Styles of betrayals

Press, 26 December 1987, Page 19

Styles of betrayals

Trust. By Mary Flanagan. Bloomsbury, 1987. 292 pp. $36. (Reviewed by Joan Curry) The book opens with Eleanor, twanging with nerves, arranging a secret trust fund for her step-daughter Clover. Charles, the lawyer, is honourable, worthy, married, and besotted with Eleanor. Eleanor has left her offensive, prickly, disagreeable painter husband Jason and is besotted with Felix. Felix is smooth and insinuating and entirely selfish. He is an international fence, dealing in fine art works and using whatever and whomever he can. He is a snake. But charming. He slides in and out of the story and everyone is debased for knowing him. The story, about how people betray each other, is told from the points of view of four different characters: Eleanor, then Jason, then Clover, and finally Charles. By the time we have finished with Eleanor we are twitching with nerves and Jason is almost a relief. He is fierce about his painting and his integrity, determined to bite the hands that try to feed him. It is no wonder that he threw Eleanor out oi his life.

Then there is Clover, growing up in a grotty but dramatic environment. Her view of Jason is different from Eleanor’s as is her view of Charles and even of Felix. Clover’s story takes us into the art world of London, New York and Hurricane, Utah, where Jason is lionised and then rejected for his offensive behaviour.

And finally there is Charles, another victim of betrayal who is the trustee of Eleanor’s gift to Clover and who, because of his position as lawyer and confidant to the others, can manipulate people and events when it becomes necessary. Even Charles is capable of betrayal but he, honourable and worthy, can also redeem himself. A small but appreciative note to end

with: the book has a ribbon bookmark attached to the spine for the convenience of readers — a thoughtful touch.