Folly by Marthe Jocelyn is a story of life in Victorian England told from several very different points of view. The main lives depicted in the book are those of Mary Finn, a country girl who soon finds herself as a scullery maid in a London lord's household and involved in a romance with a handsome soldier, and James Nelligan, a foundling taken from his foster parents and tossed into a herd of boys in a huge foundling home in London. Several chapters are also told from more minor characters' points of view, giving further insight into Mary and James' lives. The way their two stories intertwine makes Folly a fascinating, moving story.
Folly was a beautifully written, realistic look at life in Victorian England. The stories of Mary and James, distinctive and striking on their own, connected to form a very moving story that I fell completely in love with. Each story flawlessly spanned a vast emotional spectrum, moving from heartbreaking to hilarious even within a single chapter. The authentic language added depth to the story without making it hard to read, and helped set apart the chapters told from different characters' points of view. I also found it very interesting that Marthe Jocelyn, the author, was inspired to write the book from the discovery of the true story of her grandfather's childhood at a foundling hospital in London. Folly is suitable for middle graders but is also an excellent story for older teens and possibly even adults, or anyone interested in English culture or historical novels.
Date of Review: September 15, 2010
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Release date: May 11, 2010
