An Ark of Light
Dermot Bolger
[New Island Press]
Dermot Bolger has released his final Fitzgerald tale: An Ark of Light. Spanning the late 1900s, this stand-alone novel describes the bold journey of self-discovery undertaken by Eva in the latter half of her life as she abandons her home in Mayo to be a teacher, a writer, and a peripatetic, losing many loved ones along the way. Based on the author’s bond with the eccentric Sheila Fitzgerald, this book blends fact with fiction, describing Fitzgerald’s many experiences and, imaginatively, constructing her personal response to them.
Eva weaves a singular path through life, travelling across continents, and facing staggering losses, but while her journey is remarkable in terms of content, Bolger’s overtly self-conscious writing drains the vivacity from this novel. Lingering on the unimportant while doggedly employing worthy details as subordinate clauses, Bolger’s story remains underdeveloped. The equal emphasis given to backstories, character trivia, and milestones creates meaningless clutter, regrettably resembling writer’s notes waiting to mature into a first draft. Keen to be classed as ‘literature’ rather than ‘popular fiction’, the language is unduly specific, suffering from rampant pleonasm. Bolger inundates his readers with bland details, leaving no space for imagination, resulting in a case of reader apathy.
An Ark of Light gives voice to the fascinating life of a woman born before her time, but unfortunately, her tale often lacks refinement.
Words: Courtney Byrne
