Once again, Unsworth delivers a wonderful synopsis of Western optimism, artsy idealism, against the backdrop of Italian government by examining the mostly American and English expatriots situated along a small road in Umbria. Each inhabitant is perfectly drawn, from the rude, bottom-line banker with a pendantic, artsy wife to the gay couple of a much older ex-race car driver and his beautiful young, uneducated lover, to the sweet American couple with Guiless Victims practically tatooed on their forehead. At first, it was a bit of an unhappy read because they were all so outmatched by the country, as epitomized by some rude local inhabitants trying to extort money for a road, but then a deux ex machina in the personage of an Italian lawyer who is most interested in creating a beautiful answer to the problems they are experiencing. Another great character is that of the evil Englishman Blemish and his dull cheerleader wife, who care not that they destroy others' hopes and dreams with their contractor management scheme as long as they can get some money from them for their "cotto" tiles to fulfill their dreams of opening a medieval restaurant.
A deeply cynical novel. I found it difficult to read at first since it seemed that it was going to be one of those books where only bad things happen to good people. I would have given the book a 2 if I had continued to feel that way. But the book improved and since I felt the second half was worth a 4, I averaged it out. Bad things do happen to good people. But it seemed to me in the first half, that there was a gleefulness on the part of the author in the way people were tricked and manipulated that was distasteful. This feeling diminished. And I loved some of the characters like the retired Greens--still in love and looking forward to seeing the Verrocchio's Baptism of Christ (the reproduction of which has followed them through their life together). Ritter-struggling with his knowledge of his father's treachery during the war and his own unknowing role in the fate of his best friend and his friend's mother.
Do You like book After Hannibal (1998)?
I was hooked from thefirst sentence - "They are called strade vicinali, neighborhood roads. They are not intended to join places, only to give access to scattered houses...there are thousands of miles of them wandering over the face of rural Italy" As my friend who lent me the book knew I would be, I was instantly back in Tuscany - sans GPS, and lost. An elegantly written, tragic/comic opera kind of book, and a real departure from the only other book of Unger's I have read - Sacred Hunger. Loved that one too.
—Betty
