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Maria McCann

As Meat Loves Salt Hardcover – 19 Feb. 2001

by Maria McCann (Author)

4.0 489 ratings

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A sensational debut from a wonderful new English writer.

Transplant Othello to the tumult of a country in social and political flux and en route to regicide – England in the 1640s – and render him uncertain about his sexuality, and you have the makings of Jacob Cullen, one of the most commanding characters in contemporary writing.

As the book opens, Jacob is an educated, vigorous and dauntingly strong manservant in a Royalist household, who has begun to imbibe god-fearing revolutionary pamphlets. He is on the brink of marriage to his virginal sweetheart, but is unsure of his emotional needs, and in possession of a boiling point he reaches all too often. He is also, we learn, fearful of being identified as the murderer of a local boy, and a potential nemesis arrives on the very day of his wedding feast, prompting the first of a series of impetuous, temper-fuelled bad decisions: Jacob flees, dragging his new wife and one of his brothers with him. Thereafter he proceeds to wreak havoc on the lives of others but mostly on his own fortunes – as a servant, a husband, a brother, a soldier, and, critically, as friend, co-conspirator and lover of another man disaffected by the lurch from freedom to tyranny now apparent in Cromwell’s New Model Army. To step outside the law, outside the state, outside the established and natural order of things seems to supply the only prospect of happiness…

All this makes for a truly exceptional novel: gripping, unusual, packed with heady ingredients – truly, we are in a world turned upside down by political fervour, inflammatory pamphleteering, social flux, grisly combat, apocalyptically evangelical Christianity, sexual confusion, and murder most foul… The earthy, tangy quality of McCann’s Republican-style prose, infused with a fresh twentieth-century sensibility, makes the whole entirely accessible and irresistible.

Is this then. perhaps, the first great novel of the English Revolution?

Print length

544 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Flamingo
Publication date

19 Feb. 2001
ISBN-10

0002261944
ISBN-13

978-0002261944
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Product description

Amazon Review

Maria McCann enters the fray of 1640s England and Civil War with considerable gusto in this ambitious first novel. A coldly gruesome murder committed by her youthful narrator opens his account, and the bloody siege of his lover's Diggers colony ends it. Narrator Jacob Cullen, educated but now a servant, flees his royalist household, taking his bride of just an hour and his brother. In a second act of terrible brutality, he beats and rapes his wife. Becoming a pikeman in Cromwell's New Model Army, he befriends Christopher Ferris, an idealist disaffected by the Army and in search of a less tainted freedom. And so the two desert and head for London and the pleasures of Cheapside--and each other. Jacob becomes "a fornicator of unnatural appetite, in thrall to an Atheist... I was in love". But Ferris is intent on establishing a commune, a prospect Jacob reviles, yet to keep his lover he has no choice but to join the motley band.

McCann's writing is rich in detail and colour--the muck and mud of battlefields, London's crowded stench, and the colonists' back-breaking work on the land; she manoeuvres her large cast of characters adeptly, and her dialogue is nicely pithy. The flaw that blights the plot is a yawning gap of credibility: Jacob's acts of violence--the murder, the rape and much more--which occur almost out of the blue simply don't fit his persona. His motives are too thin; nor is he presented as an unbridled brute masquerading as sanity itself. So how are we to "read" him? Even Ferris's accusation--"A man's own evil is his devil and yours, Jacob, is mastery"--suggests too little and comes too late. Jacob's pivotal place in the narrative is discredited by the lack of psychic underpinning and this mars an otherwise robust debut. --Ruth Petrie

Review

"Compelling.. the writing is flawless. Ms McCann captures the flavour of 17th century English, but never at the expense of comprehension; these pages flow like claret..Absorbing and historically meticulous, Ms McCann's AS MEAT LOVES SALT is a fat, juicy masterpiece" The Economist

‘This is an outstanding debut novel, a fresh and unusual achievement. Yes, this might be how such people thought and saw the world. As the title implies, it has all the dirt, stink, rasp and flavour of the time, as much as Simon Schama at his best. This is a brave attempt to break into a world few of us could imagine. It deserves to be a great success.’ Andrew Marr, Daily Telegraph

'Maria McCann conjures up 1640s England during the Civil War in earthy prose, making this novel a triumphant piece of historical evocation… McCann's unflinching descriptions of battle are matched by the power of her depiction of London in all its fetid splendour. And in the character of Jacob himself, a strong but selfish man weakened by a violent temper and haunted by guilty dreams, McCann shows the imaginative empathy that is the hallmark of a true novelist.' Katie Owen, Vogue

'A marvellous storyteller… A certain splendour in the writing makes this novel a tour de force of sensational scenes, an anatomy of violence and an elegy for lost kinship… Forbidden sensuality is searingly described by chiaroscuro candlelight. Rich in secrets and surprises, this novel has its own fierce poetry.'
Independent

'It's a true delight to encounter such a novel, vivid, well-written and, best of all, accessible. We are likely to hear a lot more of Maria McCann.'
Daily Express

From the Back Cover

The English Revolution is under way. The world is turned upside down. The nation seething with religious and political discontent, has erupted into violence and terror – into civil war.

Jacob Cullen has that same violence within him. Working with his brothers in a rich and dissolute household, he finds that even his love for Caro is of no help against the bouts of jealousy and rage which terrifies others. Inevitably, his lack of self-knowledge leads to a loss of control – with fatal consequences. Fleeing to the New Model Army, he finds himself in company with thinkers as well as fighters and fugitives such as himself. People are hungry for change, and change is coming at last. Some of the soldiers, intoxicated by dreams of freedom, have little idea how to live in reality. But others, like Jacob's new comrade Ferris, are wily enough to build on such dreams and to make use of men like Jacob. And so begins a battle between the two of them, a struggle which cannot be contained by army life or by the London to which they flee. What is at stake for each is power over the other. As England is torn apart by war, Jacob's feelings intensify until they must find an outlet.

'As Meat Loves Salt' is a darkly erotic tale of passion and obsession, order and chaos. It is also a gripping portrait of mid-seventeenth-century England and of the grim experience of civil war. Above all, it is a shattering portrait of a maddened man. This is a remarkable first novel from a notable new British writer.

About the Author

Maria McCann was born in Liverpool in 1956 and spent most of her childhood there devouring novels at every opportunity. She read English at the University of Durham and then embarked on a series of jobs including Citizens’ Advice, telephonist, artist’s model and EFL teacher. Since 1988 she has been a Lecturer in English at a Somerset college. An Arvon course gave her the confidence to write after years of ‘scribbling’ and she later read for an MA in Writing at the University of Glamorgan. She loves plays, gin, dancing and dogs. This is her first novel.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flamingo (19 Feb. 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 544 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0002261944
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0002261944

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Mr. A. G. Batt

Gripping, challenging, emotional- a great historical novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2013

Verified Purchase

I came away from reading this book feeling there was little doubt that it was a masterpiece- in that well-worn phrase I couldn't put it down. The story is set during the English civil War in a society where royalists and parliamentarians are engaged in an internecine struggle for supremacy. A battle mirrored in the love story between two men from very different backgrounds who start an uneasy friendship that escalates into a full blown love affair: they both want to control the other, ultimately tearing each other apart- their love affair destroyed because neither is able to compromise or mitigate who they really are for someone else. I found it fascinating and horrifying in equal measure. The writing is flawless- rich in detail and colour. The descriptions of the siege of Basing, Cheapside and the levellers style commune for instance are all masterly. The plot, characters and dialogue are likewise handled adeptly. McCann has done a fine job of not giving her historical characters C21st values and ways of thought: the use of violence, and the fluidity of sexual desire are prime examples both of which are central to this book. It is quite unlike anything else I've read.

The relationship between Jacob (the protagonist) and Ferris, is at the core of the book, and is by turns violent, erotic and moving: it lingers long in the memory. Jacob at first is quite repellent, even psychopathic but the author slowly reveals more and more of him and as the book progressed I found myself warming to him - a character in equal measure compelling and appalling. There were many instances where I felt sympathy for his behaviour and actions, all his thoughts and inner conflicts- are expertly described, so even when the reader has cause to question Jacobs moral judgements we can still sometimes understand his actions. The tragedy is that whilst Jacob achieves self-knowledge, he seems unable to change his character in any meaningful sense - destroying what he loves at the end, just as he does at the beginning.

****Spoiler alert for the rest of the review****

At the start of the book Jacob seems cruel, bestial and malicious, but his relationship with the virtuous Ferris, a soldier fighting in the new model army, seems transformative, making him question his behaviour, sexuality, and his obsessive need for love and mastery: Ferris acts almost as Jacobs conscience; a sort of civilising influence as he struggles to define his personal morality. The relationship intrigues, because at first Ferris appears as good as Jacob first appeared bad, and for a while the relationship seems to work as they embark on an all-consuming love affair that satisfies them like no other, the couple seem harmonious- mutually enriched- almost like two sides of the same coin, but the balance subtly starts to slide the other way; other reviewers have mainly focused on Jacobs character, and have only touched on this, but I feel at the crux of the meaning of this book is that Ferris is in essence exactly like Jacob, (granted his motives and behaviour are more honest) but he also is unable to change his character to his detriment.

As Jacob is the protagonist we are familiar with his point of view and Ferris' responses to him, but flipped the other way, Ferris also loses the person to whom he belongs because he is unable to change his nature. Locked in to his belief in the purity of his own emotions and idealistic beliefs Ferris won't acknowledge the effect his ambition for the Levellers like `New Jerusalem' colony has on those he loves- namely his Aunt and of course Jacob. Ferris manipulatively bends Jacob further and further into obedience - insisting on his cherished dream of the colony which he knows will be detrimental to both Jacob and his Aunt. Despite professing to love Jacob, Ferris remains utterly unconcerned that Jacob repeatedly mentions that he would not be happy in a life that would return him to the brutal servitude of his youth. And neither can Ferris wait to escape his beloved aunt; even when she is ill and dying he seems oblivious to her feelings, her needs and situation. I found myself liking Ferris less and less as the relationship progressed, seriously calling into question his motives. Ferris refuses to make any compromise of his idealistic ambition to either of them, which seems incredibly selfish especially when later on, his pride stops him disbanding the colony when he knows they are facing almost certain death: His beliefs are to be pursued at any cost. Ferris may be more principled than Jacob, but the way he cuts his previous love Nat out of his life, to take up with Jacob, and then later moves just as swiftly from Jacob to Caro make him seem rather fickle.

With all this in mind, the reader is prepared for the story not to end well, never the less, the climax was incredibly upsetting -Jacob and Ferris' mutual betrayal of each other had me reeling- perhaps because the reader, having invested so much emotion in these characters wants the relationship to work out on some level. It's brave of the author to not take that option, and to leave us with the much bleaker resolution of Jacob and Ferris destroying each other, by being unable to compromise or mitigate who they really are.

The main flaw of the book, for me was that knowing Jacobs character as we do, his act of murder at the start is not credible, his motives are too thin, and I felt that more needed to be included as to why he did it- the murder is constantly alluded to throughout as he tries at various points to explain it to Ferris, but whilst several options were possible, none is really given- even at the end Jacobs description of it, it given more to frighten Ferris than offer any real explanation. For me this undermines the plot and Jacobs character, as although a lot of Jacobs subsequent behaviour is violently unacceptable, he does not kill on a whim or in cold blood- all his 'bad' behaviour stems from his inability to govern his passions. Another reviewer raised an interesting point regarding possible motive or at least character development which I also think is important, which is a conversation between Jacob and his brother Zeb when they meet up again in London after the murder. Zeb is describing the day that Jacob beat him (and maybe more) in the orchard, (an event Jacob does not remember) he says that when Jacob attacked him he was `standing in for father.' The inference being that their father had beaten Jacob, but also, assuming Zeb's suggestion of some sort of sexual abuse is true, then their father probably sexually abused Jacob, too. Furthermore, Zeb seems already aware that Jacob has homosexual tendencies, which since he hasn't known Jacob during his love affair with Ferris, means that Zeb believed this to be the case even in their youth. This would psychologically explain elements of Jacobs character but is never referenced in terms of the murder- I would like to know if Jacob was perhaps sexually attracted to his brother Zeb or Walshe? He seems jealous when Walshe puts his arm around Zeb when they are reading the pamphlets. Zeb also used to share a bed with Jacob, before he later shares one with Izzy- Jacob can't recall exactly when but notes that afterwards Zeb "was never the same with me again. He withdrew from me", and the day of the wedding as the brothers are washing and dressing, Jacob remarks favourably on seeing Zeb naked.

Also with reference to the plot, I feel the re-introduction of Caro towards the end is altogether to neat to be convincing- admittedly it does tighten up the drama of the denouement, but for it to properly work, her character probably needed to be re-introduced sooner.

All in all though, this is an amazing unforgettable book that I couldn't put down, and stayed with me long after finishing it. It is satisfying on almost every level- beautifully written, a gripping story with memorable characters that was quite unlike anything I've read before.

A last somewhat minor point- the UK paperback cover is not indicative, and is misleading- the image chosen simply doesn't make sense- this is a destructive love story between two men, so why do we have a woman in a dress on the cover? Perhaps it's meant to be Caro, if so the designer probably just read the first chapter! More suitable is the US paperback with the painting `The Wounded Man' a self-portrait by Gustav Courbet, which nicely recalls the pivotal moment in the book where Ferris first lays eyes on Jacob.

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Anna C

Absorbing, gut wrenching and erotic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 October 2019

Verified Purchase

God what a book. It took me a while to get into. At first the prose is unusual, being in the 17th century style, but it works well. Sometimes expressions are hard to fathom but it doesn't matter, it feels right.

The story of Jacob Cullen, an anti hero on the run from justice perhaps, at least from the scene of a crime where we learn that he is the murderer.

But the point of the book is not about justice or penance or reward, or even retribution, it's a journey and we spend it in the head of our narrator Cullen. It's so hard to pull off being inside the head of a charachter that is so dangerously unstable and yet so perversely appealing.

Patricia Highsmith did it so perfectly with Ripley, although not in the first person. Anthony Burgess does it with Alex, the psycho, amoral, juvenile delinquent in A Clockwork Orange. And McCann does it here.

The book is a bloody, filthy, intense plunge into the world of Oliver Cromwell's England and his New Model Army. It's not a romp, it's like being dragged by your twisted arm through a thorny bush.

As he escapes and is left for dead, Cullen is saved by the more conventional hero Christopher Ferris. They go AWOL together and end up in London, but Ferris's ultinate aim is a to establish a free-hinking colony of equals in the countryside.

The story is intense, the charachters veer from detestable to despicable and yet are heartbreakingly and unbearably believable. What I loved so much about this author and the many others that have the courage to make the protagonists immoral or amoral, is the honesty to pick open people's less than laudable, vile, cruel and hateful traits but allow one to emphasize with them. Who amongst us hasn't occasionall felt a blind, red hot rage, been debilitated by jealousy, been weak, cruel, penitent.

I loved the charachter of Cullen because of his tempestuous, ungovernable temper as much as for the besotted passion he has for Ferris. He is dreadful, but he is human.

Ferris is the other side of the coin. It is as if they are bound together, as opposites, dark and light. But I didn't see Ferris as the symbol of goodness and idealism alone. He was that, but he was also capable of detachment, coldness and diffidence. And perhaps it was this that made me root for Cullen more. I wanted it to work, but they were both as guilty as each other. Of being faithless, fallible and weak.

Writing this review mainly to get my thoughts down before they melt away. But I loved this book. I haven't been this obsessed by a story and its characters for years. And its such an impossible combination of devastating and heart gripping.

SPOILER

Not since Winston's betrayal of Julia in 1984 have I read anything that has made me rage so much. I couldn't bear it. Ah, Ferris. I could have killed him myself. I couldn't bear his faithlessness and yet the skill of the writer to have you dying to keep these two together at all costs, while having just witnessed Jacob's brutality, and STILL burning for him and weeping for his downfall. God she is good.

I read Jacob's collapse into madness and jealousy through clenched teeth. I hated reading it but I loved Maria McCann's writing so much. What prose. And the descriptions of the men's encounters were really quite mind blowingly erotic. I don't know why. McCann has somehow managed to convey, without graphic, liberally spread excess, just extraordinary passion and eroticism.

So many thoughts about this story which is surely the mark of great writing. What is the Voice? Jacob's madness, his religiousness, his jealousy, his own excoriating self-loathing? And Ferris, what a flawed man. Such a brilliant combination of idealism and pig headedness. I loved him, but many times I didn't like him. And yet his love for Cullen, their love for eachother, was so artfully drawn, full of the contradictions and the obsessions of erotic passion and then, the ultimate faithlessness and failure of love. All devastating and so perfect.

This review does no justice to the book. It is extraordinary, immersive, painful, erotic, evocative. If you read one book this year read this.

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As Meat Loves Salt Hardcover – 19 Feb. 2001

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