When I first read about Cathy’s 2021 read-a-long of Brian Moore novels for his centenary I was immediately interested. I read my first Brian Moore novel for Read Ireland month in 2019 – The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne which I assume is now his best known novel. Of course, the difficulty is that much of his work is out of print – though I found a new edition of Lies of Silence on Bookshop. org which Vintage appear to have brought out in 2019. I also bought an old paperback copy of The Feast of Lupercal on ebay for just a couple of pounds and have sourced another for my kindle. The schedule for Cathy’s challenge is here – she has chosen twelve novels to read during the year from across different period’s of Moore’s writing career and as I have two more of them I am looking forward to continuing to join in. Having now finished Lies of Silence I am even more enthusiastic.
Lies of Silence is one of Brian Moore’s later novels – first published in 1990 – he died in 1999. It was shortlisted for the 1990 Booker prize. The novel focuses on The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the impact they have on the ordinary person. It is also a taut exploration of a person’s own moral choices – what do we do when faced with a decision which will have life changing consequences for others?
“And now, watching him go off for his morning walk with his dog, Dillon felt anger rise within him, anger at the lies which had made this, his and Mr Harbinson’s birthplace, sick with a terminal illness of bigotry and injustice, lies told over the years to poor Protestant working people about the Catholics, lies told to poor Catholic working people about the Protestants, lies from parliaments and pulpits, lies at rallies and funeral orations, and, above all, the lies of silence from those in Westminster who did not want to face the injustices of Ulster’s status quo.”
Michael Dillon is a hotel manager in Belfast, married to the very beautiful but bulimic and emotionally fragile Moira. Michael was once a poet but he gave that up for a pay packet and security and while Moira definitely prefers Ireland to London where they met – Michael is itching to get back to London, and to put Northern Ireland with all its issues behind him. His marriage to Moira is on the rocks, although Moira seems unaware of it – Michael has started an affair with a young Canadian woman, Andrea who works at the BBC. Michael is planning on asking for a transfer to London, he will leave Moira and go to England with Andrea – he wants to ask Moira for a divorce, still a dirty word for many Catholics. As the novel opens he and Andrea agree that Michael will talk to Moira the following day.
However, that evening they are thrust violently into the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. The first indication that something might be wrong is when Michael finds the body of their pet cat in a hedge – but he assumes it was just the tragic victim of a road accident. Later that night, Michael unable to sleep hears movement outside – moments later there are IRA men in his house – demanding he and Moira get dressed and come downstairs.
“He had seen them on the evening television news and in newspaper photographs, theatrical figures, firing revolver volleys over paramilitary graves, marching in parades with banners and flags. But like most people he kept well away from the events themselves so that now, for the first time in his life, he was looking at them, here in his house, real revolvers, faceless, staring eyes, scruffy boys in woollen masks. Who are they? Are they Protestants or Catholics – UDA or IRA? Is this one of those mistakes where they come in and shoot the wrong person?
‘What do you want?’ He heard the fear in his voice.”
Michael – like so many people living in Northern Ireland is fairly apolitical – his wife passionately opposed to everything the IRA stand for. The tension Moore creates of this silent house, where Michael and Moira sit in their living room guarded by IRA men – waiting to find out what will be asked of them, is quite brilliant. Quickly, we realise the men behind the masks are very young, following orders – not so sure of themselves as a mask and a gun make them seem.
The next morning Michael receives his orders, he is to drive his car to the hotel just as he would usually, park in the same place – and walk away. A bomb has been put in his car and it will detonate a few minutes later. If he fails to follow the instructions or tries to raise the alarm Moira will be killed. Michael immediately realises the IRA are targeting the firebrand protestant reverend (a thinly veiled Ian Paisley I assumed) who will be speaking at a special breakfast at the hotel that morning. Of course, many other people will also be hurt or worse – and the men in his house haven’t promised to give a warning either. Michael’s journey to the hotel is one of unbelievable tension – worrying about Moira, concerned about what death and destruction he may be bringing to the hotel – will they phone a warning? Should he do something? Everywhere there are watchers – a car follows him; a teenage boy is watching as he parks his car – is he one of theirs? It is important to remember that this all takes place in a time before everyone has a mobile phone in their pocket.
Naturally, I won’t reveal what happens, what decisions Michael takes – but all decisions whether good or bad have consequences for others.
Although this might seem to have elements of the thriller about it – the IRA, threats, a car bomb – it is far more than that and I wouldn’t class it as a thriller at all – it’s an altogether quieter novel than that – though richly compelling. Written with great subtlety and understanding, Lies of Silence is much more about the moral choices we make, and what the effects those choices have for others. How do you carry on, talk intelligently to colleagues after you have had IRA men in your house? – what plans do you make, or should you make? Brian Moore shows us how life can appear to be very normal – everything around you just as it was the day before – yet in these circumstances, nothing is normal at all.
The Feast of Lupercal is up next – and I am definitely planning on reading it next month – a quick flick through this much earlier Moore novel already whetting my appetite.
This sounds like a fun reading initiative, what a prolific career he had and a diverse style of genres crossed. I think I can get hold of this and few others from within Europe (no more ordering books across borders with delivery and VAT fiascos).
Lies of Silence sounds intense and yet I’m also drawn to it for that quiet element you mention, rather than the thriller aspect. I’m interested in the imagined stories of the Northern Irish who leave and write from afar, there’s something about the “stateless wanderer” that he was, that appeals.
It is quite intense, compellingly so, I think the stories of NI recent past are fascinating but also important that we don’t forget what people there suffered. I like that idea of Brian Moore being a Stateless wanderer – I know he ended up living in Canada for many years.
I’ve managed to source 5 books in Germany including this title, which I’m sure will make it across the border to me, so I’m in. Thanks for the heads up!
On Goodreads, I read this quote, which I may as well share here:
Shortly before his death, Moore wrote, “There are those stateless wanderers who, finding the larger world into which they have stumbled vast, varied and exciting, become confused in their loyalties and lose their sense of home. I am one of those wanderers.”
Ooh brilliant, well done. So glad you can join in too.
Love that quote. It does give a sense of the man. Thank you for sharing it.
Great review! I read this a few years ago and the memory of it, especially the creeping unease it made me feel, has stayed with me. It’s a small masterpiece, I think.
Yes, that creeping sense of unease is so well done. A small masterpiece is right.
Gosh, this sounds really powerful Ali. I am an old enough to remember the times when the Troubles were happening and I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to be stuck in the middle of such an awful conflict. I’ll look forward to seeing what you think of the other Moores you read!
I am similarly old enough, the troubles seem to have been a remote backdrop to my childhood, so many times NI would be on the news, and of course bombings here in Birmingham when I was quite young too.
Wow, this sounds truly excellent, not least for focus on character and moral values alongside the thriller element. It takes a lot of skill to weave those aspects together effectively. This is going straight onto my wishlist. Many thanks!
I have a feeling that you would like this. That focus on character and moral values is what makes this so fascinating.
Like Kaggsy, I’m old enough to remember the Troubles and their devastating effects. This sounds like a quietly powerful exploration of what it was like for people who found themselves caught up in it.
Yes, I remember quite a lot too, though I was often too young to understand the complexities. It really is a brilliant exploration of what it might be like to be caught up in such awful events.
I haven’t read any Brian Moore so far and this sounds particularly compelling (not for the thrillerish aspect of it, but for the human dilemma of getting caught up in events).
The human dilemma in this one is one probably anyone could identify. You can’t help but ask yourself what you would do in a similar situation.
So glad you enjoyed this Ali, I think its a fantastic novel – so taut and precise. I’ll link to your review tomorrow. Enjoy Lupercal!
Taut and precise is a really good way to describe it. I’m really looking forward to reading The Feast of Lupercal.
Fair play to you, I wouldn’t be able to cope with that. A job I did once had a soldier describing a very similar situation that happened in real life, too, which has stayed with me. But it’s important these things are written about and the reality of young lads caught up in something bigger than them and the decisions people have to make.
Well yes, quite different to that earlier book by Brian Moore I read but really rather brilliant. It’s more about people and the moral choices they must make than it is about violence, though that is of course always lurking. Another I’ve read that you wouldn’t like though.
Thanks for your review Ali. I would have been put off this one by Moore if I’d read the blurb—there’s nothing that puts me off more than a book being called a ‘thriller’—but this sounds like much more, as I would expect from Moore.
I hope to read a few by Moore this year though probably not one a month.
I hope you enjoy The Feast of Lupercal as much as I did; it’s a brilliant book.
Yes, so much more than a thriller. I don’t think I will manage a Moore each month, I have said that I will just dip in and out of challenges this year. I am looking forward to reading The Feast of Lupercal though. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
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Lovely post, Ali! I had read Lies of Silence many years ago and recall being pretty impressed at the time, but subsequently forgot all about it.
That was not the case with Judith Hearne and The Doctor’s Wife though. I loved both and they have stayed with me even today.
I have the Feast of Lupercal too so looking forward to it. Also, The Mangan Inheritance, which I think Dorian has rated highly.
Good to hear that you have enjoyed several books by Brian Moore, The Doctor’s Wife is one I have on my kindle.
Something about your description of this novel reminds me a little of William Trevor, maybe the moral conundrum. I also remember seemingly endless Troubles and the disagreements over support of the various groups by people here. A terrific write-up too.
I have read a few things by William Trevor, not sure how like him Brian Moore is but probably similar in terms of those moral choices. Growing up so close to the troubles, I was always conscious how hard normal life must be for many people. I think Moore captures that.
You would have very close to it all-NI must have been a place of people suffering PTSD constantly.
Thank you for all the reviews and guidance. Everyone has been great with their input. I really enjoyed Lies of Silence. I am starting Lupercal now. It is very exciting to uncover a writer that I would ororbably not have uncovered otherwise. Well done to all.
I really enjoyed The Feast of Lupercal which I finished last night.
Because of his Canadian connection, his books are among those that I remember seeing in bookstores and drugstores and department stores over the years, usually in mass market paperback. Lies of Silence is one that I remember well. Likely, at the time, I didn’t register that was because it’d been nominated for the Booker. Over here, it seems as though other titles of his were favoured though. Ginger Coffee and Judith Hearne in particular. It’ll be interesting to follow your progress through his work.
Yes of course there is that Canadian connection which would make Moore very familiar to you. I have just scheduled another Brian Moore review for tomorrow. Such a good writer.
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