On the Isle of Antioch by Amin Maalouf

⭐Publisher Featured Review 

(Translated from French by Natasha Lehrer)

​An interesting book that is part cosy romance and part cosy romantic philosophy, wrapped in a dystopian bag.

The opening is strong and I like it very much. A successful newspaper cartoonist lives on an isolated island and, one day while he is working, the light bulb flickers and fades along with all other forms of technology such as the internet and radio. All electricity and power is gone. So he checks on his only neighbour, an equally solitary alcoholic writer.

Timely in as much as the fear of nuclear war and terrorism is right now, plus the fear of the loss of power and - shock, horror, the internet - this is one of those tales that hangs over us all. But the nice thing about this story is the idea that maybe the 'invaders' desire a power for good and not evil. Wouldn't that be nice.

This is a well written book with warmth and gentle suspense, in part down to the excellent abilities of the translator. Presented as four notebooks written by the cartoonist, he writes his observations without judgement but ponders a world where death isn't feared and the potential consequences of that. He considers the rise and fall of civilisations, society, health and human relationships. Ironically, the end is exactly what I believe is likely to happen should this story ever become a reality.

​A pleasant and enjoyable read with many things to think about. Recommended.

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Published by World Editions on 5 December 2023.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.