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Home > Books > Fiction > Modern Fiction Books > H Modern Fiction Books > Human Traces - Sebastian Faulks
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7 Reviews

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This is the third book I’ve read by Sebastian Faulks and rightly hailed as his most ambitious novel yet. In many ways the seeds of this book lie back in A Fool’s Alphabet, a clever book that... more

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for Human Traces - Sebastian Faulks

Rating Summary based on 7 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		5
  • 4 Stars
    		2
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Star
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Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 5.0
  		• 3.4
  		• 3.6
  		• 4.2
  		• 4.6
  • 20 of 20 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Sam-I-Am

    Sam-I-Am

    5 Stars Mapping the Mind. 21/01/2012
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Compelling read & great characters.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages A long read for some.

    This is the third book I’ve read by Sebastian Faulks and rightly hailed as his most ambitious novel yet. In many ways the seeds of this book lie back in A Fool’s Alphabet, a clever book that probably has been underestimated. Birdsong made his career in many ways, an outstanding novel of the Great War and a passionate one; it has become essential reading for schoolchildren. Human Traces is an epic book in many senses. It’s a history of two families, a tale of love and loss, but most of a desire to find reasons for the fragility of the human mind. Early Days. The main characters of the story are ... more
  • 32 of 32 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Sarahjh1

    Level 7 Sarahjh1

    Member since 02/11/2008

    Reviews written: 452

    4 Stars Human Traces Makes Interesting Reading 24/03/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages An interesting and intriguing read

    Disadvantages Disadvantages the book is lengthy

    English author and former literary editor of The Independent Sebastian Faulks is possibly best known for his intriguing First World War novel `Birdsong` published in 1993. In 2005 another of his novels was published, this being `Human Traces`. Yet again Faulks has set his sights on providing readers with another captivating if not complicated tale that is set back in the mid 1800`s. Human traces centres around the lives of two young men who not only have their own personal issues with life but feel that they can make significant inroads into introducing change in how mental illness is ... more
  • 4 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of laukez88

    laukez88

    5 Stars Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks 16/11/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Amazing subject matter, well-handled and excellent characterisation

    Disadvantages Disadvantages May be a little long for some - but I didn't want it to end.

    This amazing novel had me gripped from the very first line! I'm a massive fan of Sebastian Faulks, but had been put of this novel by reviews which said there were passages which were too long winded and scientific. Lesson one - read it yourself and make your own opinion! This is an incredible book, not quite up there with Birdsong (my favourite book of all time - so far) but still amazing. I can't describe the story better than Fauks himself so: "The story begins in the 1870s with the lives of two young men: Jacques Rebière, a peasant's son in Brittany, and Thomas Midwinter, a merchant's son ... more
  • 10 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of flybycandlelight

    flybycandlelight

    5 Stars Exploring what it means to be human. 06/04/2008
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Thought provoking, engaging characters.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Heavy-going in some parts

    I really enjoyed this book, despite the fact that it was very long and there were some tedious, heavy-going passages, Faulks manages to creat such real and fully rounded characters, whose personality, life experiences and fallibility are such that everyone can find something in them they can relate to. In his narrative, he explores the history of psychiatry and through this, the massive question of what it means to be human. I found myself sharing with the two boys, as they were at the start of the novel, set in the 1800's, the excitement and expectation as they start their journey of ... more
  • 19 of 20 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    5 Stars Quick review of Human Traces - Sebastian Faulks by rosemary123 09/10/2007
    I really enjoyed this book, and spent every spare moment reading it. Like all Faulks' books, it is beautifully written and carefully constructed. It describes two idealistic and dedicated psychiatric doctors at the beginning of the 20th Century, who pursued their belief that psychiatric patients could be treated and cured at a time when the mental asylums were overflowing. It reflects Faulks' interest in human nature and provides well-researched insights into madness and the functioning of the human mind. It also traces the personal relationships of the psychiatrists in a way which is reminiscent of Scott Fitzgerald's work. A perfect book ... more

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for Human Traces - Sebastian Faulks

Product Details

Type Fiction
Genre Modern Fiction
Title Human Traces
Author Sebastian Faulks
Publisher Vintage

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