An homage to Dickens by one of our best English-language writers. Funny, deft, and ultimately satisfying. Maybe not a classic, but definitely good. ( )

Very enjoyable; not quite a classic, though. The characters were excellent and the writing was well done. ( )

A post-colonial reworking of the story of Great Expectations, Jack Maggs is the tale of a transported convict who returns secretly to England to see Henry Phipps, the adopted son whose education he has financed. Unlike Great Expectations however, the convict's story is the central narrative of the book, rather than that of the young gentleman he has secretly fostered. Jack Maggs has known very little kindness in his life and this does not change when he finally meets up with Henry. He returns to Australia after the meeting having witnessed the destruction of the dream he had nourished for so many years.

Running parallel to the narrative of Jack Maggs is the story of the novelist, Tobias Oates, clearly based on Charles Dickens, who encounters Maggs by chance in the household of a friend. Entangled in a relationship with his wife's sister, struggling to survive financially, and always looking for new material, Oates becomes fascinated withjthe convict's violent history, almost to his own undoing.

I never find Peter Carey an easy read. Nonetheless, this is a richly textured book, full of resonance. The language is muscular, the voice compelling and the whole thing seems to be attended by a dark energy that brings the story and the characters to life with startling clarity. ( )

This book pretty much baffles me. I've read it twice and while I got more out of it the second time than I did the first, it still is a mystery what Carey is trying to portray. I've read other Carey novels that I enjoyed but this one is just a little too unavailable for me. ( )

The year is 1837. The place, London. Enter the brooding presence of Jack Maggs, recently arrived from New South Wales. He becomes a footman in order to be close to the house of Henry Phipps, and through his job he comes into contact with Tobias Oates, author and amateur hypnotist, who 'steals' his secrets. The novel features a cast of memorable characters, including Jack's employer, Percy Buckle, a former grocer who suddenly finds himself a wealthy 'gentleman', and Jack's foster mother who prepares abortifacient sausages and pills. We learn about Jack's past, and follow him in his quest to find Henry Phipps. In the story we see many kinds of 'love', as Jack finally learns where his true loyalties lie. [August 2004] ( )