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kimbofo's review against another edition
5.0
First published in 1983, Fools of Fortune, by William Trevor, won the Whitbread Prize (precursor to the Costa) in 1983.
The story, which spans the years 1918 to 1982, looks at the long-lasting and far-reaching impact of trauma on the Quinton family, who own a flour mill and live in a Big House, called Kilneagh, in County Cork. They are Anglo-Irish protestants but have Home Rule sympathies — Irish independence leader Michael Collins, for instance, is a semi-regular visitor, and a defrocked Catholic priest is a live-in tutor for the family’s young son, Willie.
But this is not a political novel. While it’s about murder and revenge during Ireland’s troubled history, it’s an examination of intergenerational trauma and follows what happens to a small cast of characters caught up in a conflict beyond their control.
The story is divided into two main sections; the first part is told through the eyes of Willie Quinton; the second is from the perspective of Willie’s English cousin, Marianne, with whom he later falls in love and bears a child.
The crux of the novel almost happens off the page: one of the mill workers is suspected of being an informer, so he is lynched by the Black and Tans, who cut out his tongue and hang him from a tree as a warning. They later set fire to the Quinton’s house, resulting in the death of Willie’s father and his two sisters.
After the devastating arson attack, Willie and his mother move to a smaller house in town. Willie is given succour by a school teacher, Miss Halliwell, who suffocates him with pity and unwelcome affection. It’s only when he is sent to boarding school that he is able to free himself from her overbearing attentiveness and fall in with a group of boys who take pleasure in sending up their professors.
It is in this short part of the novel that Trevor adds a dash of his trademark black comedy, but the humour soon gives way to romance — all beautifully evoked — when teenage Willie falls in love with his English cousin during a visit home...
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog.
The story, which spans the years 1918 to 1982, looks at the long-lasting and far-reaching impact of trauma on the Quinton family, who own a flour mill and live in a Big House, called Kilneagh, in County Cork. They are Anglo-Irish protestants but have Home Rule sympathies — Irish independence leader Michael Collins, for instance, is a semi-regular visitor, and a defrocked Catholic priest is a live-in tutor for the family’s young son, Willie.
But this is not a political novel. While it’s about murder and revenge during Ireland’s troubled history, it’s an examination of intergenerational trauma and follows what happens to a small cast of characters caught up in a conflict beyond their control.
The story is divided into two main sections; the first part is told through the eyes of Willie Quinton; the second is from the perspective of Willie’s English cousin, Marianne, with whom he later falls in love and bears a child.
The crux of the novel almost happens off the page: one of the mill workers is suspected of being an informer, so he is lynched by the Black and Tans, who cut out his tongue and hang him from a tree as a warning. They later set fire to the Quinton’s house, resulting in the death of Willie’s father and his two sisters.
After the devastating arson attack, Willie and his mother move to a smaller house in town. Willie is given succour by a school teacher, Miss Halliwell, who suffocates him with pity and unwelcome affection. It’s only when he is sent to boarding school that he is able to free himself from her overbearing attentiveness and fall in with a group of boys who take pleasure in sending up their professors.
It is in this short part of the novel that Trevor adds a dash of his trademark black comedy, but the humour soon gives way to romance — all beautifully evoked — when teenage Willie falls in love with his English cousin during a visit home...
For a more detailed review, please visit my blog.
linc8's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
endlessblankpages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and War
thingtwo's review against another edition
4.0
Set in Ireland before World War II, this is the tragic story of the Quinton family who are murdered in retaliation for a death they may or may not have had anything to do with. The only surviving family members - Mrs. Quinton who takes to the drink and slowly loses her mind, young Willie, and a maid. The story is primarily about Willie and how he deals with the deaths of his father, sisters, and various hired help. It's a love story that spans three generations, set against the back drop of the Anglo-Irish feuds. It's a short book, but the characters are well drawn out, and the writing is gorgeous. I will definitely pick up more books by William Trevor.
claire_fuller_writer's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable Trevor set in Ireland, with the big house, and his wonderful melancholic tone. Towards the end it felt as though he didn't know how to conclude it and things got a bit crazy and unbelievable, so not my favourite novel of his, but still a good one.
pilsdoughey's review against another edition
4.0
Nothing like some good old generational trauma and the long lasting effects of horrid war crimes.
I’m sure there’s a more generalist read on the novel, but for me it’s a portrait of early independent Ireland and the slow healing scars of centuries of British rule and tyranny.
Pretty fast read, and mostly interesting characters aside from Marianne.
I’m sure there’s a more generalist read on the novel, but for me it’s a portrait of early independent Ireland and the slow healing scars of centuries of British rule and tyranny.
Pretty fast read, and mostly interesting characters aside from Marianne.
fionnualalirsdottir's review against another edition
This novel probably contains examples of every theme and narrative device I'd previously come across in William Trevor's writing - which makes it the perfect book to have been reading on the day I heard that he had died.
I had picked it up in reaction to a contemporary novel that had disappointed me, feeling sure that William Trevor never would. He hasn't.
I had picked it up in reaction to a contemporary novel that had disappointed me, feeling sure that William Trevor never would. He hasn't.
musicsaves's review against another edition
4.0
FIRST LINE REVIEW: "It is 1983." And thus begins a flashback story of how the Irish Troubles directly (and mysterious) impact one family with deeply tragic consequences. Beautifully, subtly and somewhat cryptically told through three lenses, this masterful little novel was a short drink of refreshingly beautiful writing.
faintgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I'm pretty sure this is my favourite cover for a list book ever. I absolutely adore the Hollywood style blurb "Ireland - where murder is a sacred duty and love can be a betrayal." I'm pretty sure there should be some punctuation in there too, but it's still pretty amazing regardless.
Unfortunately, I'm writing this two month's after reading Fools of Fortune, and I don't really remember that much about it other than the tragedy slowly creeping. It hides around the corner and never really shows its face. I remember it beginning with many things I tend to dislike about "Irish" novels (the kitchen small talk, the introduction of a ton of extraneous characters), but then morphing into something more my style with time. But ultimately, it seems to have passed me by.
Unfortunately, I'm writing this two month's after reading Fools of Fortune, and I don't really remember that much about it other than the tragedy slowly creeping. It hides around the corner and never really shows its face. I remember it beginning with many things I tend to dislike about "Irish" novels (the kitchen small talk, the introduction of a ton of extraneous characters), but then morphing into something more my style with time. But ultimately, it seems to have passed me by.