Quote:
Originally Posted by bfisher
Everything I've read about Banville's writing is that it's all about adjectives and adverbs.  That fits what I've read so far.
It's supposed to be based roughly on Anthony Blunt and the Cambridge Five, so probably no surprises coming in terms of where the plot is heading. |
I'm 25% complete and enjoying it so far. It is a little slow-going as fantasyfan says. Maybe because of the introspective journaling narration. I was expecting a more plot-based linear narrative. Banville has been on my TBR list for awhile. Yes, lots of adjectives! I wondered if the prose was typical of Banville's writing or if it was in-character for the art critic.
I don't know much about the historical basis. I bought
Cambridge Spies, a 2003 BBC dramatization. The DVD special features include a 45 minute documentary "Great Spy Stories of the Twentieth Century: The Cambridge Spies" as well as "A Cambridge Spies Historical Scrapbook" (a collection of rare interviews, news clips and other footage featuring the real Cambridge Spies). I don't plan to watch the videos until after I finish the book.