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Dorothy Richardson’s life takes an unexpected turn when she goes to visit one of her oldest friends, Jane, for a weekend. Jane is recently married to a writer named H.G. Wells, or Bertie, as he is known to his friends.
Charmed by Bertie’s ideas, conversation and eyes, Dorothy has an affair with him, an affair that causes her equal joy and guilt. She feels alone, until the beautiful and strong willed Veronica Leslie-Jones arrived at the shabby boarding house Dorothy lives in.
Identifying with Dorothy, Veronica strikes up a friendship that eventually leads to more. Torn between Bertie and Veronica, all whilst trying to survive just above the poverty line, Dorothy finds her voice as a writer.
I often wonder what goes on in an author’s head when it comes to conjuring up such wonderful and detailed stories. What life experiences got them to the think the way they do? Do they write to understand the world around them, or to escape it?
This fascination is what made The Lodger an amazing read.
For her debut novel, Louisa Treger decides to explore the life of author, Dorothy Richardson, who was instrumental in the emergence of modernist fiction – and it’s a 100 times better than just reading a biography.
With a mixture of fact, fiction and embellishment, Louisa transports you into the mind of Dorothy and her complex and taboo journey towards finding her voice.
Unsatisfied with the conventional life expected of a woman in the 1900’s, Dorothy is determined to live life on her own terms. She finds herself entwined in a love affair with her best friend’s husband, and a woman who lives in her boarding house.
Whilst exploring these different sides of herself against the backdrop of the suffragette movement, Dorothy’s only saving grace is her writing.
Though vivid imagery and a sincere tone, you can’t help but become besotted with Dorothy, the way everyone does in the book. You become invested in her life from the first page and can easily identify with her dissatisfaction, confusion and exploration.
Louisa has managed to make not one, but two author gods, completely human, and thus more relatable. It really is an exceptional novel.
Keen on reading this book? Buy your copy now.
