The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin

I've been reading lots lately.  A combination of cold weather (winter has truly arrived in New Zealand) and escapist stress release.

I chose to read 'The Invisible Woman' as I saw the film advertised, thought 'there goes a great costume drama and boy do I love a good costume drama', but I wanted to read the book first to better inform the film.

Ms Tomalin is a great writer, with a firm grasp on non-fiction having written biographies of many of the literary greats (the men!) including Dickens himself.  I've not read any of her previous books, and while I think I will want to read her biography of Dickens, at the moment I'm too annoyed at his outrageous behaviour towards the women and children in his life to want to spend anymore time with him!

The Invisible Woman is an easy read.  It is a fascinating account of Nelly (Ellen) Ternan, whom Charles Dickens became besotted with, and had a 13 year relationship from 1857 until his death.  He was 27 years older than her, (she was only 18 when they met).  And yet she appears no where in the official records of the time about Dicken's life.  In order to maintain his reputation as the ultimate Victorian paterfamilias he hid (almost) all records of Nelly's existence.  Although he abandoned his wife Catherine, and allowed her little access to their many children he managed to either keep Nelly's existence from them, or have them join him in keeping her from official record.

Tomalin's detective work to uncover the actual detail and in some cases, guess work concerning Nelly's life is extensive.  She really brings Nelly, her family, their circumstances and their place within Victorian England alive.

A fascinating and highly recommended read.