Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (novel) edit
Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a novel written by Darragh Feehely in 2013. It once again focuses on the story of Sweeney Todd, an English barber turned serial killer. Despite it's name, the story is completely original and has no relationship to the musical or original penny dreadfuls.
Plot edit
The story is set in 1881. Martin Fontaine, the son of wealthy aristocrat Lucien Fontaine, is lurking about the market in the streets of London. He is pickpocketed by Charlie, a young orphan who Martin then chases and eventually catches. Martin takes Charlie back to his home, feeds him and clothes him.
Meanwhile, Sweeney Todd, a humble barber is just after finishing an appointment with a client. He gives Mrs Lovett, his landlady some money to go down to the market and buy something for herself. While she is gone, Todd experiences a panic attack caused by post traumatic stress disorder due to his experiences in the Second Anglo - Afghan War. Following the attack, he is visited by a young Irishman who claims he knows the real Sweeney Todd.
At Old Bailey, Judge Theobald Turpin has passed the sentence on an orphan boy to allow him to hang by the neck until dead. Inspector Baxter approaches Turpin after the court and asks whether they had the correct person to pass the sentence on. Turpin claims that justice is the only comforter to grief. Baxter then pleads the boy to be released, despite Turpin's refusal. Later, he concieves a plot to release the boy of his own accord.
Martin Fontaine has the orphan Charlie at his home where he tells him of his time spent at the orphanage and the cruel headmistress. Martin's father Lucien later returns and shows great discomfort at the presence of