Malevil

by Robert Merle | 1975

If you are a fan of the post apocolypse genre, then you will appreciate this gem of a book. It is difficult to find, but it is well worth perservering with a search.

The title of the book refers to an old castle in rural France, and which is owned by our hero, the narrator of the story. By a happy coincidence of ancient stone and being sheltered by a cliff, a small community survives the aftermath of a "clean" bomb by sheltering within its walls. At first the community is obsessed with the everyday challenges of life - what to eat, drink, will there be fallout? But as the novel progresses, and we learn of other survivors, it begins to look at the very nature of human behaviour when stripped of the facade of civilisation.

This is a very "believable book", as much as such a horror tale can be, and it is interspersed with some very astute observations of human behaviour, with both acts of kindness portrayed as well as the abuses of power. The detail of how nature as well as the characters recover from the loss and shock of it all is well portrayed and keeps you turning the pages.

This is a treat if you are a fan of the genre. If you are interested in tales of human survival in horrendous times, this is also for you. As I said, hard to find, but well worth looking for! - Review by Lesley West

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