Fair Exchange - Michele Roberts

Fair Exchange- Michele Roberts, 246pp, 6.99

Roberts is half English and half French, which explains her setting for this tale of secrecy and guilt. The action takes place partly in the small French village of Saintange-sur-Seine, partly in London and partly in the Lake District. Set at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, it is a story of interwoven lives, love affairs, drunken japes, babies and Revolution.
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...Louise, a French peasant who, fearing that her end is fast approaching, has a guilty need to repent for a dark deed she committed as a young woman. She calls for the local priest and thus begins the tale.

At the end of the 19th century France was in turmoil- the aristocracy were being sent to the guillotine and riots reigned. The Gallic Revolution was observed with some curiosity across the Channel, and Roberts' principal characters ... more

Fair Exchange- Michele Roberts, 246pp, 6.99

Roberts is half English and half French, which explains her setting for this tale of secrecy and guilt. The action takes place partly in the small French village of Saintange-sur-Seine, partly in London and partly in the Lake District. Set at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, it is a story of interwoven lives, love affairs, drunken japes, babies and Revolution.

The book is a confession- the account of Louise, a French peasant who, fearing that her end is fast approaching, has a guilty need to repent for a dark deed she committed as a young woman. She calls for the local priest and thus begins the tale.

At the end of the 19th century France was in turmoil- the aristocracy were being sent to the guillotine and riots reigned. The Gallic Revolution was observed with some curiosity across the Channel, and Roberts' principal characters brave the crossing to become a part of the action. There is much discussion of equal rights, feminism and class struggle- Roberts' characters are either well-educated, liberal free thinkers or conservative Royalists who would prefer the status quo, so heated (if somewhat shallow) debates ensue. In fact, even 'below stairs' characters like Daisy, the house maid, are literate and capable. Several characters pick up a second language with remarkable ease. Passion for Revolution ignites
passionate love, and the characters' lives become irrevocably entangled through sex, marriage and secrets. The action takes place in both countries, and as the story develops we begin to see just how mixed up everyone's lives are. Roberts masterfully keeps us in suspense about the actual nature of Louise's dastardly deed, right until the end of the book, when the meaning of the title also becomes apparent. I won't spoil it for you by telling you what happens!

This is a good yarn. The element of suspense keeps you glued, and Roberts skillfully prods you into remembering that you want to know what Louise's secret is. I think this appeals to the nosy nature most of us have although we might not like to admit it. However, without the suspense, it does not stand up as a great piece of literature. It is a somewhat disappointing offering from an author who is also Professor of Creative Writing at East Anglia University- I felt that someone of her stature would be able to produce a thoroughly good bit of fiction. The setting- the French Revolution- should have wonderful potential for
excitement and intrigue, but there is little description which transports you there. Much of the writing is matter-of-fact, lacking in colour. The characters speak in a very 20th century language, and it is hard to believe you are reading about a period 200 or so years ago.

All in all, it's an easy read, trivial but pleasant. Don't expect deep argument on human rights or an insight into life in the midst of the Revolution though, it really just skims the surface of the subject.

PS Despite what it says on the back, ("Roberts is at her best when she writes about food and sex"), the sex is certainly not explicit- you are left to imagine for yourself...

Tricksty 

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