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A review by melbsreads
Blockbuster!: Fergus Hume & the Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Lucy Sussex
4.0
Trigger warnings: death of a family member.
This book was intriguing but also couldn't quite decide whether it was a biography of Fergus Hume or an examination of the publishing industry in the nineteenth century. Don't get me wrong, I was interested by both parts. But I did somewhat feel like it didn't end up QUITE doing either of them the justice they deserved.
Still, it certainly provides plenty of background to The Mystery of a Hansom Cab and how it became a worldwide smash, from Hume's preference for writing stage productions to his terrible decision to sell the international rights to Hansom Cab for fifty quid because he was convinced it wouldn't make any money outside of Australia. It was also fascinating to read about the way that copyright worked in the nineteenth century and how Hume screwed himself over once again.
I'm definitely glad I followed up rereading Hansom Cab with reading this!
This book was intriguing but also couldn't quite decide whether it was a biography of Fergus Hume or an examination of the publishing industry in the nineteenth century. Don't get me wrong, I was interested by both parts. But I did somewhat feel like it didn't end up QUITE doing either of them the justice they deserved.
Still, it certainly provides plenty of background to The Mystery of a Hansom Cab and how it became a worldwide smash, from Hume's preference for writing stage productions to his terrible decision to sell the international rights to Hansom Cab for fifty quid because he was convinced it wouldn't make any money outside of Australia. It was also fascinating to read about the way that copyright worked in the nineteenth century and how Hume screwed himself over once again.
I'm definitely glad I followed up rereading Hansom Cab with reading this!