Mad Richard

In this remarkable piece of historical fiction, Krueger (Drink the Sky) imaginatively delves into the life of Richard Dadd, who was well known in Victorian England first for his promising artistic career and then for his descent into murderous madness. Krueger deftly paints dual portraits of this fascinating character and Charlotte Brontë, whose interview with Dadd in Bedlam opens their reticulating story lines. Dadd’s narrative begins in his boyhood in 1817, lingers on his gradual rise as an artist in London, and ends with his incarceration and eventual deterioration in Bedlam in 1858. The trajectory, however, is only vaguely linear and subtly serves as a reflection of the equally blurred lines between Dadd’s genius and insanity. Brontë’s tale is smaller in scope, beginning just after the publication of her novel Villette in 1853 and ending just before her early death in 1855. The two story lines don’t always weave together seamlessly, but they do effectively juxtapose Dadd and Brontë, two very different people who travelled in similar circles during the same era and, more importantly, who were both entirely invested in what it means to be an artist. This question anchors the novel, adding depth and dimension to a terrific read. (Mar.)