This historical novel is set in late 18th century Ireland and London. Charles O'Brien, a fictional character based on Charles Byrne, "The Irish Giant", is an unschooled but literate and sensitive young man, who entertains his companions and admirers with tales of Irish lore. The countryside is beset by extreme poverty, and O'Brien is distressed when he discovers that Mulroney's, a favorite pub that hosted storytellers and poets, has fallen into ruin. O'Brien, accompanied by an unscrupulous manager and several shady hangers-on, decides to travel to London, to seek fame and fortune, and to use his earnings to rebuild Mulroney's.

John Hunter is a famous but impoverished London surgeon and anatomist, who dedicates his life to the advancement of medical knowledge, even going so far as to inoculate himself with the syphilis bacterium in order to document the pathophysiology of this disease. At that time it was illegal to obtain cadavers for medical dissection, except for executed murderers. As a result, Hunter is forced to rely on graverobbers to supply him with freshly interred bodies for his work. Hunter learns about O'Brien, who is displayed behind closed doors for anyone who will pay a fee. He becomes obsessed with the giant as a medical specimen and the future centerpiece of his anatomical collection, as O'Brien soon begins to grow again, an indication that he will not live long.

This was a fascinating story about these two intersecting lives, living conditions for the poor in late 18th century London, and especially the life of an anatomist during that time. Mantel's writing allows the reader to become immersed in the setting, as you can easily envision the teeming and filthy capital. The characters are not as richly portrayed as those in Wolf Hall, but this was definitely an enjoyable and worthwhile read. ( )

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