Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White is yet another novel about Victorian-era prostitutes -- essentially The Dress Lodger with more anatomical and scatalogical details, but less intensity.

The book focuses on Sugar, a high-end and very accommodating whore who manages to secure the affections and, more importantly, the permanent patronage of a wealthy businessman, William Rackham. You might imagine that this relationship would lead to all sorts of complications, particularly given that the businessman has both a wife and a young daughter. You'd be wrong. Despite its deliciously fraught premise and considerable length, Crimson Petal has an unusually sedate story. The characters, however, are all great fun; I believe the technical term is "Dickensian."

I should note that the book, despite its considerable length, ends with some very significant loose ends. This would normally irritate me, but the book's dramatic conflicts are sufficiently muted that I didn't mind it so much here.

Copyright © 2009 Steven Wu