DIVIDED Kingdom is a gripping road story of self-discovery, loss, memory and political subterfuge, beautifully told through Thomson's unique writing style.
In the novel's parallel world, the authorities of the UK have reacted to uncontrollable crime levels by segregating the population into four quarantined areas, based on each group's personality type. The regime is founded on the 'Theory of Humours', an ancient Greek philosophy. The West becomes the land of the 'phlegmatic', spiritual but weak. The 'choleric', driven by anger and sex, live in the violent North. The 'melancholic' live a glum, gin-soaked life in the East, and the 'sanguine' minority live life in the bland but cheerful South.
It sounds, and actually is, absurd. However, the personality divisions provide a perfectly flawed theory of stereotypes for satire, minus the minefield of political incorrectness. For the reader, the 'kingdom' is barely credible, but Thomson's complete belief in it makes it easy to enjoy what is thrown up.
Divided Kingdom by Rupert Thomson is published by Bloomsbury, priced £17.99.
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