Jon Thurley

This is the third Jon Thurley novel I have read (his first) and is the one I have most enjoyed. It is flawed in ways I don't propose to analyse in detail here, but I found it erudite, captivating and evocative. I enjoyed his portrayal of the three principal locations, India, privileged upper middle class England and Egypt. The novel must be autobiographical to some extent, which enriches it, but also contributes to its flaws (amongst them a certain random disjointedness). From the perspective of a woman reader, it is clear from all of Thurley's novels that he has issues with his relationships with women - they are either idealised sex objects or wicked hags. In both manifestations, he fears their power. Unlike someone like Trollope, there is no scope for empathy or affection towards them in all stages of life. I forgive him though, because it was an entertaining read.… (altro)