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Another Man
In this unusual psychological novel (Leslie Croxford's third), a melancholy English academic who has lost too many years in dim libraries and basement archives, journeys to a pueblo on the southern Spanish coast to celebrate the publication of his first book.
Haunted by a sense of inner emptiness, Frank Ward struggles to reconcile with his tormented past. He is aided in this by a series of intense encounters, as well as by an unexpected plunge into researching the life of so-called "good Nazi", Albert Speer – whose traumatised former driver had sought refuge in the village after spending the post-war years as a Russian prisoner of war.
Speer and his driver, though deceased, continue to influence attitudes and events in the pueblo. They do this in ways that become more and more concrete as Frank develops ties with several of the locals – including the cheerful owner of his pensión; a malevolent archaeologist; an Argentine pianist and his estranged wife ... and Paloma, the latter's captivating daughter with whom Frank discovers he shares a shattering emotional loss.
Another Man is a carefully braided story of emotional wounding, regret, innocence and experience, unfinished business and the long journey to free one's true self from the constraints of doubt, pain and fear.
Haunted by a sense of inner emptiness, Frank Ward struggles to reconcile with his tormented past. He is aided in this by a series of intense encounters, as well as by an unexpected plunge into researching the life of so-called "good Nazi", Albert Speer – whose traumatised former driver had sought refuge in the village after spending the post-war years as a Russian prisoner of war.
Speer and his driver, though deceased, continue to influence attitudes and events in the pueblo. They do this in ways that become more and more concrete as Frank develops ties with several of the locals – including the cheerful owner of his pensión; a malevolent archaeologist; an Argentine pianist and his estranged wife ... and Paloma, the latter's captivating daughter with whom Frank discovers he shares a shattering emotional loss.
Another Man is a carefully braided story of emotional wounding, regret, innocence and experience, unfinished business and the long journey to free one's true self from the constraints of doubt, pain and fear.
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 31, 2021
I was initially fascinated by this atmospheric mystery about an English academic researching a prominent Nazi in southern Spain. However, I found the misogyny distracting. Most, if not all the female characters are objectified by the male protagonist. We have his frequent commentary on women’s voluptuousness (or lack of), how low cut their dresses are, his detailed assessment whether or not they are wearing anything underneath and a crude evaluation of whether he is attracted to them. One of the sexy characters has “thick peasant calves”, but her bright, academic daughter looks dull and uncurvy and he finds her unattractive (to put it politely). I’m trying to paraphrase and describe this in a way that doesn’t make me cringe, but really, the male gaze in this book bothered me. Most women can say we’ve been sexually harassed and objectified (many times) and it’s disappointing to read such attitudes in a new publication😔 I widely read and enjoy many great books by male authors with male protagonists, and I’m not prudish about love scenes but please, male writers: don’t reduce women to objects!
April 6, 2021
Poetic exploration of both personal and social history. Wonderful imagery of Spanish summers read through a nostalgic gaze.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews