“After a manner of speaking, sir, I suppose so. Yes. This is how it begins.”
HISTORICAL NOTE
All the situations and leading players in Instruments of Darkness are fictional, but two characters did exist and deserve to be acknowledged.
John Hunter (1728-93) was a hugely influential surgeon in Georgian London and did own a sort of private zoo, including at one point leopards; his collection of samples and preparations is still on show in the Hunterian Museum, at the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London. For an account of his life I recommend The Knife Man by Wendy Moore.
Stephen Paxton (1734-87) was born in Durham but became something of a celebrity cellist in London until his death. His music has long been neglected, but the first ever recording of his Concerto—which Susan hears at her father’s concert—is now available through the Cello Classics label on www.celloclassics.com, played by Sebastian Comberti.
The Gordon Riots brought chaos to London from 2-7 June 1780. The army was eventually called out and hundreds of rioters were shot. Some were also executed, though Lord George Gordon himself was found not guilty of treason.
I owe a huge debt to a number of great historians of the Georgian age, in particular Amanda Vickery for her book The Gentleman’s Daughter: Women’s Lives in Georgian England, and Roy Porter for Flesh in the Age of Reason amongst others. Claire Harman’s excellent biography of Fanny Burney was also a great resource and inspiration.
All inaccuracies, anachronisms and downright mistakes are my own.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
PART I
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
PART II
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
PART III
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
PART V
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
PART VI
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
IN CONCLUSION
EPILOGUE
HISTORICAL NOTE