Alan Clark
Why do human beings destroy themselves? Their predicament, which is the fundament of all true literature, rests on love, idealism, self-sacrifice, betrayal and, too late, a stricken awareness of tragedy and waste. These I found in two very different works: Martin Gilbert's The First World War (Weidenfeld, £20) and . , The Bridges of Madison County (Mandarin, £4.99). And how masterly and corroborative of this thesis reads the very last paragraph in Gilbert's book, drawing to a fine point his vast tapestry with one single instance of love and fidelity.
Most overrated? Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle (Minerva, £5.99). Here the Booker judges trailed their obsession with ethnic rubbish, brought to climax a year later in the promotion of Kelman 'Vomit [to paraphrase Alan Bennett on Newcastle] without the neck bites.'
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