minded Sally's downfall it was still exciting to see her discover who it was. I thought the maternal story-line with Sally and Harriet was well done and added another layer of realism to the story. Sometimes my children listened to the story with me, they liked Harriet and thought it was funny when she called biscuits "bickets", after that they would say "bickets?" to ask for the story to be played during our travels.
I love the way Pullman threads humor through his work and several times I found myself laughing out loud. There was one point where two of the boys from the Irish gang that was helping Sally appeared in front of a constable. They were pleading their case for release in a very rapid-fire exchange of dialogue, the way that Lesser performed that scene had me in tears, gawd it was funny and reading it just wouldn't have come anywhere near it for entertainment value.
The only negative comment I have to offer is that Pullman does make Sally a bit preachy on the socialist values at the end but the story itself is so wonderful that I'm not going to hold that against it. I have already started 'The Tin Princess' and I will be sad when I'm done. I'd love to see Philip Pullman write more books in this series. If anyone knows whether or not he will could you leave me a comment and let me know...thanks very much. (September 15, 2011)
Listened for a third time now, I still love it. (April 11, 2016)
Fourth listen, still fab. Loved it again. (Pandemic read 10/28/2020)
He's amazing and his voices add so much to the story as a whole that once I started with the first audio book 'The Ruby in the Smoke' I no longer considered reading the books, it just wouldn't be the same.
So frugal as I am and consummate library patron that I am, I had to buy the audio book of 'The Tiger in the Well' because none of the libraries in my area (or any other library for that matter) have a copy of it available. I have remedied that, and now that I'm done listening, I donated my copy to our library. (And yes, I did the audio download to play on my mp3 player and it just wasn't working for me no matter how I tried it. I needed to be able to listen and drive not have to fiddle with the technology and for that I needed the story on CDs).
So, the story goes something like this: Sally Lockhart is enjoying the good life, she has a successful business and a happy if somewhat unconventional home life. She lives with her two platonic male companions Webster Garland and Jim Taylor who are away traveling in South America. Sally is the mother of a charming little girl named Harriet, Harriet's father was Fred Garland, Webster's nephew and sadly, Fred passed away before Harriet was born. The story opens as Sally is served with divorce papers for a marriage that never happened, as Sally learns more she sees that someone has a horrible hatred for her and intends to take away everything she has including Harriet. Those of us who know Sally also know she will do everything in her power to make sure that doesn't happen.
The story I loved, the historical context was wonderful. The politics, the violence and persecution of the Jews was frightening. I loved the new characters Pullman created and while it wasn't difficult to figure out who master-minded Sally's downfall it was still exciting to see her discover who it was. I thought the maternal story-line with Sally and Harriet was well done and added another layer of realism to the story. Sometimes my children listened to the story with me, they liked Harriet and thought it was funny when she called biscuits "bickets", after that they would say "bickets?" to ask for the story to be played during our travels.
I love the way Pullman threads humor through his work and several times I found myself laughing out loud. There was one point where two of the boys from the Irish gang that was helping Sally appeared in front of a constable. They were pleading their case for release in a very rapid-fire exchange of dialogue, the way that Lesser performed that scene had me in tears, gawd it was funny and reading it just wouldn't have come anywhere near it for entertainment value.
The only negative comment I have to offer is that Pullman does make Sally a bit preachy on the socialist values at the end but the story itself is so wonderful that I'm not going to hold that against it. I have already started 'The Tin Princess' and I will be sad when I'm done. I'd love to see Philip Pullman write more books in this series. If anyone knows whether or not he will could you leave me a comment and let me know...thanks very much. (September 15, 2011)
Listened for a third time now, I still love it. (April 11, 2016)
Fourth listen, still fab. Loved it again. (Pandemic read 10/28/2020)
April 27, 2020
Wonderful. Pro feminist, pro socialist, pro humanist. What is there not to like? I learned a lot too, about the life and conditions of early Jewish immigrants in London. What a story!!!! And thanks again to Anton Lesser for the brilliant narration.
January 7, 2008
The third installment of the Sally Lockhart mysteries series is even more complex than the other two entries. It is also, unfortunately, a little too obvious, as I figured out the identity of the mysterious villain way before Sally did. And if I figured it out, everyone figured it out.
No matter, though, because Pullman still spins a decent yarn. It's about 2 years since we last saw Sally, and she is now raising Harriet, the daughter she conceived with Frederick right before he died. All seems to be well until Sally receives papers that state that she's being sued for divorce and custody of her child. One problem: Sally never married anyone. The problem compounds when her alleged husband starts taking all of her assets.
So, Sally has to discover the origin of the cruel plot hatched against her. And, there's an interesting, but somewhat tangled subplot about Jewish immigrants and socialism in England. But it all comes together.
A worthy conclusion to this fabulous trilogy.
No matter, though, because Pullman still spins a decent yarn. It's about 2 years since we last saw Sally, and she is now raising Harriet, the daughter she conceived with Frederick right before he died. All seems to be well until Sally receives papers that state that she's being sued for divorce and custody of her child. One problem: Sally never married anyone. The problem compounds when her alleged husband starts taking all of her assets.
So, Sally has to discover the origin of the cruel plot hatched against her. And, there's an interesting, but somewhat tangled subplot about Jewish immigrants and socialism in England. But it all comes together.
A worthy conclusion to this fabulous trilogy.
April 28, 2013
A great read. I would have given it five stars, but unfortunately Pullman wavers a bit towards the end of the book and overstates the socialism message in two of the last scenes. The socialism subplot is otherwise masterfully handled and lends intellectual depth to this mystery; it's a shame Pullman had to doubt his own powers of writing and slam us over the head with the socialism message in those two scenes.
But other than that misstep, a terrific book - riveting, multilayered, and one of those rare books that's truly hard to put down.
[Also, the cover of this edition is dreadful. So many things wrong - the monkey was dead at this point, Sally's hair was dyed brown, and Ah Ling was paralyzed from the neck down and thus unable to grasp Sally's wrist. Ack.]
But other than that misstep, a terrific book - riveting, multilayered, and one of those rare books that's truly hard to put down.
[Also, the cover of this edition is dreadful. So many things wrong - the monkey was dead at this point, Sally's hair was dyed brown, and Ah Ling was paralyzed from the neck down and thus unable to grasp Sally's wrist. Ack.]
September 26, 2015
A magnificent woman! That is how one character describes Sally Lockhart. And she is. She is far ahead of the pack of Victorian lasses with their smelling salts and corsets. Pullman makes her entirely believable. The same cannot be said for her baby girl Harriet. If only Pullman had made her just one year older, then I'd have gone along with her wonderfully willful and curiously adaptable character. Even a 'young adult reader' with any babysitting experience will recognize that 2-yr.-olds don't really speak or behave quite so grown up or take it all in stride when separated from familiar surroundings let alone their mothers... Still, the events both Sally & Harriet go through to survive disaster after disaster make for a very good adventure story at any age!
June 15, 2011
I love Sally Lockheart and blew through all these books when I was younger but Tiger in the Well is a bit different than the first two. It was Ok but not fantastic. The plot and mystery and Pullman contributing his own political ideas into the series keeps this one likable and interesting but it just feels like it's missing some of the charisma of the first two books possibly because it takes place so long after them.
If you already read and like the Sally Lockheart books then this one is along the same vein and is another opportunity for Lockheart mystery, just don't let this be the first one you pick up.
If you already read and like the Sally Lockheart books then this one is along the same vein and is another opportunity for Lockheart mystery, just don't let this be the first one you pick up.
December 23, 2008
This is the 3rd in the series that I've read. I liked the first two quite a bit, but I found this one very hard to get through. I think it's because the story is short on charm and long on political viewpoint. That's not what I was looking for in a YA novel. I also found some of the aspects of the bad guys pretty nauseating. I forced myself to finish it because I knew that once I put it down I'd never pick it up again. Too bad - Pullman had a good series going.
December 15, 2009
A good 100 pgs too long. Didn't like the socialism being preached at me, didn't like the "God is dead/hiding/unknown" philosophy. But really, the last 75-100 pages I kept looking to see "how much more?" Much too verbose, would rather he just got the point.
October 7, 2019
Love Philip Pullman. One of the best writers we have at the moment. Manages to write a great story, but also puts very interesting historical facts into it which throw up many ethical questions. Briliant
Read
January 4, 2023The Tiger in the Well was pretty good. It was a bit difficult for me to enjoy sometimes, though, because it's one of the those stories where nothing good EVER happens. At least not for a loooong time. That gets really frustrating for me. I liked the mystery, though, and it was fun to see some connections come back from the first book. Beware that you will be hit over the head constantly with socialism. You might not mind--I was interested enough in the story that it didn't bug me as much as it could have. I don't like being preached at in my stories, no matter what the subject is!
I liked this trilogy by Philip Pullman. I wouldn't say, though, that it was riveting. I wasn't on the edge of my seat, counting the hours until I could get back to reading. It was interesting, though, and I did enjoy reading it. Book two is about the same characters, but isn't connected to the plot of the first book as far as antagonists go. Book three pulls everything together.
I liked this trilogy by Philip Pullman. I wouldn't say, though, that it was riveting. I wasn't on the edge of my seat, counting the hours until I could get back to reading. It was interesting, though, and I did enjoy reading it. Book two is about the same characters, but isn't connected to the plot of the first book as far as antagonists go. Book three pulls everything together.
June 2, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two instalments in this series but this book hit differently. It latched on tight and did not let go. THE STAKES. More complex and multilayered than the previous stories with a lot more darkness and depravity, but it was written so well!
August 24, 2019
My favourite SL book.. even if she was a bit slow on the uptake. Wouldn’t describe it as YA though.
September 15, 2019
Probably my favourite of the SL books so far 📚 Because we’ve met the villain before you can unravel the mystery with her rather than simply “watch”.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2021
Encore une fois, je reste sans voix devant l’intrigue insoutenable de ce 3e tome de la saga Sally Lokhart!
June 4, 2021
4.5
Best of the series so far though the first half had me on edge so much I had to speed through it.
I also guessed who was the mastermind very early on so that wasn't so much of a mystery to me.
Sally proves her mettle yet again and even more firmly.
Best of the series so far though the first half had me on edge so much I had to speed through it.
I also guessed who was the mastermind very early on so that wasn't so much of a mystery to me.
Sally proves her mettle yet again and even more firmly.
May 20, 2017
Londres victoriano, un montón de mujeres y socialismo a espuertas. Win-win-win en una novela que se supone que es young adult.
November 18, 2019
I guess I need to reread the first book. This one was another fast paced detective story, this time with some heartfelt fear and paranoia.
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