His Bloody Project – Graeme Macrae Burnet

The novel is presented as ‘Documents relating to the Case of Roderick Macrae’ dated 1869. The case is one of murder. The documents are: first, some statements of witnesses to the crime; second, the perpetrator’s own extensive written account of events; third, medical reports on the victims; fourth, an extract from the memoir of the prison service doctor, a self-professed expert in criminal anthropology; and finally, a compilation of newspaper reports on the trial.

The brief witness statements tell of a violent murder in the Highland village of Culdie, committed by seventeen-year-old crofter Roderick Macrae. Quickly apprehended, Roddy uses his time in gaol awaiting trial to pen at length his version of how events unfolded and led him down the path of his bloody project. The medical reports deal quickly with the post-mortem examinations, and at more length with the murderer’s state of mind. This is his only defence – temporary insanity - and the trial reports show how that goes.

The format works very well. The prose while reflecting 19^th century dialect and phraseology, is never difficult to read and moves at a modern-day pace. Rural highland life is vividly portrayed, and the complex character of Roddy Macrae emerges gradually through his narrative. But does his account tell the truth? Does it accord with the evidence?

It is an engaging, engrossing even, read; and though there is no dispute whodunnit, the whys and wherefores maintain interest to the end. An unusual, clever, and moving piece of fiction that reads as anything but.

The Silence of the Girls – Pat Barker

Troy has not yet fallen. But one of its satellite cities, Lyrnessus, has with predictable consequences. The women are taken as booty, divvied up among the conquering heroes, who have slaughtered their fathers, brothers, and male children in front of their eyes. The high-born, young, and beautiful go to the chiefs, the rest are left to the mercies of the rank and file.

Briseis, an attractive nineteen-year-old princess, is ‘awarded’ to Achilles in recognition of his prowess in battle. Chryseis, the fifteen-tear-old daughter of a priest of Apollo, is taken by Agamemnon, the king of kings. Others – lets name them, Uza, Hecamede, Iphis, Tecmessa – end up with the likes of Odysseus, Nestor, Patroclus, and Ajax.

It is Briseis who carries the narrative forward. She is used, no more than that, by Achilles, who reserves any emotional attachment for his close friend, Patroclus. It is only the latter who makes Briseis’ new life tolerable by treating her as a person rather than as a possession.

Life in camp is vividly portrayed - battles, feasts, rivalries, funeral games. All great fun until the rats come, carrying plague. Turns out that kidnapping the daughter of a priest of Apollo was not a great idea. Agamemnon has to make amends, return Chryseis to her father. He demands Briseis as a replacement. Achilles rages, complies, sulks, and withdraws from the fight. Disaster! The siege falters. And it is all the fault of Briseis. As she says, it’s like blaming the bone for a dogfight.

The focus on the life of the women behind the battle lines is insightful. Their choices – endurance, acceptance, embracement – in respect of their captors / clients / partners, is subtly explored. Even so, there is plenty of battle noise, blood, gore, death, and burials to keep it in context. And there is a moving climax, despite leaving things open enough to lead into the sequel.

Pat Barker is a fine writer and here gives a memorable voice to at least one of the girls previously silent. Roll on book two!

Zoo Quest to Guyana – David Attenborough

A topical, given the great man’s recent centenary, choice from the reading group, but at the same time a historic curiosity first published in 1956. In that decade, the Zoo Quest books (and TV series) covered expeditions to both film and capture animals from the wilds of Africa, Asia, and South America. This particular jaunt was to Guyana (though then called British Guiana), and this version of the book is in an abridgement contained in a 2017 compilation under the title, Adventures of a Young Naturalist.

The introduction places the Zoo Quests in their historic context as well as giving background to how a young TV producer with an unused zoology degree got his start in natural history broadcasting. And we know where that led.

As for the expedition, what comes through is its off the cuff nature. Get a plane here, hitch a ride on a passing boat there, rock up at a native village and bunk down in a spare hut. Catch a caiman (small alligator) with bare hands and stuff it into a sack; knock up a cage from an old packing case for an anteater; haul a manatee out of the creek and sling it onto the back of a truck. All done by a crew of three – Attenborough, a cameraman, and a seconded zookeeper.

Their adventures are told succinctly, with boyish enthusiasm and an easy charm that has become his trademark over the years. But my historic curiosity satisfied, I passed on the other two quests in the volume, to Indonesia and Paraguay.