Herne the Hunter is a figure from English folklore who is first mentioned in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. It's claimed he has antlers growing from his head, rides through forests on a horse and causes mischief. Zoe Gilbert reimagines his origin story in the first lengthy section of this wildly imaginative novel which playfully weaves this fantastical figure into local history. Throughout time he “permeates both reality and the imagination”. In the late 1300s Herne is a favoured huntsman of Richard II, but violent events lead to his downfall and resurrection as a spirit pursued by the vengeful magician Bearman. Their drama plays out over the course of many centuries and into the future. Along the way, Herne takes many different forms and enters into the individual stories of an array of distinct figures throughout many years. It's utterly bewitching how this novel reshapes myths and history into a riveting series of tales.
In a sense this book is like a collection of short stories which vary from accounts of nymphs in the woods to the fire which destroyed The Crystal Palace (a famous historic exhibition hall) to an ecological breakdown which fractures our society. Alongside reading the testimonies of a fascinating range of individuals throughout history there's a great pleasure in discovering what form Herne will take when entering this new era and the wicked ways he will interfere with the characters' lives. Gilbert playfully describes the way he shape shifts from one time period to the next alternately appearing as a man, woman or a flock of birds. The many sections of this novel take different forms as well including prose narratives, journals, poetry and song. It's clever how the styles of writing switch to suit particular eras and characters where the form of writing itself expresses something about the dominant ideologies concerning religion or science. I also alternated reading a physical copy of “Mischief Acts” with listening to the audiobook in which the lyrics and poetry are performed. This richly added to the experience of reading this novel.
There were some sections of “Mischief Acts” I enjoyed more than others. Some of my favourite parts included a sweetly pious man who tries and fails to uphold good morals within his community in the 1600s, a man determined to photograph woodland-dwelling homunculi that come to life in the late 1800s and a couple wrestling with issues to do with infidelity and sexuality in the early 2000s. Certain sections seemed to contain more lively inbuilt conflict than others and also included a more creative integration of the figure of Herne. Perhaps a second reading would make some other parts of the book more distinct and memorable. Nevertheless, this is a sweeping deliciously-creative novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. The author also bookends these tales with brief lectures which consider the role of myth in society. It interestingly builds on the impression that through the act of storytelling imagination can shape reality. Gilbert has created a novel that is utterly unique, thoroughly pleasurable and leaves the reader with a lot to ponder.
