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The Indies Enterprise by Eric Orsenna (view source)
Revision as of 10:46, 3 January 2012
, 10:46, 3 January 2012no edit summary
Orsenna is massively accomplished, a politician of national standing and the author of some 27 works and the winner of two international prizes for fiction. And this book demonstrates why. It is not at all predictable, fascinating in its historical detail, carefully controlled and inventive in the creation of the character of Bartholomew. At least a part of the total effect of this work relies upon the shock of the ending, so I cannot give too much away, but ultimately this account of how ideals and youthful ambition are used could rank as one of the classics of European literature.
For a novel which uses the same approach to technical and historical detail, it is hard not recommend [[Corsair by Tim Severin]] which, while more of a 'tale of daring derring do', does spend much of its energy upon recreating the detail of seafaring in the seventeenth century.
The aspect of technical detail and background of the skilled craftsman is a favorite theme of historical novelists, and a work which deals in this way with magnificently with a complete unknown artist (as opposed to the famous Columbus family) is [The Master of Bruges by Terence Morgan]].