the antipodeans - a novelGreg McGee
Upstart Press - 352 pages - $37.99
Seldom am I so affected and moved by a work of fiction as I was by this new novel from Greg McGee. Best known for his screen and play writing (Foreskin's Lament) and his Alix Bosco crime novels this new novel, a mix of historical & fictional characters and events, takes him to a whole new literary level.
Spanning three generations of New Zealand and Italian families it is vast in its scope and richly peopled with characters of depth & complexity starting with an aging, ailing New Zealand lawyer who returns to Venice in 2014, with his adult daughter to trace his father's Italian Word War 2 friends. The novel then skilfully moves back and forth between 1943-45, 1976 and 2014.
A big powerful, emotional novel, both love story and war story, that will stay with me for a very long time.Stunning. My congratulations to the author on his very fine achievement.
Footnote:
Author talking to Wallace Chapman on Radio NZ National yesterday.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201762065
And a review in The Saturday Herald's Canvas magazine
I am picking this novel is going to gain a lot of attention.
1 comment:
Got me convinced. On the buy list.
Still got to pick up the Gee bio, plus Coddington's Te Muna ... book budget is hurting.
Post a Comment