“…unfolded with cunning and passion over 200 pages of leaping prose.”
Joyce McMillan,
THE SCOTSMAN
When we are born, we cry that we have come to this stage of fools
William Shakespeare, “King Lear”
In this extraordinary novel, Des Dillon mixes familiar with surreal to explore the dark side of humanity’s soul. Jane Eyre, beloved heroine of Charlotte Bronte’s novel, finds herself alone and lost on a stormbound moor. Her only hope comes when she finally stumbles across two men trying to find shelter. There’s only one problem, they claim to be King Lear and his faithful fool.
Thinking the old man insane, Jane tries to convince him that King Lear is a fictional character while, in turn, Lear thinks Jane is a madwoman. But there’s more to Fool than first appears. Using his powers, he catapults them through the play of King Lear at terrifying speed.
Frightened and bewildered, Jane assumes she is caught up in some kind of nightmare or psychological fugue and sets about trying to avert the tragedy of Cordelia’s death. At every turn, their every plan goes horribly wrong causing Cordelia’s character to darken more and more so that she degenerates into the foulest of Shakespearean tyrants.
Forget saving Cordelia’s life! Can Jane, Lear and the Fool find a way to save Cordelia’s soul and thus their own?
“Des Dillon should be made available on the National Health, such is his unstoppable ebullience.”
Catherine Lockerbie, The Scotsman
“Des Dillon brilliantly articulates the life and extraordinary times of his Scottish working class background, with tremendous wit, humour and speed!”
Pam Wardell, Radio Producer.
