Robert Harris has always been one of my favourite authors and many of his books I read whilst travelling to work, usually reading them on my old Amazon Kindle.
As it happens reading a book on the return journey was more difficult owing to the crowds travelling at what used to be known as rush hour, which was the main disadvantage of an early start and early finish at the office.
These days though, I suppose that many start early and finish late although since Covid-19, working from home for some of the week is common; a working feature encouraged by striking rail and tube workers.
Reverting to this blog-post's title, Robert Harris must have researched long and deeply before writing his latest novel.
I tend these days after retirement three years ago, to enjoy reading books in hardback or paperback form, rather than via a Kindle except when travelling long distance particularly by plane.
Act of Oblivion I purchased in hardback and was fortunate enough to have my copy signed by the author.
The summary on the novel's cover summarises the work better than I ever could:
1660. Colonel Edwards Whalley and his son-in-law, Colonel William Gough, cross the Atlantic. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.
In London, Richard Naylor, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He'll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward hangs over their heads - for their capture, dead or alive.
The book at over 460 pages, is not short but is gripping even when read a couple of chapters at a time.
The author's note signifies that Mr Harris has created an imaginative version of a true story with the events and characters being accurate, save for one character who may simply be the product of the author's imagination.
A great read.
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