Perhaps the finest piece of storytelling in this novel has to do with the death of a dog. Three characters are involved: Michael Luxton, a taciturn dairy farmer; Jack, his elder son, aged 26; and Tom, his much younger son, approaching his 18th birthday. The old sick dog, named Luke, was originally just a farm dog, then for many years Jackís close companion, but now more recently Tomís. The events are remembered by Jack, from whose point of view, although in the third person, most of the novel is narrated.

LRB 2 June 2011 | PDF Download