![]() I picked this book up immediately after reading an exceptional novel by William Boyd where the strength of his writing makes you overlook the rather incredible basis of the fictional plot. The excavation itself is almost a sideshow to the novel but the sub-plots never seem to have much relevance to the plot. I think the this book tries to be an archaeological equivalent of "The remains of the day" and the overriding problem for me is how something that was so exciting in real life can be rendered so dull on the page. However, my dissatisfaction with this novel goes well beyond this. ![]() The first of these is to do with class and how Brown was ostracized by the archaeological "establishment" and the looming threat of Nazi invasion in 1939 - the irony being that the Saxons had themselves been Germanic invaders. The novel has two undercurrents running through it. I have to say that I think John Preston has really done Brown a disservice in this novel and compounded the problem by putting himself into the shoes of two female protagonists - something that always makes me uncomfortable with male writers. The finds occupy pride of place in the British Museum and the story of Basil Brown is in itself very English given the fact that he was a brilliant amateur. The discovery of the Sutton Hoo hoard is one of the pivotal moments in British archaeology and helped plug the gap in our understanding over the period following the departure of the Roman and the early medieval period of Late Saxon England. Given the glowing comments I had heard regarding the screen adaption of this book, my hopes were set very high for this book yet I found this novella disappointing on every level. What I hope will remain in me are the individual narratives of the four characters.Īny novel about archaeology that is bathed in nostalgia and recommended by Iain McEwan should be ticking all the boxes. It is no surprise and no regret that there are no narratives from the professional archaeologists who all appear earth-bound. I thought long and hard about what seems something of an abrupt end to the novel and it actually fits. ![]() The male narrations have their place, but the women make the book special. The narrations of Edith Pretty and Peggy Piggot are at the heart of this novel (as they should be) as this is about people first and foremost an exploration of loss, disappointment, the wheel of time, and what of us we leave behind. There is more to learn and to enjoy about the characters from their view point and it reminds that this is a book of fiction and why fiction is fundamentally important. This is what makes the books so much better for me. So, I decided to buy another copy of the book and have been so pleased and rewarded that I did. Then along came the film adaptation which I watched and enjoyed - to an extent, but felt it a compromise, and in some instances indelicate. The memory of it stayed with me, but inevitably merged with all things archaeological in newspapers, books and on TV. I first read ‘The Dig’ several years ago, enjoyed it thoroughly and passed it on.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |