Pieces of Light

by Adam Thorpe

A fascinating fictional investigation into the resonance of the past, both personal and ancient. Hugh Arkwright's remote childhood in the Central African bush, and its sudden disruption, leaves him with a legacy of magic, mystery, and tragic loss. Late in his life, he returns to the gaunt house in Ulverton where he was brought up by his eccentric uncle, and finds that the old ghosts still walk. The more he excavates his own past, the deeper he finds the traces of ancient horrors. The autumnal air of Ulverton begins to take on the taint of corruption, and a mystery starts that ends with vengeance, murder and a sudden, staggering revelation. The mild English manners of the village of darkness beneath the heart of oak. PIECES OF LIGHT is a modern novel steeped in a resonant past; where rural England and colonial Africa collide. Densely wrought and vividly imagined, Adam Thorpe's return to Ulverton is a fictional triumph - thrilling and unforgettable.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Africa, British Literature

478 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Adam Thorpe is a British poet, novelist, and playwright whose works also include short stories and radio dramas.

Adam Thorpe was born in Paris and grew up in India, Cameroon, and England. Graduating from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1979, he founded a touring theatre company, then settled in London to teach drama and English literature.

His first collection of poetry, Mornings in the Baltic (1988), was shortlisted for the Whitbread Poetry Award. His first novel, Ulverton (1992), an episodic work covering 350 years of English rural history, won great critical acclaim worldwide, including that of novelist John Fowles, who reviewed it in The Guardian, calling it "(...) the most interesting first novel I have read these last years". The novel was awarded the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize for 1992.

Adam Thorpe lives in France with his wife and three children.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Delphine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is often described as a sequel to Thorpe's masterpiece Ulverton , but except for (part of) the location, the novels have but very little in common.

Set partly in colonial Africa, part in Englands Ulverton, Pieces of light traces the life of Hugh Arkwright, a well-known director of Shakespeare's plays with a keen focus on authentic dramatisation and roleplaying. Raised in black Africa, amidst fetishes, leopard men and sacrifices, we soon learn that Hugh's life was shattered by three key events: the disappearance (and ghosting) of his beloved mother, the betrayal of his girlfriend Rachael (who ended up marrying his uncle) and a final, shattering discovery, made in the attic of his uncle's home in Ulverton.

Adam Thorpe is a master wordsmith, but unfortunately this novel sags under the weight of description and the multitude of Hugh's impressions and assocations. This was particularly the case in the parts set in Africa, which lack narrative drive. I enjoyed the episodes about Hugh's courtship with Rachael and the murder mystery back in Ulverton, though. Overall, not Thorpe's best novel.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why this novel has attracted such, bar one, unenthusiastic reviews. Thorpe is an author I discovered by accident and was, and am, overwhelmed by the power of his prose. I do believe he is great writer. He is challenging but I never for a moment have thought to turn away from this novel. It is rich and satisfying on so many levels. Read the publisher's synopsis to discover what it is about and then crack the cover and discover a reading experience that is unique and unforgettable.

[Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised there are no positive reviews of this book here. Unfortunately it is a long time since I read it, so I can't really remember what impressed me, but I know that I found it very absorbing and enjoyable.

[Peter McGinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is well written if perhaps, to my mind, overdone. I mean, it goes on and on. I suppose my problem was I never really connected with the narrator, either as a child or an old man. And considering how much time you spend with his thoughts, opinions, memories and deeds, connecting with him is rather essential. Didn’t happen for me. I did want to know what the staggering revelation was that the story was leading up to, figuring it couldn’t be the rather mundane reveal I had imagined, but it turned out it was what I imagined, so that made it rather anticlimactic for me.

[Notcathy J · Rating 3 out of 5]

"had to read the whole book twice. Not exactly sure it was worth it, but at least interesting."

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody conveys a sense of place better than Adam Thorpe

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with Ulveston, my stamina began to wane around three-quarters through this book, sagging under the massive weight of description which even Adam Thorpe's writing cannot, for me, mitigate. The one mystery that drives the narrative I did not correctly guess and thought it would have had more impact were the book some 150 pages shorter.

[Christine Covil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was gripped by the first few chapters – Hugh’s early childhood in the Cameroon beginning with the gorilla incident – his transplantation to pre-war England at the age of seven to the home of his eccentric uncle who is obsessed with the wildwood and paganism – the leopard society which carries out human sacrifice – but between pages 139 – 417 where Hugh goes through the war, gets into acting, becomes a director and goes insane, I lost the sense of adventure and discovery.

Adam Thorpe is an excellent writer but somehow I felt the story wasn't really acted out.

[Kirsty Archer-Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to agree with other reviewers.The author is a real wordsmith and the first quarter of Pieces of Light is really engaging.Hugh's breakdown really slows the pace and makes the act of reading this book a little cumbersome.The whodunnit element also seemed utterly bizarre, as did most of Ulverton's inhabitants!Fizzled out rather unceremoniously with an ending you can see coming from a mile off!

[Commander Law · Rating 1 out of 5]

I seldom leave a book once I start it, however. This started well with the early years, but I ground through part two to page 171 and gave up. I just wasn't interested enough to find out what happened to whom and to confirm my suspicions. It may also be that I was given the book when I had nothing else to read and now have books of my choice waiting.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull and slow. Couldn't finish it but read the ending and was right about the parentage issue. Too depressing.

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started brilliantly , very laboured middled and finished well. Not recommended.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off with lots of promise, but got bogged down through the middle and only picked up steam near the end. Even then, the ending was not as cut and dried as one would hope.

[Catrien Deys · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too confusing for my taste, or I just didn't get it.

[Katie Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the first bit, even commented to a book club group that it was astounding writing, but utterly disenchanted by the rest.