Tracy W Female. Hong Kong

The 19th-century "farmer poet" John Clare has drawn a lot of attention in the literary world in recent years. I read this part-fiction-part-factual account of Clare's encounter with Alfred Lord Tennyson, the second most-quoted writer in the world after Shakespere, in Dr. Matthew Allen's mental asylum, and was drawn to the eventual but tragic life of the poetry laureate. The story is based on Clare's legendary solitary walk from Allen's asylum to his home after he became insane.

It's sad to read the slow degeneration of the genius' mind into complete madness, but the interesting plot and exemplary writing make it totally convincing and enjoyable.