The Great Stink

The Great Stink transports readers to 1850s London, where engineer William May works to modernize the city's failing sewer system. After returning traumatized from the Crimean War, May finds purpose in the massive engineering project aimed at eliminating the sewage crisis that threatens London with disease. The narrative follows May as he navigates both the dark tunnels beneath the city and the corruption-filled halls of bureaucracy above ground. His work brings him into contact with Long Arm Tom, a sewer scavenger who knows the underground network's dangerous secrets. The plot combines elements of Victorian mystery, historical fiction, and psychological drama as May confronts internal and external threats. The parallel stories of May and Tom intersect against the backdrop of a city struggling with rapid industrialization and social change. The novel explores themes of trauma, truth, and redemption while painting a portrait of Victorian London during a pivotal moment of transformation. Through its focus on the city's literal and metaphorical underworld, the story examines the relationship between progress and human cost.

Readers praise Clark's detailed historical research and vivid depiction of Victorian London's sewers and underground spaces. Many note the atmospheric descriptions transport them to the gritty, grimy setting. The psychological depth of the main character William May resonates with readers who appreciate complex, damaged protagonists. Common criticisms focus on the slow pacing, particularly in the first third. Some readers found the sewer descriptions excessive and repetitive. A portion of reviews mention difficulty connecting with the characters emotionally. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (120+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The level of research is remarkable" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much time spent describing the sewers" - Amazon reviewer "Took 100 pages to get into it" - LibraryThing reviewer "The protagonist's mental state was portrayed with sensitivity" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 The Victorian London sewers that feature prominently in the book still exist today, with about 2,000 kilometers of tunnels beneath the city's streets 🏗️ Joseph Bazalgette, the real-life engineer who designed London's sewer system (and appears as a character in the novel), saved countless lives through his revolutionary infrastructure work 💫 Author Clare Clark spent extensive time researching Victorian London's underground tunnels and sewers, even exploring them herself to accurately capture their atmosphere 🦠 The "Great Stink" of 1858 that inspired the book's title was caused by untreated human waste in the River Thames during an exceptionally hot summer, leading to cholera outbreaks 🎭 The main character William May's struggles with PTSD (though not called that in Victorian times) were inspired by Clark's research into soldiers returning from the Crimean War