レビュー

• William Boyd demonstrates his mastery of the historical novel with The Blue Afternoon. The vivid and meticulously crafted setting of 1903 Manila showcases his extensive research, likely bolstered by travel to the Philippines. The novel's rich historical detail immerses readers in a bygone era, bringing the city and its characters to life. At its core, The Blue Afternoon is a profound and deeply affecting love story, layered with a captivating subplot about an ambitious attempt at manned flight—one that could have predated the Wright Brothers' historic achievement. Boyd weaves these elements into a narrative that evolves into a gripping thriller and murder mystery, culminating in a suspenseful and satisfying conclusion. This novel is a testament to Boyd's skill as one of the world’s preeminent authors. It's surprising that The Blue Afternoon hasn’t received the broader recognition it deserves. It’s an outstanding literary achievement.

• William Boyd is a highly rated author and this book has a lot going for it. It's intriguing, interesting and in its way quite exciting. There's some romance, murders, medical scenes, aeronautical engineering, and the historical background of the Philippines at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The various plots are interesting too. Yes, quite a lot in rather a long book. And the author must have put a lot into writing it: perhaps a bit too much. Maybe it could have been simplified and trimmed down a bit.

• Slow in beginning but then became a satisfying read.. Enjoyed the characters and the plots. Also learned some History on the Philippines that I had no idea about.

• The love story between a young Filipino doctor and the beautiful wife of an American officer touches lightly the drama of the times. But then the mere surroundings, Manila, San Francisco, Lisbon and then Panay and the emotional strength they carry with give us an idea of their predicaments and of the dull existence we are in.

• You might not like all of William Boyd's novels, but you can never criticize his work for lacking originality or interesting characters. "The Blue Afternoon" certainly sits firmly in unusual context(s)--the Philippines 1903, Los Angeles and Lisbon 1936--and boasts some fascinating characters. In the latter category, the principals include a Filipino/Scottish surgeon, an American married woman who is the love of his life, a 30-something daughter who he has never seen and a Filipino anesthesiologist who aspires to be the first man to fly. There are abundant meaty secondary characters in support of the story. Largely a tale of passionate but thwarted love, the storyline is intelligent and credible despite the exotic settings and extreme ambitions and actions of its characters. As always with Boyd's books, you find yourself saying, "man, how did he come up with this stuff?" He is truly a fine writer with outsized imagination and creativity.

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