The All-Seeing Assassin (The Blind Assassin)

I have been very slow with my reading over the past few weeks. The weather is scorching, and I'm afraid I've been numbing my mind in front of the TV more than usual. But my new temp job near Tower Bridge (and the hideously long commute) has whipped me back into shape. In fact, the scenic Bridget Jones-esque walk down the South Bank in the mornings has put me in a more literary frame of mind. And like Bridget, I realise my lack of reading is 'v. bad, must try harder.'

The Blind Assassin is Margaret Atwood's tenth novel. Its epic proportions encompass the whole of the twentieth century, exploring the mysterious death of Laura Chase whose risque novel The Blind Assassin was published posthumously. It is told from the retrospective point of view of Laura's now elderly sister Iris who is trying to come to terms with her own life, as well as her sister's death.

Atwood, as always, is genius and the plot never falters. This novel is an amazing achievement of research and historical accuracy. The reader accompanies Iris on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary, attends lavish costume parties with her in the 1930's, gains an understanding of rationing and the effect of the Second World War and, most importantly, escorts the protagonist through the most confusing and unreal period of all: the present.

Although lengthy, the novel never loses momentum and the main narrative is broken up nicely with excerpts from Laura's novel as well as newspaper articles, press clippings, obituaries, etc. from different events and eras.

The Blind Assassin explores the theme of love in a completely omniscient, all-seeing way, and Atwood is anything but blind in terms of her ability to present this emotion. She also has the ability to clarify the theme of death, whilst at the same time, celebrating life. This is a wonderful example of an epic 'set against panoramic backdrop' that manages stays true to a poignant story without losing its place in history.