904. The Untouchable

The Untouchable
John Banville
1997
Around 370 pages

I really like John Banville, although so far I've been unsuccessful in getting anybody in my life into this author. Oh well, maybe I'll have better luck pushing Julian Barnes on my unsuspecting loved ones. 

Basically, this novel is a roman a clef from the point of view of Victor Maskell, an art historian and double agent based on Anthony Blunt. Banville said that the motivation to write the book came from seeing Blunt smile to himself when not aware of being on camera, just before giving a press conference following the announcement by Margaret Thatcher of his role as a Soviet spy. Inspiration comes from the unlikeliest sources.

Even if you don't click with the character of Victor, Banville's prose is always easy and flowing, and can make deeply flawed characters much more bearable than they have any right to be. Personally, I was much more interested in Victor's sexuality before homosexuality was decriminalized than I was in his dealings with the Soviet Union. 

So in the end, the novel feels like if Evelyn Waugh wrote The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The book was added to The New York Times Notable Books list and the Library Journal Best Books list for 1997. 

UP NEXT: American Pastoral by Philip Roth