The Temporary Gentleman
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Summary
Jack is the only figure in the "quintet" to appear in a negative light. He is a drunkard, a gambler, an absent father and a neglected husband. He is dissolute and lazy, lacking any sense of responsibility toward marriage and family, bewildered and indifferent in the face of war and the army. Almost everything he does is left unfinished, and he is given over to living his days in a muddled haze, until 1957, the point at which the novel opens.
By then, the Second World War had long ended, his wife Mai was dead, and his children had all grown up. Jack lives alone in Accra, Ghana, where in old age, loneliness, bewilderment and remorse, he sets down the past in words. What torments Jack is not the sorrow of failing years, nor illness or the brutal memories of war, but his grief for his wife; a "gnashing sense of guilt" steadily eats away at his soul. The novel's title seems an irony upon Jack's absurd life: a temporary gentleman, for whom virtue seems always to be fleeting.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in Irish literature or historical fiction
- Novel lovers who enjoy delicate psychological portrayal and family narratives
- Readers who wish to explore themes of war trauma, memory, and redemption
- Literary readers who appreciate Sebastian Barry's poetic prose
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast-paced, plot-driven entertainment
- Readers sensitive to heavy historical backgrounds and themes of family tragedy
Reading tips
- Reading it alongside other works in Barry's "Irish Destiny" quintet (such as "The Secret Scripture") offers a fuller understanding of his historical vision.
- While reading, pay attention to the jump-cut structure of time and memory in the narrative and how it serves the thematic expression.
- After finishing the ending, revisit the details of the opening; you will often discover emotional foreshadowing the author carefully planted.
About the publisher
Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House is a Chinese publisher specializing in literary publishing. Judging from the 808 titles in the database, its publishing areas cover world classics, foreign literature, social novels, folk literature and classic works, as well as modern and contemporary literature and prose. Representative titles include foreign literary translations such as Anna Karenina, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, In Praise of Shadows and The Complete Tragedies and Comedies of Shakespeare, alongside classic works by Lao She and Lu Xun such as Camel Xiangzi, Teahouse and Wandering. Its authors and translators include Leo Tolstoy, Cao Ying, Lao She, Yukio Mishima, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and Zhu Shenghao. The press emphasizes the translation and introduction of classic texts and the compilation of native literary works, giving equal weight to Chinese and foreign literature. Owing to limited public information, its specific series and editorial policies are not elaborated here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一章
- 第二章
- 第三章
- 第四章
- 第五章
- 第六章
- 第七章
- 第八章
- 第九章
- 第十章
- 第十一章
- 第十二章
- 第十三章
- 第十四章
- 第十五章
- 第十六章
- 第十七章
- 第十八章
- 第十九章
- 第二十章
- 第二十一章
- 第二十二章
- 第二十三章
- 第二十四章
- 第二十五章
- 第二十六章
- 第二十七章
- 第二十八章
- 第二十九章
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About the author
Sebastian Barry is a foreign-literature author with seven works in our catalog. Public information about him is limited, and his nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name are currently unknown. Judging from works such as The Secret Scripture, On Canaan's Side, Days Without End, The Temporary Gentleman, and the five-volume Irish Destiny series, his writing often focuses on individuals caught between history and reality. His subjects fall under social fiction and foreign literature, and his narratives tend to portray fate, memory, and human vulnerability under the pressure of the times with delicate strokes. His works combine storytelling with literary quality and have attracted some attention among Chinese readers.
Zhang Xiaofen is an author about whom relatively limited information is publicly available; details such as her nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background have not been recorded. According to the current catalog information, two of her works are included in the collection: Orchids and Dandelions and The Temporary Gentleman. Judging from the common categories, her writing touches on two directions: applied psychology and foreign literature. Orchids and Dandelions leans toward applied psychology and may explore themes such as individual differences, personality, and personal growth, while The Temporary Gentleman is classified as foreign literature, indicating that she has also attempted narrative writing. The considerable difference in subject matter between the two works suggests that her writing is not confined to a single field. Because public information is limited, it is currently difficult to fully trace her creative development and overall style; readers may learn more about how she addresses psychological topics and literary narrative by examining the specific content of these two works.
