Book Reviews -D

De Bernieres, Louis

Tile of Book :Captain Corelli's mandolin
Reviewed by : Neil Frances Reference Librarian
Category :
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From time to time one comes across a book which engenders a complete indifference to the fact that there is nothing worth watching on television. Captain Corelli's Mandolin is just such a book. Here we have a quite substantial novel presented in an unusual format which really comes off to enhance a well thought out tale.

The book is divided into over seventy short chapters, some as few as three pages, with each one pertaining to a specific character's actions at the time as the story unfolds. The chapter's presentations vary, some are in first person present, others as either first or third person narrative. While his could have resulted in a very disjointed story the author has cleverly chosen which ever is the most natural for the occasion - for instance, one short, hilarious chapter consists of Mussolini shouting into a telephone berating an unfortunate general for failure and inflicting further impossible and contradictory orders.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is set for the most part in the early 1940s on the tiny island of Cephalonia just off the coast of Greece, with a couple of chapters set in each Italy and Greece as the story required. In an introductory note the author explains that he had carefully studied the Mediterranean history of the time to provide an authentic background to his tale. A comprehensive list of reference material is acknowledged at the back of the book

The story opens with Mussolini's ill fated Greek campaign in which his army is repulsed with their only gains being a few small Greek offshore islands of which Cephalonia is one. In this case, much to the Italian soldiers relief, the islanders surrender without a shot being fired, neither the islanders or the conscripted soldiers wanted to have anything to do with the war.

For the next few years a common love of music provides the flux for the two groups to happily cohabit, the soldiers are delighted to find themselves in ahaven of peace as the Mediterranean war wages on all around them, while the naturally friendly island people are happy to just continue with their uncomplicated way of life. However as the war's end draws near things take a turn for the worse, Italy capitulates and the islanders find themselves under the rule of German soldiers - a different breed. When the German soldiers finally move off as part of the general Mediterranean retreat the church bells are rung in joy, however the people's euphoria is short lived as Greek communists arrive to take over the roll of oppressor.

The story   then leaps forward twenty years, the island is once again a happy carefree place. We find all the characters reaching middle age and the next generation enthusiastically taking part in the island's life, particularly in a commercial sense as the tourist trade is tapped into. Finally another twenty year leap is taken to allow the author to neatly draw the many strings he has running together for a bittersweet conclusion.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a many faceted story about   people, a story which on one hand graphically details the horror and futility of war and on the otherthe beauty of music and the exultation of genuine laughter. Of   both the great heights of joy and deep disappointments which can experienced in human relationship. Of   the fact that every person is afflicted with at least one quirk of some kind.

Here is a story bristling with well portrayed characters. The island's doctor, who has no formal training, working with a mixture of traditional herbal remedies, common sense and an English medical textbook. His daughter whose dream is to go to Italy to study to be a doctor. Captain Corelli the professional musician who has found himself conscripted into Mussolini's army. The island's rotund, self important priest. The strong, handsome, young fisherman in the prime of life who sails across to Greece to join the patriots fighting the Germans. The ugly woman with a heart of gold. The totally incompetent, strutting Italian commander. The village strong man who secretly struggled with homosexual tendencies. The British soldier landed to report on troop movements and whose superiors had overlooked the fact that being tall, fair headed, blue eyed and pale did not make him the ideal person for a spy in an island of short, olive skinned, dark headed people. These, and many more, are skilfully woven into an absorbing tale

If you have seen the film do not let that put you off. I am reliably told that the only thing the film and book have in common is the title. Likewise ignore the book's cover. For some reason best known to themselves the publishers have seen fit for this edition to replace the original cover design with this soppy shot from the film. I can think of no part in the book which actually ties in with this picture! - Mills and Boon this book ain't!                     

Highly recommended.

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