A Change of Climate: A Novel

A Change of Climate, by Hilary MantelSet mainly rural England in the 1990s, Ralph and Anna are the technically the main characters, although there are plenty of other family characters and the narrative does not always focus on either Ralph or Anna. With chapter 4, the narrative jolts back in time to South Africa in the 1970s, where the newlyweds go as missionaries, a combination of Ralph's compliance to his father's will and a gesture of rebellion. Both the political situation and culture that surrounds them, as well as their personal experiences are intensely dramatic. At first the book seemed disjointed to me because of the flashback sections in Africa, but of course this section of life is integral to the complexity of the story, both in missing facts and complexity of the psychologies of the characters. Author Hilary Mantel spent five years in Botswana so her familiarity with aspects of African culture is personal. Beware: do not read the back cover's book, a summary of sorts, before reading the book. Aside from trivializing the story it gives far too much away and I consider it a serious publishing gaff.Hilary Mantel's usual use of language is beautiful, clear and acutely insightful in this novel, as in her other works. Hilary Mantel was born in England in 1952 and is one of my favorite contemporary authors. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious Man Booker Prize for her historical novel Wolf Hall, published in that same year.