The Romantic: The Real Life of Cashel Greville Ross: a Novel by William Boyd
This historical fiction novel is based on a real person, Cashel Greville Ross. Boyd came into possession of Ross's papers which included an unfinished, and confusing, autobiography that was made up of a collection of handwritten memories. Also in the papers were collections of letters received and drafts of letters sent out, drawings, maps, plans, photographs, published books with notes in the margins, paintings, other small pieces of art, and some objects. Boyd found the collection intriguing and began to do research on the man and his times. He eventually decided to take the fragments he had and build it into a full life story by making it fiction.
I liked the quotes that he included at the beginning of chapters, as well as the two that he began the book with: "A man's life of any worth is a continual allegory -- and very few eyes can see the mystery" by John Keats and "A novel is a mirror, taking a walk down a big road" by Stendal. These two together give a sense of Boyd's approach to this book.
Ross was an interesting man who led an interesting life. His first memories were of early childhood in County Cork, Ireland, where he lived with his aunt Elspeth, a Scottish governess to the local gentry, the Stillwell family. The two then moved to Oxford and his adventures began from leaving home abruptly, to fighting at the Battle of Waterloo, going to East Asia as part of the army, socializing with Lord Byron and the Shelleys, falling in love in Italy, writing and publishing books, emigrating to America and becoming a farmer, and looking for the source of the Nile in Africa.
As his life unfolds, we see clearly his motivations, his attachments, and his luck as they affect his life and the myriad places it takes him. This is a fascinating fictional biography and one that flows beautifully for the reader.
No comments:
Post a Comment