I was pleased to receive The Infinities through the post, having been impressed with John Banville’s recent novels, particularly his last book, The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker prize. Banville has become well-known for the sheer quality of his writing, which is perhaps not surprising in view of his statement that he only writes about 100 words a day (see his Wikipedia entry).
The Infinities is a delight to read, a book which for once I found wholly satisfying. It is the story of one day in the life of a family, but told from the perspective of Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia the cave-woman. The narrative takes place both here on earth and also among a group of carping, capricious Gods, mischievously intervening in the affairs of men.
Both worlds collide throughout the novel, and Hermes both interprets what is going on in the family below, but also deals with the dramas above, particularly those caused by his reprobate old father who is obsessed with the young women he sees on earth. For the Gods “cannot resist revealing ourselves to you once in a while, out of our incurable boredom, or love of mischief, or that lingering nostalgia we harbour for this rough world of our making”.
The story opens with the patriarchal Adam Godley having suffered a stroke and being confined, comatose, to a darkened room where his wife cares to his needs. The family have gathered to observe the final days of their parent, the ponderous Young Adam and his lovely wife Helen, the daughter Petra, a couple of retainers (cook and gardener), and two guests who turn up to stay with the family for reasons largely unknown.
Continue reading Review: The Infinities: John Banville
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