The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
This week we’re reading
If you’re looking for a form of escapism in the midst of the current chaos, this book is your answer. Polly Samson’s new novel is a literary delight. The narrative takes us back to the 1960s and introduces us to the life of the protagonist, 17-year-old Erica Hart.
After the death of her mother, Erica vows to escape her life in London, where she is under the control of her abusive father.
She ends up in a “foreign colony” on the Greek island of Hydras, where she becomes involved with a multitude of different bohemian personalities. The artistic community is spearheaded by married writers George and Charmain, a highly dysfunctional couple who reflect the complexities involved with the bohemian lifestyle that became prominent in 1960s’ cultures.
We are also introduced to Marianne and Leonard, and the subplot is comprised of their story, which is entwined with our protagonist’s in a novel that places a significant emphasis on human relations.
In this compelling and evocative narrative, Samson’s prose is almost lyrical as it flawlessly synthesises each fragment of the narrative.
Samson presents the reader with an idealised utopia, which seems full of possibilities, and then reveals the darker and complex issues that infiltrate even the most liberal of societies.
Samson’s background research into the social conditions surrounding this significant cultural moment is impressive. Gender is a key concept within this narrative, and the author gives her reader a realistic insight into the difficulties faced by the women in the community.
The author highlights how women functioned as instruments for men’s pleasure and advantage, particularly for the bohemian elite in Hydra. This subservience to men has a hindering effect on the creativity of the women, even within the perceived ‘freedom’ of bohemian communities.
As Erica reflects on the 1960s, the tragic outcome she recalls further serves to highlight the (some might argue inevitable) outcome facing those who participated within the hedonistic, bohemian lifestyle that flourished at this time.
Despite the serious issues being raised, I relished the opportunity to escape to the island of Hydra and explore its eccentric inhabitants – the perfect way to escape from reality for a while!
Review by Hollie Bruce 9/10