The Absolutist – John Boyne

Expectation: A story about the forbidden love between two soldiers in World War I.

Reality: Half of the novel is filler, but Boyne delivers some shocking revelations and a satisfying conclusion. 

My Take: 

John Boyne is an interesting writer. With each novel he explores a different genre, but his trademark sardonic humor and last act plot twists will always make an appearance. This makes it easier for fans to go along for the ride, even when a novel is puttering along. 

“The Absolutist” definitely puttered. 

While I tore through it in three days, it wasn’t a page turner in the traditional sense. Several chapters left me rapt but others had me bored to tears. At times it felt like he was being paid by the word.  

What pushed me forward was a desire to know why our main character, Tristan, harbored so much guilt. In true Boyne fashion, the last two chapters didn’t disappoint — I was shocked by the turn of events — but I can’t say the journey to get there was completely worth it. 

While a World War I narrative at its core, it reads more as a homage to E.M. Forster. Boyne infused many elements of the acclaimed author’s life — not to mention his writing style and structure — into the narrative, which anchored the story into its 1910s setting. 

However, if you’re not a fan of books from that era, you won’t like this one either. 

It’s a talker, which isn’t necessarily bad except a lot of dialogue here isn’t great. This is one of Boyne’s earlier novels (published in 2011), and he’s certainly become more skilled at making characters more human and less caricatures. Outside of Tristan, the supporting players chewed the scenery.  

Part of the unevenness of the novel is also due to the alternating timelines, which was similar to Forster’s “Maurice,” so I can see why Boyne used this structure, but it wasn’t as effective as I think he thought it would be. 

The present day (1919) sections felt unnecessary, truly. Tristan traveled from London to Norwich to visit Marian — the sister of his friend, Will, who died during the Great War — to deliver letters and clear his conscience. It’s strictly a plot device that accounts for 50 percent of the novel. There’s little action, little revelation and a lot of awkwardness.

It’s the flashbacks (1915-1916) that provide the narrative juice and intrigue to keep the reader hooked. In these we learn about Tristan’s early life, friendship with Will and experiences fighting in the trenches of Northern France. It’s harrowing, emotional and captivating. It’s exactly the novel I wanted to read — full of social commentary (for the time), forbidden love and harrowing scenes of war — although I can’t speak to accuracy. 

The timeline jumps to the late-1970s for a satisfying last chapter, and I wish he would’ve started the story here, and then focused only on Tristan’s point of view while isolating the Norwich visit to a single chapter. This would’ve been less like Forster, but a more compelling book from start-to-finish.

Fans of Boyne should read this, but I’m not a fan of books that only redeem themselves in the end. Therefore, this ranks in the lower echelon of his novels, in my opinion.

Rating (story): 4/5 stars

Rating (narration): N/A

Formats: eBook (library loan)

Dates read: January 13 – January 16, 2023

Multi-tasking: N/A