Restoration

It's been a while since I read this, and I was absolutely wild about it when it first came out. Merivel is an eighteenth century party animal, indulging in the most fun of the seven deadly sins like gluttony and lust. He's too good natured to indulge in the nastier ones, and he's usually drunk. He's attending medical school, and he has a gift for healing; he's not in the least bit squeamish. But he doesn't recognize the most valuable part of himself, because he's so caught up in the glitter of materialism and the resplendency of his idol, the larger than life Charles II. The king decides to make use of his merry but obsequious devotee and give one of his many mistresses a husband. But Merivel breaks the cardinal rule and falls in love with his charge. The king is furious, but he doesn't react as Merivel would expect. This is a joyful novel that beautifully illustrates the splendor and tawdriness of its time and setting while creating a timeless parable about self-worth and coming to spiritual and moral enlightenment. Ultimately the main character, his wife and the king discover and rediscover what is truly valuable. More to the point Rose Tremain has a wonderfully delicate, tactful and strong prose style that is a pleasure to read. This book comes highly recommended, though Tremain truly outdoes herself in Restoration's literary sequel, Music and Silence, which is set in the same period at the court of Charles II' cousin, the king of Denmark. That book is even better than this one.

Set during 17th century England and the "restoration" of Charles II, Rose Tremain's novel, "Restoration" is the story of Robert Merivel, a man set on "restoring" himself.Merivel is a walking contradiction. He longs for money and power but admits that he is lazy about doing what needs to be done in order to obtain them. In fact, Merivel even eschews his profession as a physician in favor of an easier life, one that did not entail so much hard work and long hours. He actually marries the king's mistress though he is absolutely forbidden to touch her. Complications arise when Merivel makes the mistake of falling in love with, who else...his own wife.It was, however, Merivel's laziness that caused Charles II to look upon him with askance. Feeling that Merivel still had potential, Charles forced him to practice his profession at a Quaker asylum, thus restoring Merivel to his status as a working man.Although Merivel develops great compassion for the poor and the insane of the asylum, he does not completely transform himself. He still desires power and wealth, but his self-control have at least taken a turn for the better. This is the thrust of the book as I see it, the restoration of self-respect and self-sufficiency to Robert Merivel, although all of the other aspects of the book were interesting as well.Details of 17th century England abound in this novel and they all serve to elevate the book beyond what it would have been had they not been included. This is historical fiction with a comedic twist, and it is very, very good historical fiction. At its heart, though, "Restoration" is the portrait of a man, a very flawed man, who, through the acknowledgement of his own flaws, perhaps, is restored. In Robert Merivel, Rose Tremain has created a wonderful character: a man who is flawed, but honest about those flaws, a man who is lazy but caring, vain but concerned about his own vanity. It is easy to love Robert Merivel and even easier to relate to him and to his contradictions.It is Merivel's trials and contradictions, his loves and desires, that shape the course of this book. His transformation from a self-centered, hedonistic fool to a serious and sensitive man is beautifully rendered. "Restoration," though a commentary on 17th century England, could very well be a commentary on the entire 21st century world as well. As Charles II, himself, says, "Even in an age in which we wisely practice the excellent art of oblivion, certain things remain." It is the wise reader who will remember Charles' words..."certain things remain"...and proceed, like Merivel, to do something about the situation.

Robert Merival believes he has a wonderful place in the court of King Charles II. He has been given the honour of marrying one of the King's most treasured concubines who needs to be temporarily removed from court to avoid the King's wife. They are given an estate and an income in return for the promise that Robert will not lay a finger on his wife.Robert becomes quite comfortable in his new found luxury, splurging on food, drink, toys and furnishings, believing himself to be quite the gentleman. However, he begins to become aware of one small problem, he is falling in love with his wife.Through certain events he comes to realise that he was not chosen to be married to the King's lover because of their friendship, but because he was the only fool that would do it without question. He is a laughing stock. When everything is taken away from him, his wife, his estate and money, he seeks out an old friend who works in a lunatic asylum.This is where Robert begins his personal restoration. Through studying and attempting to help and cure the people of their madness, he begins to see just exactly what kind of person he is. Rose Tremain is wickedly comedic, with stories of people that we can laugh with and relate to, despite centuries separating us. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as I have done with all of the others I have read from this wonderful author.

I was encouraged to read this book because I had seen and thoroughly enjoyed the film by the same title. As a practicing physician and lover of early Baroque music, I found myself deeply moved by Rose Tremain's novel. The story is narrated in the first person by Rober Merivel, a physician during the reign of Charles II, the English king restored to the throne after the end of the English civil war and the regime of Oliver Cromwell. I was profoundly impressed at how Tremain, a female, was able to so intimately and accurately write from a masculine perspective. In addition, she was able to clearly express the fears, anxieties, and growing pains of a physician that still hold true today. Her portrayal of the close friendship between Merivel and "Pearce," a Quaker, and fellow physician reminded me of my own professional relationships with some of my colleagues. I wonder if she has had some close relationships with physicians. It certainly speaks well for her research on the historical and scientific background for this book. Tremain's description of the practice of 17th century Euopean medicine was fascinating and well portrayed. I found the growth of Merivel as a human being most engaging of all. His trials and tribulations, his evolution from a self-centered hedonistic court fop to a serious and senstitive man is beautifully and poignantly portrayed. Tremain's work also has some thinly veiled commentary our own times, times not unlike the Restoration wherein, as Charles II describes at the novel's end, " Even in an age in which we wisely practise the excellent art of oblivion, certain things remain." There is a very amusing and ironic moment in the novel where Merivel, a newly appointed Overseer of the Poor in his shire, is instructed in the differences between the "Idle, Able, and Impotent Poor." His own commentary on how this may be applied to the aristocracy and hangers on at court is just one very entertaining and particularly barbed example of the author's view of our own times. I would put this novel in the same class as "The Citadel" by A.J. Cronin, being a story of a physician's life and of the times in which he lives and works. I recommend this book to anyone interested in going into medicine, in the midst of training, or in the practice of the healing arts. I would also recommend it to anyone searching for meaning in these difficult not-so-modern times. My only two regrets are that the story came to an end and that I am unable to personally express my gratitude to the author for writing this work. It left a deep impression on me, one that makes me feel better about our common humanity over the ages.