Back in the 90s, when I was just starting out as a reviewer, the Sunday Times sent me a book called Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, which had just come out in paperback. At that time, Louis de Bernières was known for three magic realist novels set in South America, and Captain Correlli’s Mandolin had yet to become a bestseller. I no longer have my review of it, but I remember being bowled over. I like to think my enthusiastic review contributed in some small way to its massive success (spoiler: it probably didn’t).
This is a rather roundabout way of getting to his new novel, So Much Life Left Over. Having enjoyed his other books, I was very much looking forward to reading his new one, the second in a planned trilogy. You can read my review in the Literary Review here
Ian Critchley 