The Wondrous Apothecary

The Wondrous Apothecary by Mary E Martin

The magical spell that art can cast over each one of us is profound and enriching as everyone looks at a piece of art whether a painting, mural or sculpture and sees it in his/her own way. Imagine two artists that painted the same picture would it appear to be identical and would it inspire the same reactions from those who viewed their work? Alexander Wainwright is a landscape artist and became world renowned for his prize winning The Hay Wagon. Rinaldo became known as a conceptual artist and they have been rivals since day one. Meet Jamie Helmsworth our narrator and art dealer whose perspective on both artists and their works you will get throughout the novel. What would anyone consider socially acceptable from an artist? Wainwright was but Rinaldo was unique and conceptual art and consider a public problem bringing attention to himself in many negative ways and then as we read in the graphically and visually created prologue Rinaldo torches an art gallery but manages to steal the Hay Wagon.

Rinaldo is faced with terror as he meets people within his cellar that are from the past. One that was a guard in the hospital where he worked, another who was a suffragette that tell him how she set fire to the Prime Minister’s house, and a third that witnessed Hitler and the crowds that cheered him but the most profound story he shares is of Elio a young child whose brother created paintings that were beautiful and signified beauty and he the darker side of life. Did that mean he was insane or crazy? They worked together to collaborate on a painting and yet they used electroshock therapy to destroy his mind and kill his creativity and this is what they want to do to Rinaldo in the present. Can Wainright save him?

We delve deeper into Rinaldo’s visions we realize that he experiences as he events in the past meeting historical figures and searching for the Wondrous Apothecary and who is the person that has that title. As Dr. Brian Jeffers plans his strategy to get him transferred to him as his patient hoping to employ the new electro shock therapies delve deeper into Rinaldo’s visions we realize that he actually experiences as he events in the past meeting historical figures and searching for the Wondrous Apothecary and who is the person that has that title. As Dr. Brian Jeffers plans his strategy to get him transferred to him as his patient hoping to employ the new electroshock therapy created on him plus adding the one involving Virtual Reality programs for different patients with different mental illnesses and needs. His anger is tormenting, and Rinaldo must figure out how to elude what he has in mind as Lola a nurse at the hospital wants to help him escape and go along with him. But first a trip to old London and finding Charles Darby hoping for some answers about the Wondrous Apothecary.

Alexander has his own experiences in the cellar as he sees his wife Daphne’s image and other reminder of her death plus a body.

Rinaldo is resourceful and realizes he must escape before Jeffers uses him for his trials. Seeing figures from the past like the booking clerk, the suffragette and Hans Schmidt who seemed to express humankind’s demands for change leaves Garlick his doctor wondering if he is schizophrenic, has Alzheimer’s or another physical or mental illness.

Rinaldo finds his way to an old farm where he lived as Alexander searches for answers to why he too has visions from past events as both are experiencing them and both realize they can combine their talents in a collaboration.

Alex finds Rinaldo and a series pattern of events are revealed from the past. His stepmother was cruel and Roddy her son paid the price as Rinaldo relates the event that changed the course of his life. Knowing that his art is dark, and Alex’s focused on humanity what would it be if their artistry blended into one portrait or painting and why the Wondrous Apothecary? Two great artists and one hoping to overcome the faces from the past revelations and honoring the art stolen from a young boy who dared to be different like him. Differences and not adhering to the norm would ostracize someone.

Jeffers has his own agenda for Rinaldo but first he must orchestrate a diabolical plan to make it seem he was going to commit suicide. When arrested because he escaped and charges about the fire Rinaldo thinks that he’s been betrayed by Alex, but powerful people are behind this and trying to get him to sign for the trials was Jeffers way of gaslighting Rinaldo. Alex faces off with his friend and the law might be on his side if charges are placed against the hospital and they realize how close to what patients experienced there in the past was going to happen in the present. The author delves into the area of mental illness, power, greed and recognition as Jeffers goes after his prey, Rinaldo but Garlick, Wainright and clever solicitor might defray Jeffers .

The amount of originality is amazing as author Mary Martin introduces Alexander, readers and even Rinaldo to virtual reality programs that these mentally ill patients can use to visit the real world. Dealing with anger, fear, delusions and hoping to find their way to freedom this book teaches us about how many deals with their problems. Within Rinaldo’s mind he still wants to learn more about the Wondrous Apothecary and the secrets within. Added in Alexander experiences visions in the cellar seeing his wife Daphne’s image a solid reminder of death.

Rinaldo is resourceful and realizes he must escape before Jeffers uses him for his trials. Seeing figures from the past like the booking clerk, the suffragette and Hans Schmidt who seemed to express humankind’s demands for change leaves Garlick his doctor wondering if he is schizophrenic, has Alzheimer’s or another physical or mental illness.

Rinaldo finds his way to an old farm where he lived as Alexander searches for answers to why he too has visions from past events as both are experiencing them and both realize they can combine their talents in a collaboration.

Alex finds Rinaldo and a series pattern of events are revealed from the past. His stepmother was cruel and Roddy her son paid the price as Rinaldo relates the event that changed the course of his life. Knowing that his art is dark, and Alex’s focused on humanity what would it be if their artistry blended into one portrait or painting and why the Wondrous Apothecary? Two great artists and one hoping to overcome the faces from the past revelations and honoring the art stolen from a young boy who dared to be different like him. Differences and not adhering to the norm would ostracize someone.

Author Mary Martin creates a plot that has a huge amount of research based on many philosophies and brings together the different art mediums that make both Rinaldo and Alex’s art so unique. But, as Rinaldo explores his past and we understand his revelations is he mad, he is insane or just revisiting events that might make the present more lucid for him?

Imagine taking the world and creating a hologram that focuses on real life events, using actors to recreate situations and then someone thinking they are in the past and they are experiencing the events firsthand. Time slip, imaginary or real?

Hidden beneath the veneer of a doctor is Dr. Jeffers who wants to use this virtual reality tool on the patients and electroshock therapy on Rinaldo and others. Creativity would be gone, blank slates left and their art never to be shared. Lies unfold, greed is at the core, an investigation of the hospital and those in charge reveals shocking evidence of what Jeffers and others have planned. Alex fears for his friend and the maze of events that evolves might actually lead to a collaboration that will be more than memorable if Rinaldo is cleared of the charges against him, he speaks for the state and then learning what is behind what he sees in the cellar.

A startling revelation, a pact and collaboration that might shake up the art world as Alexander Wainwright and Rinaldo enter a new realm of creativity each able to explore their own conceptual or traditional art in a way that will stun audiences, have audiences wanting more and a startling beginning of what might lead to more than their creation and collaboration leading to their own version of The Wondrous Apothecary.

Fran Lewis: Just reviews