Conditions of Faith

by Alex Miller

With university behind her, Emily finds herself on the threshold of life. Introduced to a Scottish engineer, the exoticism of his life in Paris beckons, and she leaves her family home in twenties Melbourne to become his wife. But far from providing answers, marriage awakens in her an ardent desire to find a reason for living, a desire which leads her to flirt with risk, passion and unorthodox friendships and carries her to Tunisia, on a journey of self questioning and intellectual reawakening, towards a crossroads in her life.

Genres: Fiction, Australia, Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, France, Novels, Literary Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Alex Miller is one of Australia's best-loved writers, and winner of the Melbourne Prize for Literature 2012.

Alex Miller is twice winner of Australia's premier literary prize, The Miles Franklin Literary Award, first in 1993 for The Ancestor Game and again in 2003 for Journey to the Stone Country. He is also an overall winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, in 1993 for The Ancestor Game. His fifth novel, Conditions of Faith, won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction in the 2001 New South Wales Premier's Awards. In 2011 he won this award a second time with his most recent novel Lovesong. Lovesong also won the People's Choice Award in the NSW Premier's Awards, the Age Book of the Year Award and the Age Fiction Prize for 2011. In 2007 Landscape of Farewell was published to wide critical acclaim and in 2008 won the Chinese Annual Foreign Novels 21st Century Award for Best Novel and the Manning Clark Medal for an outstanding contribution to Australian cultural life. It was also short-listed for the Miles Franklin Award, the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, the ALS Gold Medal and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Alex is published internationally and widely in translation. Autumn Laing is his tenth novel.

Reviews

[Norah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - quite un-put-downable! Award-winning author Alex Miller uses a sensitive touch to explore deep issues of the mind, heart, and spirit in Conditions of Faith, a thoughtful novel about a young Australian woman in the 1920s who longs to discover her purpose for living. After finishing school, 24-year-old Emily Stanton's life is adrift. When Georges Elder, representing his Parisian firm, comes to Melbourne to consult with Emily's father about building a bridge in Sydney Harbor, he is enchanted with Emily and proposes. Emily makes a hasty decision to marry him and leave her family for a new life in Paris. When her decision fails to bring her contentment, she quickly succumbs to a chance affair with a priest, the implications of which reverberate throughout the rest of the story. Miller slowly brings into focus Emily's wrestling with her life--her sexuality, her spirituality, her ability to enter into motherhood wholeheartedly, and her desire to bring to fruition the life of the mind. He sets his tale against the backdrops of Australia, France, and Tunisia, and uses colors, sounds, and fragrances that will astonish the reader with their vividness and clarity. Although Emily's final choices may dismay some readers, her desire to fully embrace her life will resonate with any woman who has ever yearned to discover herself.

[Carinya Kappler · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Conditions of Faith” is a beautifully crafted narrative set in the 1920s in Australia, Europe and sultry mysterious North Africa. Although the story itself is fascinating, well researched, technically convincing, romantic and inviting, I believe it is merely the vehicle driving a much more formidable social and political message.
Within the varied confines of many cultures and both genders lie the boundaries (often unspoken) of ambition, family and racial loyalty, duty and self love.
This book completes an uncomfortable exploration of those eternal struggles suffered by those brilliant but restless spirits who seek self fulfilment regardless of the cost.
When does the end not justify the means? What sacrifice is necessary or forgivable so that one’s life’s ambition can be realised?
The author explores many facets of this bitter struggle to find oneself. He presents a plethora of internal and external battles in an attempt to teach the reader how to view these divisive issues sympathetically through the eyes of the characters involved.
He presents three of his major characters, Emily, Georges and Hakim as crusaders, prisoners of their own longing to conquer new territories. These driven individuals also possess a burning desire to communicate and justify the many sacrifices they have made at their own and others expense. The author uses the parallel of the historical journal of Perpetua bridging time and understanding with the current day journal of Emily to her daughter. He may even be suggesting that this epic daily letter in some way compensates for the daughter’s loss of her mother?
This is a wonderful book – highly recommended.
Carinya

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why are we here? What is our purpose? What do we want to accomplish? These are the questions that a 25 year old woman from Melbourne in Australia tackles in 1923. They are the same questions that we think about today. She has the same complications in her life that many have today. It is a very good novel written really well addressing issues of life. The period in which it is written is interesting and most of it takes place in Paris after the young woman leaves Melbourne. It is her visit to Tunisia that seals her fate.

[Laura Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dark novel. I really thought the main characters were very self-centered so I had a hard time liking them. It's all about doing what you want, not what's best for another.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a 2.5 star book for me. It raised interesting questions, but was tedious in places, a little bit boring overall, and I couldn't really relate to any of the characters.

[Lea Hadley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was OK. It was very slow moving and written with a lot unsaid. Emily was a women in the 1920’s who did not want to slot into the role of wife, mother, etc. She wanted to follow her interest and study -archeology. The story takes place in France and Tunisia. The story unfolded so slowly, with interest, but no pull for me to read with passion. A book I could easily put down.

[Chiuho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story very much. It presents the complication, doubts and emotions, struggles of life with remarkable courages. I think it's well crafted and beautiful written. LIfe goes on, after the book has been closed, the story lingers.

[Happy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading Alex Miller's work and this was no different. It was excellent. Emily, the main character annoyed me as most of Alex's females leading ladies do, always a good sign (for me) of a great story.

[Богиня Книдска · Rating 5 out of 5]

Рядко някой мъж може да разбере дълбочината на женската душевност. В случая обаче Ал. Милър се е справил блестящо в описанието на стремежа към свобода и независимост на Емили. Позадрямалият й интелект е събуден, а паралелът с изследователските й търсения е удачна находка.

[SWC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose the author based upon a review I read for a book by Steven Carroll. Both are Australian. I found that I was confused on how the meeting between Emily and the priest had an affect as the story continued to develop. An entertaining story which contained a diverse range of topics.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

put-upon white woman explores sexuality, becomes messiah figure to exotic people, saves exotic culture

[Sarah Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't empathise with the heroine of this story and the other characters seemed very two-dimensional. The most vivid aspect of the book for me was the weather. Not my cup of tea I guess!

[Lucia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Unlikeable characters & a forgettable book.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plodding, pointless, waste of time.

[Gay Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Alex Miller’s writing. Again he delivered a story with rich characters and a plot and locations that transported me...I was there observing and living with Emily and George and experiencing their story fraught with the problems that marriage can bring between a restless young woman expected to adhere to the conventions of motherhood and a husband 10 years her senior who wants his wife to be happy but finds it hard to understand her drive for independence.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third read of CoF within a span of 1,5 years and once again I couldn't put this book down. The writing is so beautifully prosaic, it pulls you into the story from page 1. Emily is so very relatable in her quest to find herself while trying to navigate the pressures society puts upon her, it's always a joy to reconnect with her.

[Snezhi Dimcheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Първи досег с творчеството на този автор с книгата му "Състояние на вярата".

Чувствителен разказ за живота и търсенията на младата Емили и намирането на пътя към себе си!
Алекс Милър засяга и изследва дълбоки проблеми на сърцето, ума и духа на човешката природа / в случая на Емили/в качеството си на умел познавач на женската природа!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book set in Australia, France and Tunisia in the early 1920’s.
Well written, full to the brim with a great characters, actions on point for the period setting.
The story is simple, the lessons are huge, all told with a minimum of words and lots of space where you fill in the blanks for yourself.
4 stars, now looking for another Alex miller book.

[Jo :: The Country Book Nerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the abridged audio version so it was choppy and at time didn’t make a lot of sense. I would have rather an unabridged version but I couldn’t find one. Reading the book would have been better.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful examination of the choices women make between domestic duties and ambition. I loved reliving the thrill of being a young woman embarking on a great overseas adventure. The little apartment in Paris was so brilliantly described I feel like I've been there.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A novel that explores the issues of changing expectations, motherhood and what it can mean. Societal changes and how they can impact on our actions and our outcomes and what freedom can cost.

[Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than 3 stars, less than 4. Interesting look at an early 20th century woman's life, and her struggle not to let marriage and motherhood wipe out her ambitions. Alex Miller is always a juicy read, philosophically. And I love both the Australia and France settings.

[Bialey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Another captivating novel by Alex Miller.

[Glen Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of Alex Miller, loved it.

[John Agnew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into it, but great writing and a distinctive dilemma.

[Penny]

Wonderful examination of the choices women face between domestic duty and ambition/passion. I loved reliving the thrill of being a young woman leaving Australia for an exotic overseas adventure.

[Sue L G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Syd Harbour Bridge comp. Engineer and new wife, Paris, 1920s?

[Sarah McCallan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read - I found it sometimes a bit melodramatic in its characterisation of the protagonist, and sometimes a bit cliched, but overall a really enjoyable book.

[Bazz Sherwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Miller is one of my all-time favourite authors and I loved Conditions of Faith. A beautifully written account of Emily's anguish as she searches for meaning and fulfilment.

[Donna]

DNF