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Parrot And Olivier In America (2009)

by Peter Carey(Favorite Author)

3.41 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1926428145 (ISBN13: 9781926428147)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Hamish Hamilton

review 1: I've never read de Tocqueville, and that almost should be a requirement, I suspect, to fully appreciate "Parrot and Olivier in America," which follows the exploits and travels of a de Tocqueville-like character (the aristocrat Olivier-Jean-Baptiste de Clarel de Garmont) and his "servant," John "Parrot" Larrit, in the young United States of the early 1800s. Carey so perfectly captures what I would assume to be the authentic period speech and phrasing of the French Olivier and British Parrot that you almost feel as if you are reading actual journals from that time (Olivier and Parrot's writings form alternate chapters throughout the novel). We see Olivier progress from a snooty, slightly arrogant member of French nobility, secure in his privilege and superior status, to what... more he might term to be a "true American," someone to whom class distinction has all but disappeared. In this process we see his relationship with his servant Parrot evolve from one of unthinking master-to-servant abuse to one of respect and (near) equality. (The irony is that Parrot is every bit the equal of Olivier in intelligence, talents and accomplishments; in fact, probably moreso.) Carey's writing is dense yet full of wonder; you feel you are inside the heads of two very real individuals. At the end of the novel, Olivier expounds on the marvels of the U.S., yet presumes it "will not ripen well," and proceeds to editorialize, prognosticating on the ultimate dim future he sees for the young democracy. I was almost amazed at how prescient this was until I reminded myself this novel was written five years ago!
review 2: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel--in fact, there were times I couldn't put it down. The character Olivier-Jean-Baptiste de Garmont is based on Alexis de Tocqueville, and I thought Peter Carey offered some interesting glimpses into what motivated Tocqueville to come to America. The character John "Parrot" Larritt was moving, and I found myself deeply attached to him. His background chapters give an interesting look at what life must have been like in Britain during the early Napoleonic period. Also, the scenes in early Restoration France were quite engrossing. less

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