Piranesi by Susanna Clarke: 'The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.'

From the first page of Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke, the reader is plunged into a fascinating, labyrinthine world that is both ancient and oddly contemporary.

We follow the character, Piranesi, through a vast, echoing structure of sweeping staircases, vaulted halls and marble statues, an eerie and beautiful space known only as the House. It is filled with tides, birds, vines, and secrets. The unwitting Piranesi is filled with reverence and awe for his surroundings.

The Piranesi World

At first, the setting feels mythological, timeless and classical. The reader may easily picture Piranesi as a faun, roaming this immense world in virtual solitude. But clues emerge that not all is as it seems.

He keeps a journal meticulously dated using a system of his own, 'the fifth month of the Year the Albatross Came to the South Western Halls.'

We also meet 'the Other', a smartly dressed man who appears briefly each week, clutching his strange device, asking questions, and cryptically referring to hidden knowledge, hinting at amnesia.

There is a growing realisation by the reader that this world, dreamily rendered, is a construct, a prison or perhaps a sanctuary, and this becomes the novel's essential suspense.

Why is Piranesi here? Who was he before?

A Sense of Wonder

Piranesi is a story that unfolds with a slow, strange, and mystical quality, with an emotional pull that grows and envelops the reader. It conveys a sense of wonder and deep, lingering melancholy.

Susannah Clarke creates a beautiful and haunting world inhabited by the unknowing Piranesi. This novel acutely explores memory, identity, and the development of meaning in relation to our surroundings.

I highly recommend the unique, powerful Piranesi. If you're a lover of mystical storytelling combined with a dose of harsh reality, it's a must-read.

Happy reading!

If you enjoyed Piranesi, you may also like Rivers of London or Shades of Grey.

I also listened to this book on audio, excellently narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

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