MOUNTOLIVE

by Lawrence Durrell ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 23, 1959

The third in Durrell's tetralogy, set in Alexandria in the 1930's and already preceded by the fascinating Justine and Balthazar, this is the most exciting from the plot point of view (actually, the others had no plots). Mountolive is British Ambassador to Egypt and it is through his eyes and the eyes of various of his friends, both British and Egyptian, that we are shown the actual facts of the political and religious intrigue that has been motivating the Hosnani family -- toward which Balthazar and the ""author"" of Justine have been groping. This novel stands well by itself as a good and exceptionally well written book, contrasting the elemental with the suave in a situation with international implications. It should be a much easier book for the general public than the earlier ones, and much more popular (it's the book-of-the -Month Club selection for April). In relation to the other two books, however, it is far less dazzling in style; using a more naturalistic, conventional narrative form to relate the ""facts"" and ""realities"" of the case, it sacrifices the extraordinarily effective impressionistic technique; and in its final meaning, though essential to the tetralogy, it is more superficial- as facts often are. All of this is, I am sure, completely intentional on Durrell's part and is a conscious step in his overall plan. As it now stands, the work is an impressive, exacting and exciting study of the many faces of truth, with the varieties of love as a major secondary theme against which to test the first.

Pub Date: March 23, 1959

ISBN: 0140153209

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1959

Categories: FICTION