Synopses & Reviews
Tom Gilling's New York Times Notable Book The Sooterkin was called "extraordinary ... like Alice Hoffman, Sherman Alexie, or Gabriel Garcia Marquez," in a starred Library Journal review. With his second novel, a delightful tale of true love in rough-and-tumble, turn-of-the-century Sydney, Gilling has "proved himself an exceptionally talented novelist twice over" (The Age). The Adventures of Miles and Isabel, already a best-seller in Australia, begins with two spectacular births on the same night in 1856. During her scandalous turn as Hamlet, a heavily pregnant (and unmarried) actress, Eliza McGinty, unexpectedly goes into labor onstage, shocking the packed house. Indeed, one audience member -- the patrician Louisa Dowling, who is also with child -- is so moved that she, too, goes into labor. The babies born that night are Miles and Isabel, two dreamers destined to defy convention -- and gravity. Independent of each other, Miles and Isabel grow into strong-willed, adventuresome adults. Miles becomes the subject of a sideshow levitation act (he reveals a talent for floating six feet above the ground), while Isabel gamely foils her mother's attempts to marry her off to a rich boor. Miles eventually develops a fascination with flight and throws all his energies into building a flying machine. When he finally meets the beautiful Isabel, he is preparing to risk his life by testing his first prototype. United by the dream of flight -- and true love -- Miles and Isabel attempt to rise above the obstacles of class and physics that stand in their way. The Adventures of Miles and Isabel is a euphoric follow-up to the debut that The New York Times hailed as "jubilantly irreverent" and "irresistible entertainment," and confirms Tom Gilling's place as a major literary voice of today.
Review
Fantastical and magical, this novel is peppered with humor and the excitement of a time period laden with anticipation and opportunities for the creative, restless minds of innovation. Elsa Gaztambide, Booklist
Review
There are echoes here of Angela Carters classic Nights at the Circus and Paul Austers Mr. Vertigo. Hot on the heels of his well-loved first novel, The Sooterkin, Gilling again produces the goods. Qantas (Australia)
Review
[Miless and Isabels] picaresque journeys are peopled with quirky characters that lend the story delicious flavor and send it off on entertaining tangents....The writing takes on an almost magical sheen. Publishers Weekly
Review
A delightful second novel...Rich and amiable, with a fresh wit and a good eye for history. Kirkus Reviews
Review
A rivetingly engaging romance of adventure and self-fulfillment...this is the work of a disciplined virtuoso writer....A triumph of imagination! Weekend Australian
Review
Wonderful and magical....A great book for all collections. Library Journal
About the Author
Tom Gilling writes for Rolling Stone, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, and many others. His first novel, The Sooterkin, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and won international acclaim. It was shortlisted for the prestigious Vance Palmer Fiction Award and Christina Stead Prize for Fiction in Australia.