I've read Banville's Quirke novels, written under the name Benjamin Black. I've read his Philip Marlowe take, again as Black. I've read his other crime novel, Snow, written under his real name. bBut Ancient Lights is my first proper Banville novel.
Ancient Lights is the third in his third trilogy, the concluding part of the story of Alexander Cleave and his only daughter Cass. This only features Alexander, Cass having committed suicide in Italy. Cleave is a stage actor, called out of semi-retirement to play the part of the notorious fraud 'Axel Vander' who assumed the identity of the real Vander who died during World War II. This will be Alex's first film role. He is drawn into the project because it seems the fake Vander was the same village in Italy as Cass when she killed herself. Alex's co-star in the movie is the fragile star Dawn Devonport (again, not her real name) who suffers a breakdown during filming, then accompanies Alex to Italy to see if he can find anything that might explain Cass's death. This is not a later-life affair with the much younger Dawn. Alex somewhat takes on the part of her recently deceased father, and she, in turn, becomes a daughter he can protect from her demons.
All the while he is reliving his first affair, as a fifteen year old in Ireland, with the mother of his best friend, Billy Gray. He uses his movie fee to pay the film's scout, a woman called Billie Stryker, to try and track down Mrs Gray, only to discover his memories have been playing him false.
There's a fascinating interconnectedness to the twin storylines, which Banville plays like the master he is. His prose is brilliantly crafted, the main characters drawn in profound depth. The only character I thought I didn't get enough information on is Alex's wife Lydia, but I guess she plays a bigger part in the earlier novels, Eclipse and Shroud. I certainly intend to find out. I shall be reading a lot more Banville this coming year.
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