A Change of Climate

Hilary Mantel, A Change of Climate (Penguin, 1995)

This is the first Hilary Mantel book I have read, and I really enjoyed it.  A Change of Climate tells the story of the Eldred family, especially focused on Ralph and Anna, as they move from Norfolk to southern Africa and then back to Norfolk.  The book starts as the story of what appears to be a slightly eccentric, left-wing, and mildly religious family living a relatively normal life not far from Norwich.  As we learn more about Ralph and Anna’s experiences in Africa though, the story quickly becomes much bleaker.  The liberal religion that Ralph and Anna take with them to South Africa and Bechuanaland is shaken and broken by their horrific experiences there.  They return to Norfolk unable to forgive and intent on forgetting what happened.  But although they lie to their children and create a workable life in a rural house, Anna in particular cannot stop thinking about what happened.  Everything comes to a head one summer, and there is a real sense of family breakdown as the truth starts to emerge.  It is a very religious book, finishing with a prayer at Walsingham, but it is not an optimistic book.  The fact that it challenges what might be thought of as the uncertain certainties of an outwardly caring, engaged liberal Christianity make the critique of religion far more powerful than if it were simply an attack on an unnuanced form of fundamentalism (which to be fair is also done).  This is a really powerful book, but certainly not a comforting read.