Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM

by Ian McEwan

 

Award: Booker Winner 1998

 

Nomination: Dublin Longlist 2000

 

Date Read: June 30, 2022

 

As with much of McEwan’s work, Amsterdam is a dark tale of moral ambiguity. The line between right and wrong is often unclear and who better to embody that than two long-time friends. Clive and Vernon find themselves at the funeral of their ex-lover, Molly, who succumbed to an illness in a brief amount of time. Rather than view each other as ex-rivals, Clive and Vernon view one another as long-term friends.

 

George, Molly husband at the time of her death, stumbles on some damaging photos of another of her ex-lovers, a well-known right-wing politician on the rise (Molly got around. Damn, girl!). The photos show this politician in drag, looking at-ease in this persona, implying that perhaps this indulgence wasn’t a one-off. 

 

Vernon is an editor at a paper on the decline. Readership is down. Their pool of stories are drying up and uninspiring to say the least. When George offers the photos to Vernon, he sees an opportunity to change his fortune while possibly ending the career of a man Vernon fundamentally disagrees with. Is it moral to publish these photos simply to embarrass this man? Does his very private life affect his ability to perform his duties? By publishing them, the implication is that his behavior is wrong, depraved and newsworthy. But is it really?

 

Meanwhile, Clive is facing a moral conundrum of his own. As a composer, he is desperate to complete a symphony that is long overdue. In an attempt to overcome composer-block, he takes a trip to a lake that he knows soothes his soul. While hiking, he witnesses a man assaulting a woman just as inspiration strikes. Rather than intervene, Clive makes the selfish choice to complete his thought and thereby his symphony.

 

Both of these situations are shared between the friends, Clive and Vernon. Clive is outraged that Vernon is publishing the photos, arguing that Molly would be sorely disappointed in him (I agree.). Vernon is equally outraged that Clive did nothing to aid the woman who was being attacked in broad daylight. Learning these things about each other brings their friendship to a halt. And in true McEwan style, the ending is surprising, implausible and entertaining.

 

While I enjoyed this novel (this being my 5th by McEwan), I find him being awarded the Booker for this somewhat shocking. I thought it was good but not THAT good. Regardless, kudos to him for his success. 

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