Crime Fiction – The Novels of Benjamin Black
A Pseudonym Gives Irish Author John Banville New Readers
Nov 21, 2009 Christine Breen-Williams
The Silver Swan is Benjamin Black's second crime novel which follows the successful Christine Falls, published in 2006. Both have been hailed by the critics – as have many, if not most – of the novels of Black's alter ego, John Banville. Is Black the new Banville?
Similarities Between John Banville and Benjamin Black
There are some similarities – the darkish, brooding central male character who appears in many of John Banville’s novels also appears, for example, in Benjamin Black’s The Silver Swan. And, there are some skillfully written and beautiful sentences in The Silver Swan and Christine Falls. Stunningly crafted prose is a hallmark of Banville’s writing, and the reason he finally won the Booker Prize for The Sea in 2005. The prose style of Black's novels is less stylistic, less elegant, less poetic, but fans of noir mystery writing will find these novels equally artful.
Mixed Reaction of Readers and Critics to Benjamin Black's Crime Novels
Readers have been mixed in their response to Banville's crime novels. Some argue that if he (John Banville) is going to write detective stories he had better learn how to write a good plot. In researching the numerous reviews of the latest novels by Black, however, very few negative reviews have appeared.
In fact, The Times called The Silver Swan ‘…a moving drama conveyed by a master writer.’ The Scotsman said ‘…all in all it's a romp of a read, a compelling fix.’ Publishers Weekly called it '...a stunning follow-up to Christine Falls. ‘Brilliant writing’ comes from reviewer at the Irish Independent who wrote that The Silver Swan ‘makes the leisurely pace a pleasure.’ And the Irish Times went so far as to suggest it should be nominated for the Booker Prize.
Banville on Black
A quote by Banville himself, during an interview with Nathan Ahara in LAWeekly, sums it up, ‘I’d forget I was Benjamin Black and I’d start to worry about every sentence and worry about an idea or image and I’d say, ‘Stop, stop, stop. This’ll do. Move on. Move on.’ And I got the knack of it pretty quickly. Obviously Benjamin Black was waiting inside me for a long time just waiting to get out.’
In a YouTube video John Banville says that the two writers, himself and Benjamin Black, are entirely different. He says, 'John Banville writes very slowly and Benjamin Black writes with great fluency.' He refers to Benjamin Black as an 'evil twin' that he created when he realized he 'needed a little time out from 'being John Banville'.
Benjamin Black is John Banville
Readers who enjoy the Benjamin Black books will be happy to learn that John Banville will continue to write more crime fiction novels. He says in another YouTube video that he finds writing crime fiction interesting. 'I'm getting interested in the characters in a way that John Banville doesn't get interested in his characters. Again, it's a kind of childish storytelling. And one that fascinates me.' Whether telling stories in the voice of Benjamin Black or writing as Ireland's leading novelist, John Banville's fame continues. The Lemur published in 2008 by Picador is Black's third noir mystery novel.
The Sea
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