A Married Man by Piers Paul Read
A middle-aged barrister named John Strickland has a wife named Clare as well as two kids. While visiting his in-laws in Norfolk, he reads The Death of Ivan Illych, a short story by Leo Tolstoy, which led to a midlife crisis. What happened to his ideals of doing good in the world when he was younger? What has transpired to cause his marriage to stagnate? During a time of political upheaval, strikes, and the “three-day week,” Strickland decides to run for Labour MP. His wife makes fun of his ambition, and he has an affair with another woman after blaming her for the stagnation in his life.
A Married Man by Piers Paul Read
12 used from $3.24
Amazon.com
It’s a fantastic book. It has a sophisticated plot and deals with important issues, including the impending middle age of a London barrister who is reaching 40. It goes without saying that some of the ideas are similar to those in my own writings, which maybe makes me appreciate them more. He becomes involved in an affair…
This is a great book to read. The plot initially seems very uninteresting, but as you become invested in the characters, especially the protagonist, you find yourself unable to put the book down.
Even though the book is set in the 1970s, the themes of adultery, loyalty, and couples attempting to find their way feel very contemporary. The ethicality of a lawyer convincing an innocent client to enter a guilty plea on the promise of a lighter punishment if the judge doesn’t believe his narrative is about as current as it gets.
Like many good books, the underlying concerns presented by the plot continue to intrigue the reader long after the book has been finished because of the author’s skill at writing, which makes scenes and characters jump off the page and become ingrained in your mind. It would have been simple to let political and religious problems dominate the book, but the writing is too brilliant for that and the plot is what matters. A compelling story that is worth reading again.
