Sebastian Faulks rose to acclaim with the publication of Bird Song and Charlotte Grey. These novels were celebrated for their complex plots and enthralling narrative, as well as the intelligent way in which the author dealt with complicated issues.

In my opinion, Human Traces continues Faulks' tradition of tackling complicated issues, but is less strong at delivering an enthralling story. The novel's central theme is sanity and the author chooses to approach this from the perspective of individuals. Set during the late nineteenth century, in an era when the fledging sciences of psychology and psychiatry were only just beginning to set down roots and when the work of Darwin had invigorated the scientific community, the novel offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of the concept of mental health.

The central characters, Thomas and Jacques meet early in life and are united by a desire to understand the workings of the human mind. In both instances this desire is motivated by deeply personal and very different reasons. Jacques and Thomas become related in law, when Jacques marries Thomas' sister and the bonds of closeness are enhanced. The three characters open a medical clinic and start practising, but eventually various problems and tensions within their clinic cause Thomas and Jacques to abandon their mission of discovering the cause of madness.

This book is a good read. It is rich with literary, historical and cultural references, but its central theme is the science of the mind and the evolution of the discipline. Although the novel provides a fascinating journey for the reader, the story is a little stunted and the work does not provide the same reading experience delivered by earlier works.