Michael Collins' fans will find much to enjoy in his latest novel, writes Willie Campbell.
THE DEATH OF ALL THINGS SEEN
Michael Collins
Head of Zeus/HarperCollins
By WILLIE CAMPBELL
Irish novelist Michael Collins describes himself as an immigrant, an endurance runner and a writer. In this latest output from the writer, aspects of both the immigrant and the endurance runner can be seen.
The Death of All Things Seen focuses on two men, linked in an unknown way, living during the 2008 financial crisis in North America and Canada. The actions of the characters, their "bad choices'' and their place in "The New Existence'' are presented in strong, urgent and concise prose, while the ever-present reflections in both conversation and thoughts are mindful and near poetic.
Norman Price, a 40-something playwright, living in Chicago with his adopted Chinese daughter and her live-in nanny, finds he can no longer ignore the fallout from his parents' deaths when the family house is put on the market.
Through consistent efforts to make "good choices'' and consider possible future plays arising from both his past experiences and his encounters with new and significant people, Norman guides us through a commentary on the capitalist society, its tendency to encourage corruption in civic circles and dodgy financial schemes.
In Canada, Nate Feldman, a Vietnam draft dodger, hugely influenced by the spiritual and environmental values of his dead wife Ursula, a First Nations woman whose soul is constantly with him, gets a notice that Norman's mother has left him a bequest. His journey to collect this and contact Norman is convoluted and challenging.
The novel is bookended by a prologue, a poetic, lyrical account of Helen Price's last day and a final reflective chapter from Norman who watching a pelican buoyed by unseen thermals rise into the sky, and then mindful of many things, believes that he is riding such a thermal and is in the midst of a great flight.
On one level this is an easy-to-read story of the activities of two men, linked by an unknown connection, but what takes it further is the supporting and surrounding reflection on capitalist and imperialist societies and their contribution to human choices.
Collins' fans would expect no less.
Willie Campbell is a Dunedin educator.
