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A churchman who fraternises with the devil. Afterlife of a victim of Lockerbie. However, the novel never really takes off. The Professor of Truth. Follow Telegraph Books on Twitter. Get the best at Telegraph Puzzles. A collection of the best contributions and reports from the Telegraph focussing on the key events, decisions and moments in Churchill's life. This book tells the story of the men and women of Fighter Command who worked tirelessly in air bases scattered throughout Britain to thwart the Nazis.
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A man stands accused of orchestrating the act of terrorism, yet all evidence against him seems to have been fabricated to make the crime fit the person, rather than collated and judiciously applied - like jigsaw pieces - to prove beyond doubt that he is the missing piece of the puzzle.
The sole witness for the prosecution: Twenty-one years later, a retired CIA operative, dying of cancer, has truths to spill before leaving this world. A Vietnamese woman - exiled from her homeland during war only to face worse horrors - is the only hope the lecturer, now a professor, has of ever finding out the truth about who killed his wife and child, and why.
The main character, Alan Tealing, has strong parallels to Robertson's wonderful creation Gideon Mack. This time, rather than being a minister without faith, the protagonist is a professor of English literature who secretly believes that all fiction is futile. Once again, faith - both lost and found - plays a key role in the plot. Also like The Testament of Gideon Mack , this novel is an example of focused storytelling, unlike 'And the Land Lay Still', which - sandwiched between two shorter, more coherent books - sprawled to an unnecessary length due to often-irrelevant and frequently dull tangents.
The Professor of Truth is distilled storytelling at its finest. Robertson never gives away too much, sticking to the axiom that good writing should begin in the writer's imagination and finish in the reader's. Although this is a work of fiction, its story parallels the Lockerbie disaster which happened over Scotland in the late s and its aftermath. Like Arthur Miller with The Crucible , James Robertson uses fiction to make the reader question too-convenient 'truths' proposed to tidy up a situation that is anything but tidy.
He does so with mastery of his craft. The plot is tight, realistic and pacy, its characters unique. Even characters who play minor roles in the plot are imbued with idiosyncrasies that bring them and the story to life. Apr 22, David Kenvyn rated it it was amazing. This book is about the effect of an atrocity like the Lockerbie bombing, and people will draw their own inferences and resonances from that. But it is about much more than that.
It is about how people cope with grief. It is about the narratives that we come to believe. It is about the narratives that governments set before us when we have to deal with an atrocity.
It is about why we believe or disbelieve what governments tell us, and why it is that governments find it necessary to lie to us. And This book is about the effect of an atrocity like the Lockerbie bombing, and people will draw their own inferences and resonances from that. And it is about individuals dealing with extraordinary events, both badly and well, depending on your point of view.
It is by no means an easy read, but it is one from which you will benefit because you will learn something about other people and, most importantly, yourself. It will help you to understand your own view of the world. My practice is never to read reviews until I have read the book!
In this case I am glad I stuck true to this as I didn't know the background, and that it was based so closely on the events of However this did not matter. The style of writing was so easy and comfortable to read, I raced through the book albeit short in record time for me.
I felt I was Alan Tealing, walking through the awful events of the bombing, the aftermath, the obsession to find a truth. Brilliant writing and for me, My practice is never to read reviews until I have read the book! Brilliant writing and for me, the section about the plan going down had to be reread a couple of times as it was so wonderfully if that is the word written. I will read more of his books. Jun 28, Laura rated it liked it Recommends it for: James Robertson's powerful novel, inspired by events surrounding the Lockerbie bombing.
I got into James Robertson books from reading The Fanatic and The Testament of Gideon Mack, which stuck with me and kept me thinking about them even though they didn't seem like amazing literature on the first read. Both of them interested me based on their subject. The Professor of Truth, on the other hand, is I think the best James Robertson I've read so far in terms of being well written. It is compelling and smart and sweet, and a very quick read in the sense that you do not want to stop rea I got into James Robertson books from reading The Fanatic and The Testament of Gideon Mack, which stuck with me and kept me thinking about them even though they didn't seem like amazing literature on the first read.
It is compelling and smart and sweet, and a very quick read in the sense that you do not want to stop reading it until you've finished. Mar 24, Victoria rated it really liked it Shelves: I received this book through the Goodreads first read programme. That has in no way affected my review The Professor of Truth was not what I expected before I read it. I had expected a psychological and political thriller. Instead I got an in-depth look at the consequences of disaster, a look into one man's desperate grief, and to see that everyone has suffered and survived or not their own personal tragedies.
Clearly, the basis of the book is the Lockerbie bombings, though this is never mention I received this book through the Goodreads first read programme. Clearly, the basis of the book is the Lockerbie bombings, though this is never mentioned.
I don't claim to be an expert in the matter. I do not have a personal stake in the matter. But I have always been interested in it, and I do believe that Al-Megrahi may have been wrongfully convicted. But that's neither here nor there, other than to say I recognise this story. I can pick out characters that seem to be based on real people, places that are not named but can be placed, events that may really have happened.
I'm not sure what this brought to my reading of the story. I don't know if someone who knew little or nothing of Lockerbie, or who believed Al-Megrahi was guilty would take the same things away from the book as I did. But, while based on reality, this is fiction. And in fiction we can get into the minds of people. And the protagonist, Alan's, mind is not a happy place. He cannot get over the terrible, tragic loss of his wife and daughter, the only things that brought colour and meaning to his life. He functions, keeping up his job and acquaintances, but really all he wants is to find out who really killed his wife and daughter.
This book is about that journey. The first half of the book, focuses on one conversation that may finally lead him to the truth. That conversation is interrupted by the tangents of Alan's memories. Memories of life before the bomb, memories of what his family meant to him, memories of how he experienced the tragedy. This is an intense look into raw, bleeding, unhealing grief. He doesn't want to be pitied. He doesn't want to be defined by his loss - but he allows the loss to define him.
The second half of the book is about what he does with the information he receives. This is when he finally stops being passive and starts reacting to events, taking control. Alan is not the only person in the book who has suffered loss and tragedy. Everyone he has a substantial conversation with has a tragedy in their past, and all have dealt with it in different ways. I recognised some of those coping mechanisms. I've used them myself.
More than a quest for the absolute truth, The Professor of Truth is about our perception of the truth. Our own truth and other peoples. It is about listening to others, and hearing their stories before we judge them. When you get to know someone, you might discover some surprising things about their histories. Alan Tealing lost his wife and daughter when their plane was destroyed by a terrorist bomb 21 years prior to the main action of this story.
Alan is convinced that Khalil Khazar, the man convicted of the bombing, was a patsy, set up to take the fall for reasons that Alan cannot quite understand, but Alan has no doubt that Khazar was not guilty. Alan spends his entire life after the bombing doggedly seeking the truth. He is obsessed, and his relationships with his family members suffer; he has only Alan Tealing lost his wife and daughter when their plane was destroyed by a terrorist bomb 21 years prior to the main action of this story.
He is obsessed, and his relationships with his family members suffer; he has only one real friend. Alan, though, is determined to find the truth. This novel does not offer a lot of excitement, action, or even mystery. It's more the story of Alan himself and his life than the mystery of who actually carried out the bombing, but it's also an extended existential question: If Alan finally gets the truth he seeks, is it going to be what he wants?
Will it really make a difference? That is the question that the novel asks, and it does, though not explicitly, answer it. This is a beautifully written novel. The author, James Robertson, is a writer's writer: This is, if one had to pen a label on it, a literary novel, and a literary novel in the best sense of the term. Writers of the quality of Robertson are rare, and he is able to make this slow, sedate story very enjoyable.
Apr 14, Annabel rated it really liked it Shelves: I was very excited to receive this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads and am grateful to the author, publisher and to Goodreads. The novel is a thought-provoking and even troubling read, as it's themes ask the reader to question the 'truths' that we, the public, can be told; the story would undoubtedly be moving and poignant for any reader.
Although not quite a thriller, the novel is contemporary, haunting and unique, and provokes the reader to think about many aspects that we cannot control in I was very excited to receive this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads and am grateful to the author, publisher and to Goodreads. Although not quite a thriller, the novel is contemporary, haunting and unique, and provokes the reader to think about many aspects that we cannot control in the world we live in. One of the novel's best elements was the character development; characters have unique and interesting depth, creating an emotional connection between the events of the story and the reader.
James Robertson's writing style is original and simply excellent, which certainly helped me become gripped and stay gripped throughout. I enjoyed the pace of the plot, and the ambiguity of it; there are some unexpected twists which add to the poignancy of the themes. Although I have read some mixed reviews of this novel, I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a novel with depth, and I commend the author on his evident hard work in creating this gripping and emotive read.
Aug 31, McKenzie G. In this book, Alan Tealing was married to Alice and they had a daughter who was named Emily. Emily and Alice were going on a vacation to Scotland. They were on the plane to Scotland, but there was a bomb and they "died" on the plane over Scotland. I think the book is wonderful I just don't like that it took a little while for it to get started.
Anyways, my favorite character was Ted Nilsen because he lives his life the way he wants to because he knows he doesn't have very long and tomorrow is In this book, Alan Tealing was married to Alice and they had a daughter who was named Emily. Anyways, my favorite character was Ted Nilsen because he lives his life the way he wants to because he knows he doesn't have very long and tomorrow is not promised. This book describes the details very well.
In other words, the book has great sensory details. Like I said before, the book takes a little while to get started, but once it does it grips you and keeps you at the edge of your seat. I'd rate this book 5 stars. It was loaded with details and descriptions. If I were you and I liked reading semi-long books, I'd be running to my car or the library to go check this book out! Jan 29, Carol Mandel rated it really liked it. Fictional account of a professor's quest for the truth 18 years after the downing of an aircraft over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing his wife and daughter I felt like I should look up accounts of the actual accident to verify the historical events.
His search is based on feeling that the eventual trial and guilty verdict of one man was trumped up flimsy evidence to assuage the calls for justice from the public and victims' families. Jun 01, BlackKat rated it liked it. Le style de l'auteur m'est apparu lourd et lent. Mais ce roman est avant tout une histoire de deuil. Comment accepter cette injustice?
La mort est la cessation physique et corporelle de l'existence mais ceux qui partent survivent dans le coeur des vivants. Peut-on tourner la page quand il n'y a pas de corps physiques sur lesquels se recueillir? May 09, Erin Britton rated it really liked it. Having always believed that the man convicted of the bombing was not actually responsible for it, Tealing is quick to accept fresh information presented to him by a former CIA agent and so decides to track down and question the key trial witness whose evidence he never believed.
The journey that Alan Tealing goes on, both through his own grief and in an attempt to uncover the truth, is intensely moving and at times quite brutal. The Professor of Truth is a fairly slow and melancholy read but it is ultimately a very rewarding book and one that is definitely worth sticking with. Jul 31, Caroline Deacon rated it it was amazing. Felt very true to life and was quite uplifting. Apr 16, Adrian Gray rated it really liked it. A thinly veiled novelisation of the Lockerbie plane tragedy. The titular character is conducting his own investigation into the bomb and when visited by a mysterious secret service character known as 'Flynn' his suspicion is confirmed.
The final pages in Australia is terrific. A thriller, psychological study and meditation on truth all in one.
Nov 24, Michele rated it it was amazing Shelves: Another beautiful piece of writing from James Robertson. There are great reviews on this site so I am not going to do a pale immitation. Read and enjoy, I do love a writer who makes you think and ponder. Oct 15, Marije rated it liked it. This is a very good book that captures the complexity of grief, justice, and dealing with tragedy. It just felt a bit I was less emotionally involved than I had expected, but whether that is the story's fault or mine I don't know.
Jul 18, Jane Caron rated it liked it. Normally really enjoy this author but found this incredibly slow and impossible to keep my interest in the plot. Mar 12, Nitin Sharma rated it it was amazing. There are some novels that owe their success to suspense and then there are novels like this. It starts off slowly and thats not a bad thing here. It starts painting the story and before you know you are not the viewer but the theme of this painting itself. Each brush stroke is an emotion. You feel the despair of Alan tugging at your heart. You feel awkward and powerless as a hostage in his conversation with Nelson.
Infact the first half is so perfect that the ending may seem weak There are some novels that owe their success to suspense and then there are novels like this. Infact the first half is so perfect that the ending may seem weak in comparison. But when the last page is done, you comprehend the vastness of our universe and the tiny nature of your problems.
Your perspective is not just challenged but it gets lost in the multitudes of the circumstances. This novel is not an easy read.
The Professor of Truth by James Robertson – review. James Robertson's impressive study of grief was inspired by the Lockerbie plane. The Professor of Truth is James Robertson's acclaimed novel about grief, truth and justice. Twenty-one years after his wife and daughter were murdered in the.
When I first heard about this book I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it. A novel based so closely upon the Lockerbie bombing and the protracted aftermath sounded rather too harrowing. It is, however, written by James Robertson, author of 'And The Land Lay Bare' perhaps the definitive novel of Scotland in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and the strangely compelling 'Testament of Gideon Mack', so there was never any question about whether I would read it. I am glad I did. The novel is When I first heard about this book I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it.
The novel is a first person narrative from Dr Alan Tealing, an academic based at an unspecified Scottish university though I am pretty sure it is meant to be Stirling whose American wife and young daughter were among the victims of a terrorist atrocity that led to a passenger jet exploding over a town in southern Scotland twenty one years ago. Hence the inescapable associations with Lockerbie. As the novel opens the news of the death in prison of the man convicted of causing the explosion has just been announced.
Alone among all the bereaved, he has always been convinced that the conviction, secured largely upon the unsupported testimony of a minicab driver, was unsafe, and, to the consternation of the authorities, he had campaigned publicly for a retrial. Shortly after the announcement is made Tealing is visited by a mysterious American called Niven, who claims to have been part of the secret service team that investigated the cause of the explosion.
Niven explains that he is terminally ill and asks for a last interview with Tealing to try to discover why he has remained so adamant in his belief in the prisoner's innocence. Afterwards, as he prepares to leave, Niven passes Tealing a piece of paper with the new name and address of the witness whose evidence proved so pivotal in the trial. Certainly there are very few laughs, but the plot fairly fizzes along.
Tealing is an overwhelmingly plausible character and the evident depth of Robertson's own research about Lockerbie is replicated in his character's monomania. This could so easily have fallen into tasteless recapitulation of all the emotive responses to the atrocity, but Robertson pulls it off masterfully. And … there's a cat in it too! Mar 23, Nicky rated it really liked it.
First of all I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book through the Good Reads First Read Giveaway. I thoroughly enjoyed this book once it got going. It is an interesting study into a real event and it marges the fact and the fantasy well. It is almost always realistic and so you start to wonder where the fiction ends. The characters are well written and well rounded. I especially liked the use of flash back in the story as it kept the story moving throughout First of all I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book through the Good Reads First Read Giveaway.
I especially liked the use of flash back in the story as it kept the story moving throughout the first half of the book.
That being said the book is a slow read and there were times where I was struggling to go on. Although the flashbacks help to keep you moving within the book the main story is glacial until almost three quarters into the book when it suddenly picks up speed to gallop to the racing line.
I can see why this was done and the last part of the book certainly kept you sucked in but it seemed unnecessary for almost pages to centre on Langston standing in the kitchen, willing Nilsen to go away. By cutting short some of this exposition and back and forth, and by giving a little more balance to part two of the story the pace could have been made to feel less sluggish at times.
It was an advance copy that I was given so I expected some errors in the text. However there were some fairly big ones that pulled me out of the story. Towards the end of the kitchen scene there is a quote from Milton. This is placed in italics but the italics unfortunately continue until the bottom of the page, looking as if the whole passage was either a quote or a thought.
This gave me pause for several minutes whilst I tried to make sense of whether I had missed something. As well as this, towards the end of the book the character, Mr. Dinning was mistakenly referred to as Mr. Although I cannot comment on the finished copy, I hope that these errors were fixed before the novel went to print. Still, I found this an engaging book and a sensitive telling of a famous and horrific historical event. I especially liked how the event in question was never mentioned by name. This made the story all the more plausible, although ti was a shame that this illusion was diminished somewhat when the possible suspects were named.
Still, it is a compelling book and well worth picking up if you like a good old fashioned story. Jan 30, Karen rated it liked it.
Alan Tealing, a lecturer in English Literature, loses his wife and daughter in the crash; he is determined to find the truth about who planted the bomb. The convicted Libyan, Megrahi, is replaced in the book by Khalil Khazar. The first part of the story closely parallels the real events and provides a poignant picture of the terrible trauma and pain which the relatives and friends of victims must have experienced soon after the event. Tealing has become frozen by his loss and grief, unable to accept closure and move on.
Despite Khazar being found guilty and imprisoned for the bombing, Tealing believes that he is innocent and has spent 20 years obsessively searching for the truth. On a frozen snowy day a dying American intelligence officer, Ted Nilsen, arrives with some information that will take Tealing across the world to Australia and into the realm of fire.
The final half of the book takes off into a more fictional sphere and becomes more of an exploration of Tealing himself and his journey of self discovery.