Described by Robert MacFarlane in

as Banville’s “boldest book” for its little plot (MacFarlane, 2000:1),

(2000), Banville’s eleventh novel,has engendered contrasting opinions by both reviewers and literary critics.While some praise Banville’s stylish and elegant prose, others lament the lack of plot and characterisation. Indeed, the narrative in

does not follow in chronological order, but sends us back and forth in its protagonist’s troubled life, by means of digressions, twists, and turns. In interview with Arminta Wallace in the

, commenting on the lack of plot in his novels, Banville expresses the wish to have “the world itself reflected in the characters, so that you can almost see through them. They almost become transparent”…

3411 words

Citation: Palazzolo, Pietra. "Eclipse". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 October 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5446, accessed 25 November 2024.]