Sixty Lights, Summary
In 1860, Thomas Strange and Lucy Strange are orphaned after their mother, Honoria Strange dies during a miscarriage and their father, Arthur Strange takes his life soon after. Before ingesting rat poison, Arthur arranges for his children to be taken into the care of Honoria’s brother. Neville Brady. Shortly after their parents deaths, the children visit their grandfather, James Strange, before returning home to await Neville. During this time they search their parents belongings, grieve, and speak to their blind neighbor Mrs O'Connor.
Upon Neville’s arrival, the children initially dislike him, but upon receiving gifts they warm up to him. Soon after meeting him, they all board a boat and travel to London. Lucy and Thomas go to school, but are bullied for their accents and make no friends but each other. Five years later, Neville is dishonorably fired from his job as a clerk, as he was embezzling funds and gambling them. The three move to a smaller apartment, and Thomas and Lucy are both forced into work to ensure they have food on the table. Thomas becomes employed at a Magic Lantern establishment while Lucy works at an albumen factory.
Two years pass, and Neville requests that Lucy travels to India to meet an Isaac Newton, as he owes him money that he can’t pay back. Lucy agrees and begins a six month voyage the month after. During this time she meets Captain William Crowley, and begins a sexual relationship with him. Captain Crowley seeks a non-committal relationship which puts some strain on their affair, until they both realise that neither wants to commit. During this time Lucy falls pregnant, although she discovers this later.
Lucy arrives in India and is greeted by Isaac Newton. She goes with him to his estate, and meets his three slaves, Bashanti and Asok. Initially Isaac and Lucy are awkward and don’t get along well. About 3 months into her stay, Lucy begins experiencing symptoms of pregnancy, which Asok notices and informs Isaac about. When Isaac confronts Lucy she refuses to admit what happened, and instead asks Isaac to tell her the story of the flying dutchman, which her mother had told to her as a child. From here Lucy and Isaac begin to develop a relationship, not sexual, but romantic. Lucy agrees to take the name Newton, and give her child that name too. Lucy begins exploring India with Bashanti, experiencing many new places foods and people. Eventually she has her photo taken with Isaac, and requests to be taught photography by the photographer, Victor Browne. Isaac agrees and in the months before her pregnancy, Lucy learns how to take photos. She and Isaac also begin sleeping in the same bed, and they become much closer. She also receives a letter from Thomas, detailing his life in London, including the fact that he is interested in a gall called Violet Weller.
Lucy gives birth during the Duvali festival month, to a girl that she names Ellen Newton. Lucy then prepares to leave India. She presents Isaac, Bashanti and Asok with gifts, and in return receives a memento from Isaac. She then boards her vessel and waves them goodbye. She arrives back in London six months later, to news of Neville’s death by coach accident. She also meets Violet, who marries Thomas a month after her return. They all begin living together in the same apartment. Lucy is diagnosed as ill by a doctor and told she won’t live much longer. She resolves to take as many photographs as she can before her death. During one of her photography trips she meets Molly Minchin, and the two decide to live together.
Timeline
1827: Arthur Strange is born in Shanghai, China to James Strange and his wife.
1830: Neville Brady is born in Nottinghamshire, England to George Brady and his wife who dies sometime after.
1832: Honoria Brady is born in Nottinghamshire, England to George Brady and his wife who dies sometime after.
1835: George, Honoria and Neville move to Australia. Arthur’s mother dies of cholera, and Arthur and James move to Australia. Here James partners with the Chinese tea merchant Ah Chou and marries his daughter, Fen.
1845: Arthur gets a job as a coach driver
1849: Arthur and Honoria meet in a coach accident. They marry later that year.
1850: Arthur and Honoria travel to Italy for their honeymoon. Thomas Strange is born with Molly Minchin acting as the midwife
1852: Lucy Strange is born with Molly acting as the midwife
1860: Hororia dies during a miscarriage. Soon after Arthur commits suicide by rat poison. Lucy and Thomas are placed under the care of Honoria’s brother, Neville Brady.
1861: Neville, Thomas, and Lucy arrive in London
1866: Neville loses his job as a clerk due to money laundering, and the family moves to a smaller apartment. Thomas also becomes apprenticed to Mr Martin Childe, the owner of a Magic Lantern establishment. Lucy finds employment at an albumen factory.
1868: Lucy moves to India to meet Isaac Newton. During the journey she has an affair with Captain William Crowley and falls pregnant.
1869: Lucy learns photography from Victor Browne. Lucy gives birth to Ellen Newton.
1870: Neville dies at age 40 after being hit by a coach. Lucy returns to London. Thomas is married to Violet Weller. Lucy is diagnosed as ill, with a disease assumed to be lung cancer.
1871: Lucy meets and befriends her mother’s midwife, Molly and moves in with her. Later she meets the artist Jacob Webb whom she begins a romantic relationship with.
1874: Lucy dies at age 22 due to complications brought about by lung cancer. Molly dies one month later due to a heart attack.
