Tremendous is the
word I keep returning to when trying to describe UK author Rose Tremain’s
twelfth novel Merivel A Man Of His Time.
Tremain is one of
the more versatile of today’s writers, moving between contemporary and
historical fiction with ease, undaunted by the prospect of striking out and
trying something new. But with this latest book she’s done a curious thing and
gone backwards, producing a follow up to a novel that was published more than
20 years ago.
Restoration is probably her best-known work (it was made into a
movie starring Robert Downey Jnr and Hugh Grant in the mid-nineties), but after
such a lapse of time who could recall more than its barest details? And why has
Tremain waited so long to provide us with a sequel?
Set in 17th
century England, Restoration was the
tale of the misadventures of physician Robert Merivel as he fell in and out of
favour with King Charles II. Now we meet him again later in life, an older man
but not necessarily any wiser. Plagued by melancholy, surrounded by aged
retainers, as self-centred, roguish and endearing as ever, we find him at his
country estate, wearing out his handkerchiefs with sudden storms of tears as he
looks back over his life.
In his
mid-fifties, Merivel has reached a point where some of those he loves have died
and others – like his daughter Margaret – are on the cusp of leaving him. The
bright hope of the Restoration has long since dulled and he is struggling to
find a purpose in his existence.
To reinvigorate
himself Merivel resolves to travel to the French Court in Versailles. His time
there turns out to be far less glittering than he had imagined but he does meet
lonely and sexually voracious Louise de Flamanville who is trapped into a
loveless marriage with a gay Swiss Guard and appears to offer a perfect
prospect for his future.
However, nothing
is so uncomplicated in this picaresque adventure. Merivel returns from France
(along with a rescued bear), faces losing his daughter to a life-threatening
illness, sees the decline of an old lover and his beloved King, is challenged
to a duel and slowly becomes a wiser man although no less vain.
And now I
understand why Tremain did not attempt a sequel to Restoration any sooner. She had to wait until she understood how it
was to grow older before she knew what Merivel would become.
Equal parts
vainglorious and ridiculous; his character is a delight. While Tremain
references and reflects details of his past I don’t think it is imperative to
have read or to remember Restoration
to enjoy the second part of his life story. It operates perfectly well as a
standalone book.
And yes it was
worth waiting for this is a brilliant piece of writing; exuberant and
melancholy, comic and soulful. It is definitely the most compelling and
entertaining fiction I’ve read so far this year. Tremendous!
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