The Red Necklace
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Sally Gardner |
| Products | Historical young adult novel |
| Parent | Orion (publisher) |
The Red Necklace is a historical young adult novel authored by Sally Gardner and published by Orion in 2007. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, it intertwines actual historical happenings with elements of Romani mysticism. The audiobook version features narration by Tom Hiddleston.
Its follow-up, The Silver Blade (Orion, 2008), picks up the narrative during the era known as the Reign of Terror. In the United States, editions were issued by Dial Press in 2008 and 2009.
Plot
Taking place between 1789 and 1792 in the vicinity of Paris, the narrative centers on Yannick "Yann" Margoza, a Romani orphan endowed with unique talents such as ventriloquism, telepathy, and precognition. He performs alongside his guardians, Topolain—a magician—and Têtu, a telekinetic dwarf, at the Théâtre du Temple. They receive a summons from the malevolent Count Kalliovski to entertain at the chateau of the Marquis de Villeduval. Unaware that Kalliovski is a longstanding adversary, their act ends in tragedy when he deliberately sabotages a bullet catch stunt, resulting in Topolain’s death.
While in hiding, Yann encounters Sido, the neglected daughter of the Marquis, and together they flee to Paris. After Têtu warns Yann of impending danger, he reluctantly departs for London, where he is taken in by Sido’s aunt and uncle, Henry and Juliette Laxton. It emerges that Kalliovski is Yann’s biological father, who killed his mother out of obsession. During Yann’s escape, Têtu suffers a gunshot wound inflicted by Milkeye, one of Kalliovski’s henchmen.
In London, despite support from the Laxtons, Yann finds adjusting difficult. He rescues an actor named Mr Trippen and secures a tutor through this connection. Meanwhile, political turmoil intensifies in France. The Marquis faces financial ruin and succumbs to pressure to consent to Sido’s marriage to Kalliovski under threat. Following Madame Perrien’s murder at Kalliovski’s hands, the Marquis loses his sanity and flees with Sido to reside with the Duchesse de Lamantes.
Yann slowly reclaims his magical powers under the mentorship of an English Romani family and learns to manipulate telekinetic 'threads of light.' Reports confirm Têtu’s survival and suggest Kalliovski’s involvement in murders back in France. When Kalliovski arranges to marry Sido, Yann returns to Paris intent on rescuing her.
Upon his return to Paris, Yann reunites with Têtu and uncovers truths about his lineage. He discovers Sido is betrothed but cautions her against trusting Mr Tull—who previously assisted Yann’s escape but now serves Kalliovski. They find evidence revealing that Sido’s biological parents were killed on orders from Kalliovski at the Marquis’ request.
Sido is captured by Tull and falls ill under Kalliovski’s coercion. Despite attempts to persuade her to flee, she remains out of loyalty to her deranged father. It is revealed that she is not truly the Marquis’ daughter but rather the offspring of Isabelle Gautier and Armand de Villeduval; their love letters become crucial evidence against Kalliovski.
Yann infiltrates Kalliovski’s residence during a performance distraction and uncovers automatons fashioned from Kalliovski’s victims—known as 'The Sisters Macabre'—alongside Kalliovski's mastery over 'Threads of Darkness.' Though wounded by Milkeye during this raid, Yann employs magic to expose hidden secrets before being rescued.
Ultimately, Sido rejects her father’s legacy and agrees to escape with Yann after narrowly avoiding conviction at trial. They are abducted but rescued amid revolutionary upheaval. Yann confesses his love for her yet urges her to return to her true family in London while he remains behind assisting aristocrats’ escape efforts. He presents her with a talisman symbolizing their connection.
Kalliovski survives his injuries and swears vengeance against his estranged son.
Character list
- Yannick "Yann" Margoza – A young Romani boy gifted with telepathic and telekinetic abilities known as the 'threads of light.' Orphaned and raised among traveling performers, he escapes to England after Kalliovski murders his troupe. Although he initially loses his powers, he later regains them but can only access the mind of Sido, the girl he loves. With guidance from the Romani Cooper family, he refines his skills. Yann is revealed to be Kalliovski’s son, though others believe him to be the spiritual offspring of Anis and her deceased husband. His age progresses from fourteen to seventeen throughout the narrative.
- Sidonie "Sido" de Villeduval – The overlooked daughter of the reckless Marquis de Villeduval, beginning the story at twelve and reaching fifteen by its conclusion. Despite a limp caused by a childhood injury, she demonstrates courage and ingenuity, motivated by a longing for affection. Early on, she assists Yann and Têtu in evading Kalliovski’s grasp, leading to a mutual romantic bond. Her biological parents are Isabelle Gautier and Armand de Villeduval, the Marquis’s half-brother. Kalliovski desires her inheritance and seeks vengeance against her deceased mother.
- Têtu – A Romani dwarf who raised Yann and possesses knowledge of Kalliovski’s secrets. A close confidant of Yann’s mother Anis, he also employs the threads of light to support Sido’s rescue.
- Count Kalliovski – Later known as "Citizen Kalliovski," he is a ruthless nobleman and primary antagonist. He extends loans to financially troubled aristocrats in exchange for compromising information, which he exploits through blackmail or murder to maintain control. Obsessed with Sido due to her inheritance and revenge against her mother, he kidnaps her but is ultimately foiled by Yann. He previously murdered both Yann’s and Sido’s mothers after they spurned him. His faithful Irish wolfhound Balthazar accompanies him.
- The Marquis de Villeduval – Sido’s negligent father who squandered the family wealth and owes significant debts to Kalliovski. Indifferent toward Sido, he consents to hand her over to Kalliovski as repayment but later descends into madness after revolutionaries set fire to his chateau. Unknown to Sido, he is actually her uncle and was responsible for the accident that injured her parents.
- Henry and Juliette Laxton – Sido’s maternal aunt and uncle residing in London who take Yann under their care. Childless themselves, they yearn for reunion with their niece and harbor resentment toward the Marquis and Kalliovski for their roles in Isabelle’s suffering. Juliette bears a strong resemblance to Sido.
- Jacques Topolain – A magician involved in raising Yann. Despite occasional vanity and cowardice, he remains loyal until killed by Kalliovski after being recognized.
- Maître Tardieu – The longtime legal counsel and financial advisor to the de Villeduval family. Devoted to the late elder Marquis and Armand, he disapproves of the current Marquis’s extravagance but admires Sido’s intelligence and bravery. He offers vital family knowledge and aids in Sido’s rescue.
- Didier – Caretaker of the Théâtre du Temple (later renamed Théâtre de la Liberté), who assists Têtu and Yann in their efforts to save Sido.
- Monsieur Aulard – Manager of the Théâtre du Temple who supports the mission to rescue Sido.
- The Coopers – Tobias, his grandson Talo, and wife Orlenda: a Romani family that mentors Yann in developing his magical talents.
- Mr. Trippen – An impoverished but eccentric actor rescued by Yann who becomes his mentor.
- Milkeye – The principal henchman serving Kalliovski.
- Armand de Villeduval and Isabelle Gautier (both deceased) – Armand was the compassionate younger half-brother of the Marquis; Isabelle was married to the Marquis but became Armand’s lover. Their child is Sido. Both were murdered due to their affair after Isabelle refused Kalliovski’s advances.
- The Elder Marquis de Villeduval – The deceased father of the current Marquis and Armand; a kind man who favored Armand over his harsh eldest son. He left a considerable inheritance for Sido upon her marriage. His first wife died insane; this hereditary madness affects the current Marquis as well.
The title
The title alludes to Count Kalliovski's distinctive murder signature, where he adorns his victims with a necklace made of red garnets strung on a slender red ribbon, simulating the look of a throat that has been cut.
External links
- https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780803731004 – The Red Necklace, Publishers Weekly, 2008-05-26
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/feb/23/featuresreviews.guardianreview32 – Adele Geras, Love in the time of the Terror, The Guardian, 2008-02-23