Yeats and henry james are the two real influences on his work. Great noir atmosphere its mostly set in one of my favorite cities, dublin and vivid characters. Quirke, a pathologist in 1950s dublin, is perturbed when his straitlaced adoptive brother malachy, an obstetrician, appears to be tampering with evidence relating to the recently deceased christine falls. Benjamin blacks debut thriller is, as its genre demands, littered with clues. He is known for dark humour and a precise, forensiclike style that is. As he begins looking into the circumstances of the girls death in childbirth he is, unfortunately, drawn deeper into his own background having been taken in as a child by malachys powerful. Christine falls was nominated for both the edgar award and macavity award for best novel. While the voluptuous atmospheric flourishes of christine falls suggest how much fun banville is having as black, they also provide the books center of gravity, the force that holds all.
There is a notion that the benjamin black books are a sort of holiday for john banville from serious work which, i suspect, has been shrewdly put about by the author himself. Debut crime novel by john banville under the pen name of benjamin black. In this expertly paced debut thriller from irish author black the pseudonym of booker prize winner john banville, pathologist garret quirke uncovers a web of corruption in 1950s dublin surrounding the death in childbirth of a young maid, christine falls. After college john worked as a clerk for irelands national airline, aer lingus, before joining the irish press as a subeditor in 1969. Intercourse between the detective story and mainstream fiction is traditionally regarded as one of those things we dont. Its going to make more than a few readers flip the book over to look at the author photo to make sure banvilles really pulling the strings.
Common themes throughout his work include loss, obsession, destructive love, and the pain that accompanies freedom. Intercourse between the detective story and mainstream fiction is traditionally regarded as one of. John banville, pseudonym benjamin black, born december 8, 1945, wexford, ireland, irish novelist and journalist whose fiction is known for being referential, paradoxical, and complex. Benjamin black is the pen name of acclaimed author john banville, who was born in wexford, ireland, in 1945.
The quirke series of crime novels, written by irish novelist john banville under the pen name benjamin black, centers on the titular character, a pathologist in 1950s dublin. Benjamin black is the pseudonym of john banville who was born in wexford, ireland, in 1945. That benjamin black is booker winner john banvilles alter ego certainly assisted in this leap. Officially she died of an embolism but malachy admits that she died giving birth to a stillborn.
Christine falls is the first novel in a planned series about harddrinking irish pathologist garret quirke written by booker prize winner john banville under the open pseudonym benjamin black. William john banville was born in wexford, ireland, in 1945, the youngest of three siblings. Benjamin blacks, christine falls, is a near perfect read for mystery fans. Benjamin black, the pen name of acclaimed novelist john banville, is the author of christine falls and the silver swan. May 10, 2011 there is a notion that the benjamin black books are a sort of holiday for john banville from serious work which, i suspect, has been shrewdly put about by the author himself.
It is followed by the silver swan 2007, elegy for april 2010 and a death in summer july 2011. From the very first page, one gets the feeling that nothing is quite. Mar 06, 2007 a boozy, bitter pathologist becomes a most unwilling detective when he uncovers a babytrafficking scheme in dublin in the 1950s. After college john worked as a clerk for irelands national airline. It does though, draw a line of demarcation between these and the other novels. Publishers weekly christine falls is deeply atmospheric. Bumped corner, former owner has written some notes on rear endpaper, one short edge tear. Mar 01, 2007 so calibrate any assessment of christine falls according to mr. John banville describes the angel at his back moment when he decided to plunder the lives of louis macneice and anthony blunt to create victor maskell john banville, february 25, 2006, the guardian. Booker prizewinning author john banville, writing as benjamin black, began an intriguing mystery series series two years ago with christine falls, featuring quirke, a pathologist at the hospital of the holy family in dublin. Christine falls is banville s debut crime novel, a complex, dark and compelling work that is mysterious and quietly horrifying. The idea that christine falls is a light hearted romp is put to bed before the bottom of. Man booker prizewinner john banville offers his first crime novel. Black is the pen name of booker awardwinning author john banville.
Banville often writes under the pen name of benjamin black. From page one, through the streets of dublin a half century ago, through the conspiracies linking the boston and dublin catholic highsocieties, benjamin black pulls the reader deeper and. The philadelphia inquirer a dark, ambitious crime novel. Quirke mysteries, book 1 ebook written by benjamin black. Banville has won the 1976 james tait black memorial. Christine falls by black, benjamin banville, john returning to the morgue where he works after an office party, dublin pathologist quirke stumbles across a body that should not have been there, a young woman named christine falls, as well as his brotherinlaw, eminent pediatrician malachy griffin, altering a file to cover up the corpses.
Benjamin black is a pseudonym of booker prizewinning author john banville, and christine falls, the first novel in the quirke series, brings all the vividness and psychological insight of john banvilles writing to the dark, menacing atmosphere of a firstclass thriller. He was educated at christian brothers schools and st peters college, wexford. John banville is an irish author of fiction as well as playwright and screenwriter. S the first novel, christine falls, was first released by picador in the u. The hero of this enjoyable crime novel from black the pseudonym of man bookerwinner john banville. William john banville born 8 december 1945 is an irish novelist, short story writer, adapter of dramas and screenwriter. One night, after having a few drinks at a party, he returns to the morgue to find his brotherinlaw tampering with the records on a young womans corpse. John banville is an irish novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Thriller by the manbooker prize winner john banville, writing as benjamin black. Apr 25, 2000 quirke is a fascinating and subtly drawn hero, christine falls is a classic tale of suspense, and benjamin blacks debut marks him as a true master of the form. Quirke often finds himself called upon to do more than a pathologist is usually required to do, and in this second novel.
Christine falls by benjamin black john banville 300pp, picador. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading christine falls. I have to admit that i am feeling a little let down by christine falls, on the one hand this book is strongly written by benjamin black, a pseudonym for author john banville, but on the other, the actual plot seemed lacklustre and felt manufactured. He is known for dark humour and a precise, forensiclike style that is dense and thick like poetry. Christine falls 2006 is his first in a series of four quirke stories. So calibrate any assessment of christine falls according to mr. A noir thriller set in 1950s dublin by bookerprize winner john banville, writing as benjamin black. Benjamin black is a pseudonym of booker prizewinning author john banville, and christine falls, the first novel in the quirke series, brings all the vividness and psychological insight of john banville s writing to the dark, menacing atmosphere of a firstclass thriller. Whats most disconcerting of all about christine falls is the atmosphere of moral claustrophobia enveloping it. Feb 26, 2008 that benjamin black is booker winner john banville s alter ego certainly assisted in this leap. Benjamin black is the pen name of john banville, a critically acclaimed author who is well known in literary fiction circles. From the very first page, one gets the feeling that nothing is. With gabriel byrne, nick dunning, janet moran, brian gleeson. He is known for his darkly humorous writing, precise forensic style, and thick poetry.
The silver swan, will be published in both the uk and usa in march. Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read christine falls. Christine falls by benjamin black books the guardian. But the most revealing pieces of evidence are not the ones that point toward the dark crimes in christine falls. Benjamin black audio books, best sellers, author bio. After leaving college he worked for the irish airline aer lingus in dublin, ireland which gave him the opportunity to travel widely. Though he has been described as the heir to proust, via nabokov, banville himself maintains that w. He was educated at a christian brothers school and st peters college in wexford. From page one, through the streets of dublin a half century ago, through the conspiracies linking the boston and dublin catholic highsocieties, benjamin black pulls the reader deeper and deeper into the mystery until youre hooked. Jan 22, 2008 there is a notion that the benjamin black books are a sort of holiday for john banville from serious work which, i suspect, has been shrewdly put about by the author himself. Hes a remarkable writer and christine falls is a remarkable book. Christine falls by benjamin black aka john banville and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Oct 07, 2006 christine falls by benjamin black john banville 300pp, picador. While the voluptuous atmospheric flourishes of christine falls suggest how much fun banville is having as black, they also provide the book s center of gravity, the force that holds all. Banville also writes under the pen name of benjamin black, under which he wrote christine falls and then the silver swan. A novel quirke book 1 kindle edition by black, benjamin. This seems to be his idea of an ordinary book, but it would not be anyone. He was born in wexford, ireland, on december 8, 1945.
About this guide the following author biography and list of questions about christine falls are intended as resources to aid individual readers and book groups who would like to learn more about the author and this book. Like the other quirke crimebusters, christine falls is character driven. Mar 25, 2007 while the voluptuous atmospheric flourishes of christine falls suggest how much fun banville is having as black, they also provide the books center of gravity, the force that holds all. Order of john banville books benjamin black book series. Quirke, an oversized smoker with no illusions about himself or the bodies he carves up in the basement of holy family hospital.
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