Farewell to Eden by Sebastian Faulks review
A returning British soldier is haunted by his time in Palestine in this panoramic epic set after the second world war
TL;DR
- The novel is set in 1946 Palestine, focusing on the Israel-Palestine conflict and Britain's mandate.
- Protagonist Philip Deval, a British officer, suffers from inner melancholy and despair regarding human nature and coexistence.
- The book depicts the violent realities of the conflict, including the bombing of the King David Hotel.
- Friendships form between Philip and characters like priest Matthew Kilvert and music mistress Frances Darwood, exploring faith and past traumas.
- "Farewell to Eden" examines disillusionment, morally compromised nations and individuals, and the difficulty of coexistence.