Available nowīest known for historical thrillers, Peruvian-born Mario Vargas Llosa shifts his focus to the political figures who shaped his intellectual life. The Call Of The Tribe: Essays by Mario Vargas Llosa is published in hardback by Faber & Faber, priced £18.99 (ebook £7.99). This is a book that requires investment, but ultimately proves a rewarding read. While this is a brave and effective device, the switches between generations can be disconcerting and the pace slows considerably in certain sections yet the need for resolution in the central tale ensures the reader never quite jumps ship. Molly’s story would have been enjoyable on its own as a romantic period adventure, but the author has attempted to broaden the scope of the book to deliver a message on the suppression and marginalisation of women’s voices in history. However, this isn’t a quick or easy read.
The storyline is engaging and characters are convincing and well-drawn the author’s research is evident without a heavy-handed touch. This book initially appears to be a swashbuckling romp through 18th-century Devon, with smugglers and swordfights aplenty – but while the tale of an orphaned girl, Molly, living as a boy on a ship is the main plot, there are plenty of undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.
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