Morris west is one of the best known Australian writers. Today they are fulfilled 20 years after his death. And in the homes of many of us who are already an age there will surely be one of his books in those editions of the mid-twentieth century. Mainly known by titles like The fisherman's sandals, West published many more books than were also made versions for the cinema. These are algunos that I review in his memory.
Morris west
Born in 1916 in St Kilda, studied at the universities of Melbourne and Hobart. It happened too 12 years in a monastery, but did not get to make vows and hung up the habits before putting them on. He made a radical change in his life when entered the Army Intelligence Service. And later he worked in the radio. In the mid-50s, he decided to dedicate himself solely to writing.
It was correspondent in the Vatican and lived in several countries in Europe and the United States. His novels are by historical genre with themes that vary between ecclesiastical and political and the cut more or less romantic. With them he obtained several awards and some are classics from the XNUMXth century.
5 of his works
The fisherman's sandals
Is first title Of the call Tetralogy of the Vatican and its most famous title, largely thanks to the film version 1968 who starred Anthony quinn. Tells the story of the election as pope of Cirilo Lakota, of Slavic origin and a prisoner of the gulags, in the middle of the cold war. Who was his former executioner is now the prime minister of the Soviet Union. And both will have to deal with a possible famine looming over the Russian people, who can bring the invasion from neighboring countries.
The tetralogy is completed with Jesters of god, Lazarus y Eminence.
Babel's tower
On a political issue that has not ceased to be current, he tells us the story of a Israeli secret agent, head of counterintelligence, general of Damascus, a banker Lebanese and a Jewish painter. Their lives and interests mix amidst the conflict between Arabs and Jews.
Summer of the Red Wolf
Changing register is this novel by magic, mystery and primitive forces set in the Hebrides islands, in Scotland, where the world seems to end.
The protagonists are two men and two women in what is at first a simple story of love, rivalry, brotherhood and violence. But there is also underlying modern man's attempt to run away from civilization.
The devil's lawyer
Again take the religious approach from that eternal Christian paradox that the constant tension between faith and human weakness. West tells how his protagonist, Meredith, is going to die but has been chosen as Devil's lawyer to act as a prosecutor against a man they want to beatify. But this, Giaccomo NeroneHe was not so blessed, he had left a pregnant woman with whom he had not married and he had also made enemies.
Meredith, before dying, asks for a miracle and a couple, Nina and Paolo Sanduzzi, offer it to her. In addition, he, on his own, manages to make another. All wrapped in a text intriguing and resourceful from the detective novel.
The concubine
And finally another title with romantic touch. mike mccreary, the protagonist, is a irish adventurer who worked in the oil well drilling whom they want to transfer to Indonesia. But rubensohn, unscrupulous speculator, proposes you a job that you cannot refuse. The problem comes when Lisette, the lover and companion of Rubensohn whom he no longer loves, falls in love with McCreary.
They both have to live that love stealthily. But then Rubensohn wants to sell Lisette to the monarch of Karang Sharo in exchange for the oil concession on his volcanic island. So McCreary will draw a plan to get revenge by Rubensohn and rescue to Lisette.