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johnson
Whatever happened to the hero of Man Alone?
The hero of John Mulgan's Man Alone, often regarded as New Zealand's first great novel, continues his drift through life, caught up now in the midnight of the twentieth century, fighting in the Spanish Civil War and the disastrous Greek campaign of 1941, in the even more disastrous defence of Crete, then behind enemy lines in the mountains in a war thick with duplicities. Finally he comes back to New Zealand to an industrial war, a solitary figure - but in his heart, no longer alone.
The hero of John Mulgan's Man Alone, often regarded as New Zealand's first great novel, continues his drift through life, caught up now in the midnight of the twentieth century, fighting in the Spanish Civil War and the disastrous Greek campaign of 1941, in the even more disastrous defence of Crete, then behind enemy lines in the mountains in a war thick with duplicities. Finally he comes back to New Zealand to an industrial war, a solitary figure - but in his heart, no longer alone.
339 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 11, 2018
An entertaining and action-filled sequel to John Mulgan's "Man Alone", tracking Johnson's progress through the Spanish Civil War, WWII in Greece, Crete, and Egypt, and then back to post-War New Zealand. (Actually, the books overlap slightly, as Mulgan's narrator refers to Johnson having been at the battle of Jarama, action which the new book depicts.) Parker reprises similar themes and issues to the original, some of the same romantic quandries even, to often thoughtful effect. The narrative has a powerful forward drive.
The period flavour is authentically conveyed, too, including the obscenity-laden speech which is absent from "Man Alone". But there are a few anachronisms and historical errors (e.g., there is reference to the massacre of the Pinerolo Division of the Italian Army - does the author mean the Acqui Division?). More problematic are the attempted meta-fictional elements, such as Johnson encountering Mulgan himself in Greece. It's a great idea. But this meeting is seemingly their first, so how could Mulgan have already written up Johnson's earlier life in "Man Alone" (published 1939)? And wouldn't this book have therefore been part of the fictional universe of "Johnson"? This aspect didn't seem so well handled to me.
The period flavour is authentically conveyed, too, including the obscenity-laden speech which is absent from "Man Alone". But there are a few anachronisms and historical errors (e.g., there is reference to the massacre of the Pinerolo Division of the Italian Army - does the author mean the Acqui Division?). More problematic are the attempted meta-fictional elements, such as Johnson encountering Mulgan himself in Greece. It's a great idea. But this meeting is seemingly their first, so how could Mulgan have already written up Johnson's earlier life in "Man Alone" (published 1939)? And wouldn't this book have therefore been part of the fictional universe of "Johnson"? This aspect didn't seem so well handled to me.
December 11, 2017
It feels right.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews