Black Water

by Rachel Anderson

Albert is an epileptic who lives a cloistered life with his mother in nineteenth-century England, and while she deludes herself searching for a miracle cure, Albert eventually begins to accept his condition and to become self-reliant

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

168 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the joys of reading wherein so much is learned from one small book!

Well written and insightful, the author provides vivid descriptions of Victorian England and a time when epilepsy was perceived as an affliction of the demonically possessed and of someone quite batty in the head and insane. This is the story of Albert who lived with his mother who loved him and tried her best to protect him.

With little available resources, she sought those who might help understand her son's condition. Alas, time and time again, quacks and charlatans provided no assistance.

When his mother dies Albert must find his way in the world and somehow make a living. When an unexpected meeting occurs, Albert gains knowledge he craves. Albert's life is forever changed by the author and artist Edward Lear.

Prior to reading this book, I never heard of Edward Lear who was severely affected by epilepsy. Despite incredible odds, Lear became a famous landscape painter and an author of limericks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lear

[AJ Payne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how or why I have this book, but in purging my bookshelves of books to sell/give away this ended up in the get-rid-of pile. I'm loathe to get rid of a book I have never read, so despite the books dubious addition to the bookshelf I decided to read it before tossing it.

It was fine, and interesting even, but just not that great. It was about a boy growing up in England in the 1800s with epilepsy and all the predjudive he faced and the inner turmoil he had trying to figure out what was wrong with him. He had redemption in the end, which made the book slightly better as a result. I also liked the realistic aspects of the book that only came out at the end with the end note.

An interesting story with interesting perspective on an interesting topic, but it just wasn't developed all that well and didn't draw me in much. It always seemed rather flat.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Although you will find that ravel and change is full of heaps of botherations, it will affect you for better rather than worse."

Albert is a boy who suffers from epilepsy (known as the falling sickness in this time period). It is a condition that is misunderstood and feared and therefore Albert's mother insists that Albert stays indoors all the time and never talk to anyone. He spends his time painting pictures of flowers for his mother to sell. Just as Albert makes his first real friend, Lawrie, his mother informs him that she is marrying Mr. Bittern and they must move again. Again, Albert feels isolated and lonely and through it all, he must deal with his untimely seizures, often on his own.

The descriptions of oncoming seizures are very well done. Details of the time period are very interesting as is the meeting with Edward Lear.

[Carol Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. A rather dark story about a child with epilepsy. He is not allowed to be educated because he won't be able to hold a job, is not allowed around other kids because he has 20 seizures a month, and is subjected to all sorts of medical and spiritual treatments although he does seem to get the best of what his culture offers. He meets Edward Lear, who is able to hide his own epilepsy from the world by locking himself in his room while he has seizures. Story is set in
England with a short journey to Europe in the 1800's. Offers little hope and doesn't even go much into the experience of the seizure. Odd story.

[Waller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was caught up with this narrative, which effortlessly channels a 19th-century voice to tell the story of a boy with epilepsy, in a time when there were no drug treatments. As far as I can tell, the descriptions of the epileptic seizures are pretty accurate (my late wife was an epileptic, so I have some experience, but of course only from the outside). The ending seemed rather rushed, however, and the fortuitous appearance of epileptic writer/artist (and thus role model) Edward Lear strained belief in coincidence.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully, poetically written. This is an enchanting book for kids and adults with wonderful tale to tell. It does a wonderful job describing not only what it was like to epileptic in Victorian England, but also what it can feel like to be epileptic today. It also does a great job just describing what it was like to grow up in Victorian England.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the way this book touches on the subject of epilepsy in the early 1900's. The writing is a bit choppy so that cost a few stars.

[louisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3+ starrer. A Victorian slice of lifer about an epileptic flower painter adolescent inspired by the life of Edward Lear. Good period detail with an interesting conceit.