Wanting

Wanting is a historical novel that alternates between two parallel narratives set in the nineteenth century, one in Tasmania and one in Britain. The story connects the lives of real historical figures including Charles Dickens, an Aboriginal girl named Mathinna, and Sir John Franklin, the Governor of Van Diemen's Land. In Tasmania, the narrative focuses on Mathinna, an Aboriginal child who is adopted into the household of Sir John Franklin and his wife Lady Jane. The British storyline follows Charles Dickens as he grapples with personal loss and his growing attraction to young actress Ellen Ternan. Through these interlinked stories, Flanagan explores the collision between civilization and nature, desire and restraint, colonizer and colonized. The novel examines how societal expectations and cultural norms shape human behavior and relationships. The novel contemplates fundamental questions about human nature, examining how desire and rationality compete within individuals and societies. These themes are woven against the backdrop of British colonialism and Victorian-era social conventions.

Readers found the book emotionally intense but challenging to follow due to its non-linear structure and multiple storylines. Readers appreciated: - The raw portrayal of colonialism's impact - The connection between historical and contemporary narratives - The poetic writing style and vivid descriptions - The exploration of personal and cultural identity Common criticisms: - Confusing timeline jumps - Too many characters to track - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Graphic violence that some found excessive Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (150+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Beautiful prose but difficult to follow the constant shifts in time" - Goodreads reviewer "The parallel stories never quite connected for me" - Amazon reviewer "Worth pushing through the complex structure for the powerful ending" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🔸 Charles Dickens, one of the novel's central figures, struggled with intense personal desires that led to the end of his 22-year marriage to Catherine Hogarth in 1858, an event that deeply influenced this narrative. 🔸 Mathinna, the Aboriginal child featured in the book, was a real historical figure who was adopted by Sir John Franklin, the Governor of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), and his wife Lady Jane Franklin in 1839. 🔸 Author Richard Flanagan won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2014 for his novel "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," establishing him as one of Australia's most celebrated contemporary writers. 🔸 The novel's Tasmania setting was once known as Van Diemen's Land, a British penal colony notorious for its harsh treatment of both convicts and Aboriginal people during the 19th century. 🔸 The book's parallel narratives span nearly 7,000 miles, connecting events in London with those in Tasmania, reflecting the vast reach of the British Empire during the Victorian era.