The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn
The smallest man. The biggest heart. The mightiest story. A compelling story, perfect for fans of The Doll Factory and The Familiars.
Nat Davy longs to grow tall and strong and be like other boys, but at the age of ten, he’s confronted with the truth; he’s different, and the day when the stares and whispers stop is never going to come.
Narrowly escaping life in a freak show, he’s plucked from his family and presented as a gift to the new young queen of England – a human pet to add to her menagerie of dogs and monkeys. But when Nat realises she’s as lost and lonely as he is, the two misfits begin an unlikely friendship – one that takes him on an unforgettable journey, as England slides into the civil war that will tear it apart and ultimately lead the people to kill their king.
Inspired by a true story, and spanning two decades that changed England for ever, The Smallest Man is narrated by an irrepressible hero with his own unique perspective on life. His story is about being different, but not letting it hold you back. About being brave enough to take a chance, even if the odds aren’t good. And about how, when everything else is falling apart, true friendship holds people together.
THE AUTHOR
Frances Quinn read English at King’s College, Cambridge, and is a journalist and copywriter. She has written for magazines including Prima, Good Housekeeping, She, Woman’s Weekly and Ideal Home. She lives in Brighton with her husband and two Tonkinese cats. The Smallest Man is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @franquinn.
Review.
’The Smallest Man’ has definitely entered the top ten books that I have read in 2020. For a debut novel this is stunning. I feel in love with Nat from the first page and was bereft when the book was over as I wanted to know even more about this life! It’s publication date is the 7th January - so either pre-order this beauty or make that reservation at the library as you can’t go wrong with this story, it’s just beautiful.
Nat is the smallest man in England. His father sells him to the local Duke who then gives him as a present to the young Queen. Seems being a dwarf means his father didn’t want him and he is now thought of as being property rather than a person. We see Nat evolve and develop throughout the book where he shows he is brave, loyal, thoughtful and quick witted. The book is set in a period of history that is full of turmoil and civil war. I have become a big fan of historical fiction and this is one of the best I have read this year. All the small details which evoke the period are present, you learn as you are reading, but what is special are the characters. You could pick this story and it’s characters up and it would stand the test of working at any other time. This is about a man’s life, remember this is based on a real events and there was indeed a smallest man in the court during this period. There is an authors note at the end where you can find out more about his life.
I am not actually going to say much more about the book as I think this is one where you should get to experience the magic of reading it blind. It’s an easy 5⭐️ read for me! I hope you enjoy it.
