Proteus

I take exception to the 'Kirkus' review and suspect that whoever wrote it must have been having a bad day: a bad headache, perhaps. While not West's greatest novel...after all, it was one of his earlier efforts and I suspect that he was still honing his skills...I found the plot and characters believable and the "action" sequences kept me turning the pages. The ending was a bit of a surprise but I won't spoil it by revealing it here. Over the years, Morris West has become one of my favorite writers because his usage of words is rich and elegant. I'm only sorry that he didn't live to write a few more novels because he was, definitely, a "class act".

I first read Proteus about 20 years ago, after reading West's Shoes of the Fisherman. I read his other books after this, and then one day, quite by accident, I came upon Proteus. I was spellbound by Proteus. It is beautifully written, the language is rich, the story deeply moving, the ideas grasp the reader and don't let go even after the reader has finished the book. The ideas about the nature of human existence, the role of freedom, both political and economic, their interrelatedness, the ease with which we can lose either or both, slowly or catastrophically, forces the reader to examine his/her place in society. What lengths are we willing to go to protect our inalienable rights?Proteus is especially relevant in an America that has been rocked by the terroristic havoc of September 11th, a second day that will live in infamy in our history. The reader is forced to judge the protagonist--is he a hero or is he a terrorist?For every individual who understands that the individual is the smallest minority and is a minority whose rights must be inviolate beyond any consideration of a "greater good" defined by political or economic terms or situations, Proteus is a beacon of clarity of these issues.It is a celebration of the human spirit, and its pursuit of liberty. Congratulations, Mr. West--and thank you.