Utopian Man by Lang, Lisa (2012) Paperback

by Lisa Lang

An exquisite historical novel about a remarkable man who chose his own path, charming and scandalising others in equal measure. Co-winner of the 2009 Australian/Vogel Literary Award.It's the 1880s and Marvellous Melbourne is a lavish and raucous city where anything could happen. Eccentric entrepreneur Edward William Cole is building the sprawling Cole's Book Arcade and filling it with whatever amuses him, or supports his favourite a giant squid, a brass band, monkeys, a black man whose skin has turned white, a Chinese tea salon, and of course, hundreds of thousands of books. When Edward decides to marry he advertises for a wife in the newspaper, shocking and titillating the whole town. To everyone's surprise he marries his broadsheet bride and the Arcade grows into a monumental success.But the 1890s depression hits Melbourne - and Edwar - hard, and the death of one of his children leaves him reeling. Grief, corruption and a beautiful, unscrupulous widow all threaten to derail his singular vision. But it's not until he visits Chinatown one nigh - and his own deeply suppressed pas - that the idealist faces his toughest challenge. Utopian Man is the story of a man who lives life on his own terms, and leaves behind a remarkable legacy.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Australia, Historical, 19th Century

Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I romped through this book in a just a few hours and as a work of light fiction I enjoyed it. Utopian Man weaves its way into the mind as if the ideas within were memory rather than the author’s cunning invention. It fills the reader with nostalgia for a time too long ago for any of us to remember – and yet it seems impossibly familiar because the images are so vivid and clear…

Lisa Lang’s debut novel was co-winner of the Vogel Literary Award in 2009 (with Night Street by Kristel Thornell, see my review); the same books were also shortlisted for the 2011 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Having now read both these novels I can see what a difficult task the judges must have had - these authors both chose to create fiction from the lives of authentic figures in Melbourne’s history. Utopian Man is based on the more well-known life of E.W. Cole, the eccentric entrepreneur who enlivened Marvellous Melbourne of the 1880s with his astonishing book arcade.

To see the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.com/2011/10/09/ut...

[Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

End of the Empire I-III

A random find at Salvos. I liked the cover.

All about parenthood, virtues and integrity. Includes an interesting look into the white Australia policy and it’s impact.

3.5

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's because my maiden name is Cole - and Melbourne is my town...yes, biased...but...this book made me cry and the next day I still had trouble talking about it. Lisa's EW Cole 'voice' is wonderfully real. Elegant writing, with a gentle touch. A tale of a grand soul. Let's hope there are more EW Cole's in the world.

[Lauredhel]

Probably not the book's fault. Just yet another confirmation that most Literary Genre books are not for me. Progressive white saviour dude in Melbourne around Federation lives life, has tragic stuff happen to him, and fails to have any plot threads pull together in a satisfying way. The Book Arcade was cool.

[Steve lovell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms Lang shared the 2009 Vogel Award for this novel with Kristel Thornell’s compelling ‘Night Street’. Both efforts featured famous Melburnians – the former with EW Cole, famous in his own time – the latter Clarice Beckett – famous belatedly in ours. Now, having read both, I can see the problem the judges had for both are very fine. Perhaps Thornell just pips Lang and possibly only because Beckett is one of my favourite artists.
Cole, noted for his arcade and funny picture books, intrigued Melbourne from the boom times of the 1880s, through the bust of the 90s and into the first decade of a new century in a federated country. This is a terrific imagining of his life and times, being well based around the bones of his ‘real’ biography. He could be described as a Tim Burton of his day, starting off as a bookseller and ending creating a ‘wonderland’ for the citizens of his metropolis. Devoted to his plain Eliza and children, with Cole Lang takes the reader on a magical rollercoaster ride that was the blessed life of this self-made man. There were setbacks, including the deaths of loved ones, a child’s addiction and the impact of a dark secret. Both the historical and the fictional Cole rose above the notorious White Australia Policy to champion multiculturalism well before it became a by-word for our second city, and I wish there was such a figure engaged in our present furore over those seeking a safe life in our country.
Along the way we meet other historically prominent figures, most notably Alfred Deakin, our second PM who is usually regarded as one of our most significant. Lang’s treatment of him struck me as curious. Biographies state he was a devoted family man, but the author turns this on the side by having him conduct an affair with the bewitching Joy, then dump her when the relationship might potentially affect his career. Is it okay to play around with the reputations of revered figures? Will a future novelist have John Howard being naughty in the Lodge?
Still I immensely enjoyed this journey through the history of Marvellous Melbourne and I look forward to reading her next offering, along with Thornhill’s

[Cheryl A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years ago, I read a number of historical fiction set in Australia and really enjoyed them. Then, I started working in a library and my time was spent reading the newest "hot" titles and for a time I strayed from the more obscure titles in the American market. I just discovered this title, winner of numerous Australian awards and now owe myself a head slap.

Utopian Man is the story of E W Cole, the owner of Cole's Book Arcade, a destination in the late 1800's Melbourne. Simply, but beautifully written, this novel tells the story of not only the man behind the Arcade but of Melbourne at the time. The author does a wonderful job in portraying Cole as a devoted family man as well as a man who wanted to share his sense of wonder and the tenets of basic human decency with all those around him.

From the goldfields and the Murray river, from true love found in a newspaper advertisement and devastating loss, Cole was a man whose past truly influenced his day to day life. His ideas, as presented by Lang, were utopian, but without the naivety or egomania that often strikes dreamers. Although other characters in the novel are secondary to Cole's story, they are still well rounded.
I was not familiar with the people in the novel, but the author still brought them all to life.

The epilogue summoned up the philosophy of not only the life of Cole and his Arcade, but of the novel itself...

"But how to put into words the feeling that it gave you: that possibilities abounded, that the world was wide and that you yourself were capable, adventurous, destined?"

A simply joyful book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, I really did. It had all the makings of a great novel- an interesting setting, a quirky protagonist, a beautiful dream, and many substantial hurdles, but it didn't at all deliver on its promise. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't AWFUL, but nothing infuriates me more than books which seem to be leading in particular directions but never quite get there, and this book does it like none other I've ever read. Without fail, EVERY SINGLE story arc that is introduced falls flat- the sultry widow & her effect on the protagonist's marriage, the impact of the Depression, the protagonist's work in the Gold fields, the effect of a character's drug addiction. Not one of the plot points (or characters) is given enough attention so as to leave the reader with a strong sense of who these people are and of the impact of the story arcs on their "lives", and thus we're left with wooden, 2-dimensional characters and seemingly irrelevant events. The end result is an overall feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration with the book, and the sense that you were a little ripped off by the author. I'm unsure whether this writing style is intentional or due to a lack of experience on the author's part, but as this is her first book I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. And it wasn't all bad- it's well-written, magical in places, and extremely easy to read. That said, I can't promise that I'll be rushing out to read any of her future works any time soon.

[Petris Schrodelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and well measured book, which handles some difficult themes very well. The author does an excellent job of showing the flaws in the protagonist's optimistic world view without making the reader feel like he is a fool. There are scenes and elements in the book that could very easily have tipped over into sentimentality and maukishness (the sickness of a beloved infant, scenes of family happiness and the goodness of certain characters), or into melodrama (drug addiction, the specter of infidelity) yet it never does.

In terms of plot, I found it a very enjoyable read and a fascinating story that was hard to put down.

I applaud the author for her skill and maturity. A wonderful first novel, and I hope the judges of the Miles Franklin award set its merits, because Australian literature needs more books like Utopian Man to be recognised and publicised.

[Naomi Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately struck by the energy and flair of a man who led a life unconstrained by convention or public opinion,” says author Lisa Lang of Edward Cole, who opened Cole’s Book Arcade on Bourke Street in Melbourne in 1883, and inspired her book Utopian Man. Cole’s Book Arcade was not an ordinary bookstore, it was filled with animals, a brass band, a Chinese tearoom, optical illusions, and a fernery. Edward was someone who saw magic in everything around him, and invested time making his imagination become a reality.

Edward Cole would be an inspiring individual in any century, and certainly a visionary during a very conservative time in Australia. Through thorough research and creativity, Lang was able to give light to an inexhaustibly idealistic real life character, and when put on paper, he becomes absolutely majestic.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw the author at the Sydney Writers Festival, she was part of a panel of three being recognized by the SMH as best young writers under 35. Decided to give her book a go as she sounded so bright, articulate, and optimistic. She took a true Aussie tale as a base, the creator of Melbourne's Coles Book Arcade, which really does sound like a magical place from the 1890s; and then weaves here story around lots of interesting tidbits from his life.

It was a sweet read, and I'm glad I know this little bit of Australia's history.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utopian Man is a fine book, enjoyable to read and thought-provoking. I was surprised at the format: each chapter is a moment in time, a vignette, in the life of an actual historical figure, Edward Cole, told almost exclusively from Edward's point of view and expressing his innermost thoughts. At first the shifts ahead in time, usually by several years, caught me off guard, as the story was interrupted; I soon realized that "what happened next" would eventually be revealed and was able to ease into the narrative. The language is often beautiful, ethereal, even luxurious without being tedious; other times the language is straightforward, as appropriate for the passage. I definitely recommend Utopian Man.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. Not my normal genre but great googly moogly - I was entranced. Lisa is a sorceress with the English language. It seems to exist to do her bidding. There were so many times that I had to stop and re-read a phrase and think - “How? How did she put those words together that way?” And every word evoked 64 years of memories. A quirky, enchanting, emotional, inspiring, and wonderful read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1880s Melbourne visionary entrepreneur Edward William Cole opens Cole’s Book Arcade. Alongside the books, he fills the shop with a band, tea salon and monkeys - anything that amuses him.
This book is stunning. The writing is beautiful and the characters are so real you’ll feel like you know them.

[IE · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow burner… however, each sentence was beautifully written and when taking time to read the book slowly one can appreciate each lovely and thought provoking description. I’m not sure it did justice to the spiritualists of the time and it was strange to me that the book did not include any details of the war, it jumped around a lot with big periods of societal change unaccounted for.

[Artur Artborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual novel about the life and death of philanthropic Melbournian Edward Cole, his Arcade, his family, and his struggles with his own and others' morality. A fictional character portrait of great warmth and optimism, which still succeeds in straying from naivety. Beutiful prose, and a great read!

[Ciska · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this concept. You take a real-life person and make a fictional story about them still referring to a lot of real-life stuff. The only thing that does not work is that it keeps sending me to the internet to look up stuff.
I did not dive too deep so I am not sure if Cole was really such a humanitarian as he was portrayed as in this book but I enjoyed it. It was clear how the title Utopian Man came to be.
I would have loved to visit his Book Arcade!! I did google a lot of that stuff and I hate that it does not exist anymore. It looked like a reader's paradise.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Drifting into sleep, he returns again and again to the Murray. As though his drifting, any drifting, will always be defined by that river."

E W Cole you would have hated Kindle
(and probably also the fact that your Arcade is now a David Jones)

[Halena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Enjoyed the setting and the historical info.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part fact, part fiction, the story of E.W Cole and his famous Book Arcade. Set in Melbourne in the lead up to Federation, so an interesting time in the city's history.

[James Tregonning · Rating 5 out of 5]

bury me with this book it's so good

[Monique Hodgkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautiful, I bawled my eyes out

[Maha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer reading non-fiction. If I read fiction, something about it has to attract me and make me want to read more. I usually test a fiction book by scanning through the first few pages, and if it doesn't pique my interest, it is discarded and I move on to something else.

The first two things that made me borrow this book from another campus was the title. Then, I saw commentary and a recommendation from another author, Cate Kennedy, whose works I've always enjoyed reading. I scan through the first few pages.... and on page 8, this passage captured me and made me want to reach the conclusion:

"He was twenty-five the first time he entered a large public library, and was almost flattened by the weight of his own ignorance. There was just so much there. He had hoped to find a book on carpentry; there was more than a dozen. He chose one at random, his hands grey against the paper despite the cake of good soap the library provided. He was sleeping in the street then, living in a world of dark and narrow lanes, and the sudden excess of light and space and knowledge was brutal. He felt exposed in its glare, grubby and uncouth. He slid the volume back. There was shame in the way he dropped his head, his hand trailing columns on his way out. But by looking down her saw a simple plaque, missed on entering, which read: "For the people of the city". It stopped him in his tracks. The people of the city - wasn't that him? It was true that he was grimy, ignorant and all the rest, but that library was there for him. He could read any book he liked. He could read all day, every day if he chose. Nothing was stopping him. Nothing! The power of this thought was dizzying: the world spread before him."

Ok... maybe this is a huge clue as to why I became a librarian. :)

The book's setting is Melbourne in the 1800s, going through Federation to the 1920s. The author, Lisa Lang comments that this piece of fiction is based on an actual person by the name of Edward Cole. I'm yet to find out how much of her book is factual, but I was engaged the whole way through. I also enjoyed her vivid descriptions of Melbourne in this time period, and even though she doesn't always name places like we know them now (i.e. the Paris end of Collins Street), as a Melbournian, you instinctively know which part of the CBD she is referring to. A great read, hard to put down. Akin to another Australian work I enjoyed by Alan Marshall, titled The grass is singing

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Try this sometime: Resolve to read one book from a certain bookshelf or section of one at your library or bookstore. No backing out; you must pick one! That approach led me to this nice little Australian novel, Utopian Man, of which I had known absolutely nothing.

It turns out Lisa Lang's book is based on a real-life Australian who owned a sprawling, wondrous bookstore, Cole's Book Arcade, in Melbourne from the late 1800s into the 1910s. It included not only an uncountable book selection but a tea room, monkeys, music, a giant squid and more.

This book isn't exactly Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium — certainly not that wild — but it's gentle and oddly compelling for a novel lacking in real drama or a straightforward plot. The main character, Edward William Cole, is periodically haunted by working in the brutal goldfields as a young man, but his starry eyes see him running his everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bookstore into old age.

Utopian Man has an episodic structure; in fact, for much of the book, the chapters spool out taking place in successive years, one apiece. This makes it hard for the plot to gather much momentum, but serves up inviting slices of life — or at least Cole's life as Lang imagines it.

A few threads stand out, the book touching on racism when Cole takes under his wing a black man whose skin has turned white, and Cole's relationships with his many children, including one who falls under the shadow of drug abuse.

It's an enjoyable, short, comforting little read. It's far from great, but it's not trying to be. Utopian Man provided a pleasant diversion of happenstance, unlooked-for but welcome. 

[June Ding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose you feel an instant connection with a book when its topic is of interest to you, whether it is about a place, a thing or a period of time that you are curious about. The curiosity keeps you engaged. The book can take you to that special time and place and let you experience something you would otherwise never would. In this case, my connection with the book is Melbourne, a city I find lively and interesting and the love of books from the book’s main character. It is a light history fiction that is based on the true stories of one of Melbourne ‘s famous sons, whose life was changed by books and centred around books. The story stirs me from inside: of a man who was born poor, immigrated to Australia in his youth to make a new life for himself. He dug gold mines in Victoria, found owe and inspiration at its first public library, sold lemonade, run a second hand books stall and finally made himself a rich man and built the world’s biggest bookstore at the time. His personal stories seem to suggest how a city could become such a great city in such short period of time: through enlightenment and common sense. After all, it is a city that had the first free public library in Australia for every citizen who wants self improvement via learning. It had Cole’s book Arcade. Next time I visit Melbourne, I promise myself that I must visit both places.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely historical novel about Edward Cole, a self-made bookseller at the end of the 19th century in Melbourne, Australia. I don't know how much of the history is accurate; Lang has also written a scholarly biography of Cole (E.W. Cole - Chasing the Rainbow), so I assume she knows her facts. The fictional Cole is a character I would have loved to meet: he does what he loves, and loves what he does, in total disregard for business sense. When the Australian economy collapses, he expands his bookstore; he adds a publishing business, a tea room, parrots, and monkeys (just because he likes them), building what was arguably the largest bookstore in history. And he almost goes to ruin defending his Asian employees against the legally enforced racism of time.

A wonderful and surprising book.

[Clio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A balanced work of fictionalised history. E.W. Cole books used to be everywhere in my family, and I thought it was an international thing. Turns out, it was a Melbourne thing. I had NO idea. This book takes the history of Cole and turns it into a narrative. It's fairly compelling in places, especially when we start to to Australia growing as a nation, with the introduction of the white Australia policy and Coles reaction to others' racism. I feel a lot of respect for Cole, although he is portrayed very sympathetically, there must be some truth in his reactions in the book.
If you're a Melbournian, enjoy the boom before the great depression or are a fan of early entrepreneurs then you may enjoy this book.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

neat historical novel set in melbourne pre-1900's to a bit after. the entrepreneur starts his own bookstore slash 5 and 10, and makes quite a go of it, despite his goldfields shady past, he and his big family are cornerstones of the community, until...... financial economic collapse, death of child from epidemic, loss of love for his wife, then chasing the dragon, so what starts out as almost a disney-version-sound-of-music vibe (or man-from-snowy-river? hah) turns into a realistic, gritty and complex novel. author lang won a big prize for this and there are some who are trying to make her into an international phenom. i say do it.

[Calzean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Lang has great empathy and admiration for E.W. Cole. A man who found his wife by placing an advertisement in a paper, who opened up an arcade where the rich and poor were treated equally, was a supporter of racial equality, and a friend to monkeys. A salesman and entrepreneur who treated his employees and customers with respect and fairness. He supported his children in whatever path they chose.

The book, although a fictional account, has a good pace and gives a number of snap shots into the life of a remarkable man. His passionate hatred of the White Australian policy was not popular and his views were well advanced for his times.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this historical novel about real-life book impresario Edward Cole, who in the late 1800s went from rags to riches in Melbourne, Australia, and opened an incredibly imaginative arcade that included a bookstore, lending library, musical instrument shop, Chinese tea room, and more. A great read for anyone who has spent time browsing photographs of amazing libraries on Pinterest.

[Megalion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting turn of the century piece set in Australia.

An Arcade of Books? I want to go there badly!

The writing style was very interesting and the characters colorful. I can see why it won an award. I'm surprised that I hadn't heard of it before except to stumble across it on Overdrive.