Fugue for a Darkening Island

Originally published in 1972, Christopher Priest's second novel is definitely worth a re-read following the release of this new edition in 2011 with an updated preface. This dystopian novel is fascinating for its subtle and ironic condemnation of colonial imperialism during the post-war period in Great Britain, whilst providing an ideologically provocative prophecy of tragic events in the early twenty-first century : namely, the massive exodus of migrants from southern climes towards Europe. Even the use of the word 'tragic' is rather loaded, for Alan Whitman's position as a displaced Englishman on an island torn asunder by war precipated by the incursion of militarized African refugees is constantly redefined as he and his family seek safe haven in a world where tribalism becomes the norm. A cautionary tale from a not so distant past for our times, with shades of Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road'