This may seem like a slim, slight novel at first glance, but its a deeply affecting one, and Im in awe of Johnsons relentlessly honest approach. Having united over their shared love of horses, the two are inseparable as children, but as they begin to mature, the class differences between them begin to grow more evident.
Alecs bitter mother is disapproving of the friendship from the beginning, and is unrelenting in trying to exploit the uneven power dynamics involved to separate the two boys. But its not simply her machinations at work: Jerry points out that even if he were to work for Alecs family the divide would still be thereand perhaps more so. The two are about as star-crossed as a couple can be, and the divisions of class, religion and family become even more poignant when one considers the deeply homoerotic nature of the friendship.
With these factors working against them, the boys lose touch, with Alec living a sheltered and uninspired existence within the trappings of respectable society, and Jerry seeking out employment in order to help look after his family and further his skills. The contrast here is intriguing: where Jerrys life is necessarily one of industry, Alecs life feels largely pointless, a passing of days without any real impetus.
In fact, his existence is much like that of the Divers in the aforementioned Tender is the Night , where hedonism and slothfulness eventually lead to the characters demiseand it rather does in this book, too. Curiously, its Alecs mother who is given the role of the books antagonist, and in a very overt way, although in reality its not so much her as an individual as it is the wider circumstances of the boys backgrounds that serves to keep them apart.
Alecs mother, then, is merely the embodiment of these circumstances, serving as a constant reminder of the reasons that they should not be together. Her acknowledgement of herself as a cruel person is an interesting one: she is utterly self-aware of the chaos and despair that she is creating, but sees it as essential to maintain the status quo.
If Alecs mother can be extrapolated as representative of the wider context of Ireland at the timeas the social forces separating individuals by religion, class and morethen this becomes all the more moving. Alecs mother offers constant exhortations that he make something of himself by enlisting in the war, but yet its his upper class background and his mothers overprotective nature that have stifled his ability or desire to do so.
She uses her allure, the pretence of love, to secure what she desires while underneath she seethes with rage. I have already said that. When she discovers the friendship between Alec and Jerry Crowe she moves swiftly to destroy it.
Not only is she averse to the mixing of the classes but she is also suspicious and aggrieved at the bond which exists between the boys. Her refusal to allow Alec to go away to school is not the result of her grief at their separation but because she would be left alone with a husband she detests.
She uses her son in a most despicable way, as a buffer between herself and her husband. She brings her son to Europe not for the love of learning but as a means of dealing with his unsuitable friendship with Jerry. Friendship Alec feels real affection for his father. He realises that his mother abuses his father but he is helpless to prevent it. He misjudges Alicia, only realising his mistake when it is too late to rectify it.
It is interesting to note that Mr Moore deteriorates in the absence of his son. The friendship which develops between Alec and Jerry is the only real love and affection which Alec experiences. However, he shares the same sad home life as Alec. Both Alec and Jerry are capable horsemen. They plan to somehow overcome their class barriers to breed and train horses together.
War The images of hatred in the novel revolve around references to the First World War and the Irish Nationalist cause. From the earliest moments in the novel, the impending war in Europe forms the backdrop to the feuding husband and wife.
It is possible to argue that the hatred between Alicia and Frederick Moore is used as a compressed image of the hatred between the allied and enemy forces in the war. The inferences to madness in the novel serve the same moral function as the images of war.
They make the reader understand that love is the essential element to the survival of the world because without it there is only chaos, cruelty and hatred. Their parting scene in the novel, though it seems superficial, is actually heart-rending. Both Jerry and Alec ridicule their mothers for their hypocritical show of grief as they go to war. The description of the war in the novel evokes a sense of horror in the reader. The trenches which Alec describes are a physical representation for the reader of humankind without the redemptive power of love.
It is like descending into the hell which he describes so well in the course of the novel. Alec embraces the friendship of Jerry, caring for his welfare and trying to buffer some of the abuse hurled at him by the officers. It seems that Alec and Jerry should become insensitive to feeling and the little kindnesses which make life bearable. Yet despite this ultimatum, Alec continues to befriend Jerry and their smallest gestures of help to each other indicate the pointlessness of the war which rages around them.
This murder illustrates the breakdown of the inherent moral code in humanity. After the murder, Glendinning never once shows remorse or disgust for his act. Crowe goes to the front again tomorrow with the rest of his squalid friends. Friendship The reunion between Jerry and Alec near the end of the novel is very moving. This poignancy is more effective because the reader of the novel suspects that the reunion will be short-lived:.
He threw an arm across my shoulders and we lay in silence. My warmth was spreading through him, but the hand that clasped the back of my neck was still cold as a stone fresh from the sea. When Jerry is found he is put into the detention camp where Alec visits him to carry out the greatest test to their friendship and love. They reminisce about their youthful dreams and ambitions.
Jerry confesses for the last time that he loves his country above his king. It seems an odd thing to say before death but it is important to remember its symbolic significance. For Jerry, his country encompasses more than the nationalist cause, more than the land itself; it reflects his belief about the brutality of war, the uselessness of it. This novel fits into the category of social realism. It is a story which is extremely true to life. Johnston does not over-exaggerate her plot or stretch it beyond the bounds of credibility.
It is a novel based firmly in an actual time and place in history. Her main characters belong to clearly defined social backgrounds, the Anglo Irish gentry and the Catholic underclass of Ireland in the early s. Both men are accurately drawn as they each possess certain qualities of their respective backgrounds. The bigotries which attempt to divide them both at home and on the battlefield are all too real in the novel.
It is, therefore, a book rooted in reality. In many respects, the novel takes on the form of an autobiography. It could also be said to be a confessional work. It begins with an officer alone in his room, about to face death by firing squad and he is writing his last thoughts. Therefore, the novel is told in flashback. The novel is presented strictly in chronological order with only a few slight references to the past, as Jerry and Alec at times of depression or crisis look back longingly to the good times they spent together in the Irish countryside.
It is divided into two distinct settings: Ireland and France. It is a simply structured but completely effective novel with a plot that is uncomplicated and direct. She does not waste words on rambling descriptions nor does she overuse images for exaggerated effect. This makes her images all the more memorable when she does use them. Clarity is her main strength. She describes her characters and the action in the plot in a concise condensed manner.
The rushes bowed to her as a little rippling wind stirred through them. A thousand green pikemen bowing. But that is not the only trouble they are in. The Irish are not appreciated at all. On top of that there are rumors of a movement that wants to fight for the independence of Ireland. Jerry is suspected to be part of that movement and one day he confides in Alec. No waiting.
Every town, every village will be the front line. Hill, rock, tree. When Jerry receives a letter from his mother in which she informs him that his father has gone missing, he runs off to look for him and the tragedy unfolds. I loved How Many Miles to Babylon? I think it is a beautiful book. I found this look at the first World War from an Irish perspective extremely fascinating. This is the prehistory of the Troubles. How Many Miles to Babylon?
But it is not only a very Irish novel because of the historical elements but also for its imagery, the symbolism and the many references to Irish mythology and culture. The motif of the swans is a recurring element. Since Alec reads W. In contrast to the gratuitous killing of the swans stand the mercy killings. Wounded horses are killed, a wounded man is killed…. I really liked this enchanting novel. I loved the poetical prose, the melancholic tone and the feeling of nostalgia that pervaded it.
Anna Diary of an Eccentric. Danielle A Work in Progress and here as well. Fence Susan Hated Literature. Discussion starts on Friday March 25, Do you know it? It would indeed be a great companion piece to this one, I just read about it on amazon. They regularly shoot horses which is bad enough to read about. The overall impression of How Many Miles to Babylon? This sounds absolutely fascinating. Thanks for the copliment about the review. The whole part of the friendship between Alec and Jerry does obviously touch on the class system a lot.
I just think, Jennifer Johnston went much farther than that. A lot of the problems between the Irish and the British did result in this too. What I really appreciated it is how she managed to prepare for her later novels which did then explicitly handle the Troubles and as such, I think, if you are at all interested in Jennifer Johnston, this is a great book to start.
I cannot think of any other book from an Irish writer on WWI. There certianly must be others though.
Thank you for a great review. Having just read another novel about WW1 and wanting to read more I am adding this one to my list. You are very welcome. I will check if you have reviewed the one that you just finished. I am very intersted. You write about it very well—I had a hard time also writing about it when I first read it not wantintg to give much away. Maybe it is a class thing?
The need to stand back and be unemotional? I have always been more fascinated by atmosphere, imagery and symbols in books. I read some W. Yeats and Irish fairytales, maybe that is why I picked up on that immediately.
The mothers are not very positive in both books but this one is by far worse. I think his mother wanted him to join because of the appearances but also because she knew how much her husband relied on him.
A realy mean woman. I saw on wikipedia that there are at least 15 books that reference to this nursery rhyme. Is it not a bit nosensical? Maybe she wanted to hint at the futility? I am not sure. I could understand all her other allusions but not this one. Thank you for sharing this Caroline! I am still keeping my eyes open for At Swim Two Birds. Thanks Novroz. I would never find her in any English bookshop in Switzerland. Jennifer Johnston has written a lot of books.
I think they are all very good, you could try to find anyone of them. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I just finished the book about an hour ago and am still stunned. Then again, I was too busy crying to really process it all.
But that ending sure packed a punch and turned it all around for me. You are welcome. I really knew from the start how Jerry was going to die. It is a very rich book and I think she did it very well, the different themes blend in nicely.
Those different killings are so heartbreaking. That agonizing man got to me as well but the swan really stressed me. That is just something someone could do. Being in all that mess, surrounded by death and dying, not even think that another being might want to live as well. I think there is a profound statement in this part. How it does ultimately not alter people. I will include the link and go to you post right now.
It was almost spooky how I related to this book. I saw almost every thing happen long before it did and all the symbols spoke to me. But I also thought I would like to read it again, I still think I missed quite a few things too.
Fantastic review. Better than the book, unfortunately. As I already have made clear, I prefer historical fiction to be instructive and although this book features the Irish- British friction, there is little you will learn about WWI from this book.
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