Malvolio's Revenge

Orphaned at an early age, Toby was made a part of his Uncle Theo’s theatrical company, which had fallen on hard times during a winter tour of Louisiana in 1910. A chance meeting with Isabelle in her exquisite ruined mansion, Illyria – with its echoes of Creole voodoo – leads to a successful season in New Orleans and the unfolding of a tragic family history.

The improbable and highly coloured plot of the troupe’s eponymous production mirrors life in New Orleans as Toby, infatuated with Isabelle, is transported to a dark world of black magic, murder and revenge, peopled by bizarre and threatening characters. As on stage, all is determined by manipulation and illusion.

Malvolio’s Revenge was published before the destruction of New Orleans and gives a detailed and fascinating insight into the corrupt and colourful life of the city, complete with an endearing cameo of the young Louis Armstrong. The story moves through a deadly burlesque which reveals unexpected convolutions and an ending full of high drama. Through Toby, Masson conveys the devastating effects of first love, of greed for power and of apartheid on a community shot through with superstitious beliefs, violence and corruption. This is a compelling read for young adults interested in theatre, magic and mystery in a troubled and exotic location.