Barry Unsworth (1930–2012)

To finish my author A-Z of 2017, I powered through this, Barry Unsworth’s ‘Morality Play’ to finish the challenge with hours to spare. Luckily, it was an entertaining book which made finishing it quickly a pleasurable experience.

It tells the tale of a renegade clergyman who having wandered out of his diocese and sleeping with a woman, adjoins himself to a wandering band of actors living hand to mouth during the dark ages. With one of their ensemble recently deceased, they take in the minister and head to a nearby town to try and bury their late companion. And it is within this village that they become embroiled in the tragic deaths of young boys under suspicious circumstances. Carried on a macabre and judicious wave of artistic furore the company decide to take the hitherto step of ditching their biblical enactments to instead perform an impromptu play of the most recent murder when, after gathering evidence from various town sources, they stumble upon a suspicious verdict as to who the town believe commits the crime: the boy’s deaf mother, no less.

Part philosophical treatise on ‘the roles we play’, part mystery, part historical, medieval narrative, this short novel offers substantial intrigue and ideas about medieval life and what it is to portray oneself and others. It’s an engaging, fast-paced novel that transports you to a time of a brutal and primitive England, where the finesse and talents of artists and artisans exist precariously amidst the oppressive royal and religious regimes. 3/5
… (lisätietoja)

I hadn't read much (if any) historical fiction until encountering Barry Unsworth‘s work. Although I wouldn't say it is a genre I'm too enthused about, a sincere doff of the cap is in order to authors like Unsworth who can migrate the seas of time to present a seemingly vibrant and 'real' narrative of the particular era in which they anchor their story. In this case, we are transported to Liverpool in the 1700s and more broadly the world when slavery was rife and prosperous. A struggling businessman and his son decide to risk failing profits in launching their very own freshly constructed slaver in the hope of plundering hefty rewards on the seas. Complete with illicitly acquired crewmen, a wily, nefarious Captain and their distant, heretic cousin on board, the Kemp's fortune takes its maiden voyage across the seas to Africa in pursuit of the 'Sacred Hunger' that being the profit such mean seek to feast on. The book is in part (but by no means primarily) an account of life on a slaver; the fetid conditions, brutal treatment and precarious existence of master and slave are harrowing. Unsworth's prose is stark and hard hitting; he pulls no punches. Parallel to this, we are told the story of the Merchant's son as he endeavours to win the affections of a young daughter of another local businessman. Sadly, his tale is less well crafted and clunky which adds further disappointment due to the fact both strands come together as the book progresses. Unsworth writes well but I feel he misses a certain something to truly engage me and feel for his characters. This is another 3/5 but unlike ‘Morality Play’ I became a little disinterested in parts and so took a long time to finish it. A readable book but falls short of an unforgettable tale.… (lisätietoja)

Thurston is a young man working as a procurer of entertainments for the King of Sicily under the direction of a Moslem man who he feels much respect for. Sicily has a diverse culture with Moslem, Eastern Christians, and Catholics living together in relative peace. However, due to the failed crusade of the French King relations between the Christians and Moslems have become tense.

Thurstan's boss is aware of the increased feelings against him among those surrounding the King. The plot thickens as Thurstan is sent on a mysterious mission supposedly to uncover plots against the King. He meets a woman recently widowed whom he knew and loved as a young man; they swear their love to each other and Thurstan finds himself seemingly "climbing the ladder" to higher positions. However, he has been cruelly tricked as he is forced later to betray his employer.

The ruby in her navel refers to a group of musicians and belly dances who he finds on his mission. Nesrin is a beautiful belly dancer who he is attracted to in spite of his love for the first women.

I enjoyed almost all of the book; however, as the workings of the plot began to unfold it was hard to sort through (probably because I was just tired of reading). Still liked the writing and particularly the setting. Good author.

A lot of the tension between Moslem and Christianity demonstrates that things haven't changed and the quest for power and access to power remains just as strong as ever.… (lisätietoja)