Something To Answer For (1969)
Who wrote it?
P. H. Newby (1918-97; active 1945-95), born East Sussex, England. As well as a prolific author, he was controller of BBC Radio 3 and later BBC Radio as a whole.
What's it about?
An Englishman (or perhaps an Irishman, he's not quite sure) called Townrow heads to Port Said in 1956 to investigate the death of his friend Elie. Early in the novel, he takes a hit to the head, as well as imbibing a fair amount of dubious local liquor, and henceforth becomes an extraordinarily unreliable narrator.
Meanwhile, the Suez crisis happens and Egypt is subject to a brutal British invasion. Events happen that are later revealed not to have happened (or did they?) and Townrow's sense of self and confidence in his country both appear to be in terminal decline.
What I liked
The writing has a captivating flow to it, carrying you along regardless of whether you entirely get what's going on.
Even though it's a novel of shifting realities, it's not a difficult read as such. In fact, what's most disconcerting is almost how it reads very much like a conventional narrative despite very much not being so. What you're reading always feels logicial and internally consistent... until you later realise it never happened. Got that?
The central idea, of Townrow's confusion as representative of a declining British sense of confidence in the wake of Suez, is a really interesting premise that gives the whole thing a bit of an anchor.
Townrow, while irritating (and, let's be honest, downright nasty) at times, is at least a rounded and relatable character, whose massive - and developing - sense of confusion and uncertainty makes him more likeable as the book goes through (away from the straightforwardly self-confident Englishman who won't hear a bad word against the homeland at the start of the book).
Powerful images, in a dreamlike sort of way.
Good "sense of place", as they say.
Raised a wry smile in places, if not an actual laugh.
What I didn't like
Overall, it felt like the Suez / British decline metaphor was overstretched and there weren't many other ideas to support it.
While it was never a chore to read, unreliable narrators can get tiresome after a while, and ultimately you're not entirely sure how much of the 300 page novel you've just read is meant to have "happened." You can go either way - spend hours trying to figure out what's "real", or give up caring and just say "that's not the point" - but ultimately neither is entirely satisfying.
The female characters are pretty thinly sketched and I'm fairly sure it doesn't pass the Bechdel test. Though given that essentially every character is seen through Townrow's rather self-obsessed lens I think it's equal opportunity character weakness in this space.
Food & drink pairings
Cyprus Brandy - if you dare.
Surprisingly nice prison food - "flaps of bread and chunks of soft white cheese"
Mumm N.V. Champagne, in a funeral boat, in inappropriate glassware.
Fun facts
Newby was a profilic author, feted by the likes of Graham Greene. This is my first encounter with his work. I wouldn't rule out checking out one of his other 22 novels, but only on a strong recommendation.
Checking out a lot of them may prove tricky though - most of his novels have been out of print for years, including this one for a surprisingly long period!
This, obviously, was the inaugural Booker winner. Along with the second winner, the prize was given out in the year after publication, before a shift in 1971 (of which more later)
At this point, the Booker was a niche concern. No ceremony; Newby was notified by post, apparently.
Vanquished Foes:
Barry England (Figures in a Landscape)
Nicholas Mosley (The Impossible Object)
Iris Murdoch (The Nice and the Good)
Muriel Spark (The Public Image)
Gordon Williams (From Scenes Like These)
I've read NONE of these. Have you? Should I? Should anything else have been nominated that was written in 1968?
Context
In 1968, when the book was published:
The Prague Spring
Ongoing Vietnam War, including My Lai Massacre and Tet Offensive.
Amendment to the UK Commonwealth Immigrants Act
Premieres of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes
Baader-Meinhof terrorism in Germany
Death of Martin Luther King Jr.
Paris Riots
Nixon becomes US president
Launch of Dad’s Army
The Beatles, The Beatles (The White Album)
Life Lessons
Don't drink Cyprus Brandy
Don't assume that Britain is some infallible paragon of virtue that can do no wrong (even less likely in 2020 than 1968, I suspect)
Don't try to tell a story if you're suffering a severe head injury / permanently pissed / just generally confused
Score
5.5
Ranking to date
Something to Answer For - P. H. Newby (1969) - 5.5
Since I'm going to reread the ones I've already read, I'm choosing not to include them in my ongoing ranking. As such, this one is a no-brainer.
Enjoy your reign, P.H., I'm not sure it will last that long!
Next up
Bernice Rubens' The Elected Member, which looks nice and short and apparently focuses heavily on mental health and silverfish. Larks!
