We all want to make our mark in some way.
The literary trust for deceased author Raymond Lawrence certainly does.
The late author, famed for his involvement in the Algerian war of independence and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, left behind a substantial body of work and a very large can of worms that is about to be opened up for the unfortunate trustees.
Peter Orr, self-appointed guardian of Raymond's legacy, finds himself having to deal with a would-be official biographer, as well as troubling questions about how the man he calls The Master produced his works and how he treated the people in his life.
Interspersed with the main plot are excerpts from an interview with the author's personal caregiver, a man who had the dubious luck of being witness to Raymond's violent demise.
The story is bookended by two excerpts from Raymond's writing: a Hemingway-style tale of a soldier on the trail of a thief.
The whole literary world, from writing to publishing to awards, is darkly lampooned.
The humour is often explicit and pretty dark.
If you liked the goings-on in Ronald Hugh Morrieson's novels, you will enjoy this one.
Towards the end, the plot tends to meander; it took some effort to make it to the end.
But, given most of the book is devoted to a trust's meetings and arguments, it does take patience to get through.
A long, droll read, particularly if you're in the mood for some sly digs at the literary industry.
• Doug Anderson is an admin assistant for Delta Utility Services in Dunedin.
