THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE

The Crimson Petal and the White
by Michael Faber
Paperback $10.50
Hartcourt Books 2002
ISBN 0 15100692X

Oh, to be engulfed with the poetic flow of words as in a Dickens’ novel was how I felt upon reading The Crimson Petal and the White. With the escape of this book, I was vividly transported into the nineteenth century and feeling for the prostitute, Sugar. Any book that has me identifying and longing for the better life for Sugar needs to be noticed by all readers.

The Crimson Petal and the White is a story of one woman, a prostitute named Sugar.

Sugar is an exceptional hooker in that she does things that other prostitutes will not do, and she is considered to be a little higher in the hierarchy. William Rackham is a dreamer who dreams of being a novelist. When we meet him, he is having financial problems since his father will not allow him to have more money until William is willing to show interest in the family business of perfume making. With Sugar’s help and inspiration, William takes over the business and becomes financially profitable. William is also married to a woman who has given birth to a child, Sophie, but neither parent visits or spends any time or interest for the child. Agnes, William’s wife, really believes she is dying when she has her infrequent monthly visits and does not have any relationship with her husband. Sugar is actually bought by William for his personal use. He hears of her reputation from his friends, but secretly hides their relationship while providing all her needs. Sugar actually spends her days waiting for William as well as spying of the family. During her walks to see where William really is, Agnes sees Sugar in a white dress and identifies Sugar as her own personal guardian angel. Sugar eventually convinces William to move her into his home and to allow her to be Sophie’s new governess. Their relationship changes with the move, even though there still are a few personal visits. William rejects Sugar more while she is also building a loving and trusting relationship with Sophie, William’s daughter. Sugar is discovered to be pregnant by a doctor and is then dismissed for carrying William’s child and for fulfilling William’s needs at that time. William feels this would be an embarrassment to him. So what happens to Sugar? I’m not telling.

From numerous other readers, people tend to either love or strongly hate this book for a variety of reasons. People criticize the book for having too little action. We are dealing with human relationships between the characters in the book. I agree that it can not be easily made into an adventure movie, but aren’t people’s choices and situations also fascinating if discovered by a truly artistic writer?

Also, the ending has been criticized as being inconclusive. I felt closure for William and Agnes Rackman, easily said since Agnes died, but also easily said if the reader began to understand William and his values at the time.

Michael Faber has written other books, Under the Skin and Some Rain Must Fall. This Scottish writer has published in twenty other countries.

I definitely plan to read these other books. I found myself drawn to continually read this book with no regard to the 835 pages. It flowed as a river and as a truly artistic author writes.