Restoration

Rose Tremain

Gavin felt that the beginning of 'Restoration' was extremely successful. The book is written in the first person following the exploits of a bawdy young man living in the time of the Restoration of Charles II in London. Despite being a male perspective written by a female writer the voice was convincing as this male character whored his way through life. The book also dealt with the fact that the this character was a student of medicine who realises that he is becoming obsessed by his studies. Gavin described how at one point in the book the character mentally dissects his father-in-law's eye during a musical recital. As the book progresses it deals with the rise and then the fall of this character finally moving on to the 'restoration' of this character from his fallen state. Gavin felt that this was less successful. The book ends on a strangely diffuse note which unfortunately meant that he could not recommend it particularly highly.
Gavin 26/4/98

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