Set in Provence this long book consists of three different stories at three critical periods in European history: the end of the Roman Empire; the Black Death; and WW II. I found the constant switching from one period to the other at times confusing and irritating, yet - like the curate's egg - it was (very) good in parts. It would be difficult to imagine the author surpassing the brilliance of his An Instance of the Fingerpost (bwl 5).
(James Baker - bwl 16 December 2002 ) |
