This is a story of the rise of Andrew Bevel, an American tycoon who plays, even manipulates, the financial markets through the early twentieth century to make his fortune, and about his wife Mildred. He is driven by ambition and is reclusive. She is similarly self-sufficient but active in supporting philanthropic and cultural causes, until she dies relatively early. The twist is that the tale is told in four versions.
The first is in the form of a novel in which an author, Harold Vanner, presents a thinly disguised fictional portrait of the tycoon and his wife. The second is Andrew Bevil’s incomplete attempt at autobiography, penned in response to Vanner’s novel, presenting the ‘real’ story of his business success and his relationship with his wife.
The third part is an historic account by Ida Partenza of how she was recruited by Bevil to turn his dictated ramblings into readable prose augmented as necessary to ‘fill out’ Mildred’s personality. Finally, Mildred’s own voice, in the form of recently discovered notebooks, is transcribed to give her version, shedding light on a hidden aspect of her life with Bevil.
An interesting concept and structure, but in truth only Ida Partenza’s contribution satisfies as a novel, providing characterisation and dramatic tension; the other sections are rather dull.
But what else to
expect from a winner of one of the heavyweight prizes, be it Booker, or as in
this case, Pulitzer. Will I ever learn?
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