ON CHESIL BEACH
Ian McEwan
Vintage, pbk, $26.99
Review by Ian Williams
There are echoes of class tensions in many McEwan novels - he obviously has first-hand experience.
On Chesil Beach, not much longer than a novella, is a further exploration of misunderstandings that occur when people from different backgrounds get their wires crossed.
The story is set in 1962 in England, when blue-collar university graduates out to better themselves do so socially as well as professionally.
McEwan places his couple in a seaside hotel on the first night of their honeymoon.
Both are 22, but from different backgrounds, and both are virgins (pre-marital sex was not so common in '62.) Edward loves Florence passionately, and she returns that love.
But, because of her superior social status, and her father being his employer, Edward respects Florence's desire to remain chaste, although he wonders why she resists his French kissing.
For her part, Florence tries not to think about the actual mechanics of sex. She is a violinist in a string quartet hoping to perform professionally.
She lives for music, as long as it is Mozart or Beethoven, but, being well-bred, listens politely to Edward's Chuck Berry records.
As well as being smitten by Florence, Edward is also smitten by her parents' home, their two cars, their fancy food (pasta, etc), and having his own bathroom.
For that he can wait until the wedding night to fulfil his heart's desire. For her part, Florence is gracious and accepting when she meets Edward's brain-damaged mother.
Most of the story is told in flashbacks, before and after the wedding-night nuptials.
When Florence runs off down Chesil Beach, Edward ponders the eternal enigma of women.
The ending packs a wallop, especially for readers whose lady friend (or man friend) has run off - down a beach, or anywhere.
Suddenly, a low-key, engaging, but somewhat slow tale becomes something else.
- Ian Williams is a Dunedin writer.
