We all enjoyed The Colony by Audrey Magee, her second much lauded novel. Her writing was rich with descriptions of the characters, as well
as the extraordinary landscape of this tiny island, off the Atlantic coast of the Republic of Ireland. Set in 1979 during 'the troubles' the book is about colonisation and all that imposes upon a people, their language, their culture, their freedoms and political futures. The two main protagonists were Lloyd, a wealthy, self-centered Englishman, an 'artist', and his rival JP Masson, a French Algerian linguist. The story unfolds as these two representatives of European colonisation strive for cultural and social superiority over the few remaining islanders, whose future for survival in the fast evolving world are rapidly decreasing. We thought that the concise, dispassionate reporting of the troubles occurring in Northern Ireland at the time, another result of colonisation, were well-integrated into the story. There are many threads to this complex but nuanced novel, exploring a range of issues, including art, sex, death and women's rights. We had a lively debate around cultural appropriation
and artistic authenticity in the light of reading this book, leading into an excellent discussion about individual rights, education, pros and cons of imperialism, linguistic domination and artistic freedom. It is an excellent choice for a book group.