I am at a loss where to even start on this review, there are so many things about The Ministry of Time that I loved. And not a single thing I didn’t.
So let’s start with the easy bit, the story, set in near-future London. The narrator, a minor civil servant, is appointed for a secret mission: to act as a ‘bridge’ (observer, minder, helper) to a man who has been taken from the past using a secret time travel machine. He is Commander Graham Gore, second-in-command on a ship trapped in the Arctic ice in 1847. She is to live with him, help him adapt to the modern world, and report back on his behaviour and progress to the Ministry. Four other time travellers and their bridges are also set up together. The narrator and Gore soon become fast friends with two of them; Maggie, a plague survivor from 1665 and Arthur, a first world war soldier from 1916.
We follow the time travellers (called ‘expats’ by the Ministry) as they adapt to their new life.
And they have a lot of adapting to do. Maggie, a feisty, intelligent, warm-hearted and beautiful lesbian, revels in her freedom as a woman in this century, and quickly sets out to explore Tinder, clubs, fashion and parties. Her language is 17th century English, so she comes across as wildly eccentric. Every utterance is a joy to read. Arthur is a traumatised gentle soul, still reeling from the transition, but he and Maggie become close allies. Gore is, well, a handsome and utterly charming 19th century gentleman and hero. We also have a range of Ministry staff and other villains. What a cast!
Meanwhile, the narrator, overwhelmed by her lust/love for Gore, seems to be deliberately blind to all the hints that all is not as it seems at the Ministry.
Bradley is an astoundingly good writer and it is mind-blowing that this is her first novel, it’s so perfectly accomplished. The writing is wonderfully readable but also original, quirky, funny and moving. No matter where we are in the narrative, Bradley makes it all just so damn INTERESTING! It’s not only that the reader is gripped and eager to know what follows: she can make a description of a character making a cup of tea interesting. Her metaphors and similes are original, striking and often hilarious, the dialogue is clever, and the growing bond between Gore and his bridge is sensitively portrayed and beautifully paced.
Moreover, The Ministry of Time is full of insightful parallels with, references to and commentary on historical and current events, notably around empire and colonialism, refugees and climate change. Indeed the facts we learn about Commander Graham Gore’s past are based on true accounts of his life and final Arctic expedition.
If this doesn’t become a roaring bestseller, I don’t know what will. It would also make a fantastic film or TV series.
My thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing an ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
You might also enjoy: The Splendid City | Karen Heuler
Meanwhile, here’s an index of all my reviews.