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Human Traces.

By Sebastian Faulks

(23)

| Others | 9780099498070

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Critics

Closely observed strains

Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks 615pp, Hutchinson, £17.99 Sebastian Faulks's new novel begins impressively with those ingredients that are usually essential to fiction-making: a vivid sense of time and place, a hero embarked on a quest, and an obsta ... (read full critics)

guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

When doctors disagree

Though not generally intimidated by big books, I will admit to experiencing a faint sense of trepidation on the morning when Human Traces crashed tumultuously on to the door-mat. A quarter of a million words long, weighing in at something over 2lb on ... (read full critics)

spectator published on Fri, 17 Sep 2010

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3 Reviews

Sebastian Faulks is one of my most highly regarded authors of our time; having loved everything about Engleby, and as well as having a strong interest in the subject matter (such that I am studying for my own degree in psychology), I picked up Human Traces without a second thought: psy ... (continue)

Sebastian Faulks is one of my most highly regarded authors of our time; having loved everything about Engleby, and as well as having a strong interest in the subject matter (such that I am studying for my own degree in psychology), I picked up Human Traces without a second thought: psychology, ambiguous dynamics between two male leads, the era—everything spoke to me.
Indeed, the lead characters, Thomas and Jacques, particularly in their younger years, are strong characters that have great potential and can carry the novel upon their own shoulders. I feel a little less strongly about the female leads, though the era the novel should be remembered with regards to this point; Sonia, Katharina and, in fact, several of the minor female characters are defined in their own ways, but ultimately all seem to relate back to their respective males. This aside, which I am sure is more a product of the social constraints then, the relationships between the characters are interesting, if a little detached and emotionless.
Alas, Human Traces is, at several points in the book, a struggle to read. Had it been 250 pages shorter, it is likely that it would have become the most enjoyed book in my possession. As it stands, Faulks's lack of focus negates the strength of his characters and the broad potential of his subject. Much like the bat and the whale Thomas describes, the book has vestigial chapters which add little to the overall novel. Although interesting to someone like me, who is used to slogging through textbooks upon textbooks of psycho-babble, often it reads less of a fictional story and more of an anthology of various (admittedly well-researched) psychological theories; the story does not benefit from page after page of blocks of lecturing and theory, with little more than a 'Thomas stood' or a 'Jacques cleared his throat' to break up the dialogue, and only serves to alienate those with little more than a passing interest in psychology.
And unfortunately, I feel that ultimately, Faulks's very relevant question—what, indeed, does make us human?—never quite gets answered satisfactorily; though he alludes to the insignificance of human life in relation to 'the grand scheme of things' he never quite makes a cohesive point, and it is easy to finish the book wondering what, exactly, had been the point.

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vice said on Sep 17, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

In my opinion, Sebastian Faulks is right up there with the best of our writers. He studied English at Cambridge. He worked as a features writer for The Telegraph papers before becoming Deputy Editor of The Independant on Sunday. This is the third novel of his I have read. Birdsong was excellent ... (continue)

In my opinion, Sebastian Faulks is right up there with the best of our writers. He studied English at Cambridge. He worked as a features writer for The Telegraph papers before becoming Deputy Editor of The Independant on Sunday. This is the third novel of his I have read. Birdsong was excellent and Charlotte Gray very good, but for me Human Traces is superior.
Is the writing any better in this novel? Mr Faulks writes beautifully throughout all three of these books.
Is it the subject matter? There may possibly a link, you may recall I found Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone excellent which also has a strong medical theme. Medicine interests me but not to go into the profession, I'm far too squeamish but I enjoy the science. I like psychology and again have an interest in mental health, having read Edward de Bono, R D Laing and others in my teens and later Oliver Sachs - The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat for book group. It is interesting how the mind works and what can go wrong, the delicate line we tread.
Is it the storyline? Most definitely! Right from the start where we are in France with the sixteen year old Jacques whose Mother died in childbirth, brought up mainly by his aunt and grandmother. His father busy working and his sick, mistreated, older brother for whom Jacques channels his ambitions. In England the young Thomas, at the same age, not taken particularly seriously by his father as the youngest of three children. It is his dear sister Sonia who sees how bright Thomas is and takes an interest in him, guiding him to follow his instincts and interests. When these two young men meet they form a strong bond which maintains their lasting friendship through life. This novel is not just about medicine and mental health, it is about life, dreams, hope, love, lust, ambition, death, disappointment, sickness and sorrow.
Mr Faulks writing flows and is very descriptive, it is easy to 'see' and 'feel' the story. His own personal knowledge of Cambridge, England and France show and his research is thorough. In the notes and acknowledgement Mr Faulks gives thanks to those who helped and assisted him with the novel to ensure the historical facts are as accurate as possible. This story consists of 609 pages, it is quite a tome and took me two weeks to read. This is not the fault of the book which I actually found difficult to put down, my lack of reading pace was due to time restraints.
Does a book have to be so big to be so good? In this case, yes! Every page was worth it and relevant to the story. An excellent read and if you have the stamina, I recommend you to give it a go.

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Booketta said on Jun 13, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

When I started reading 'Human Traces' for the first fifty pages I was unsure it was going to appeal to me. Once the introductions to the two protagonists had been made and the author went on to describe their first meeting it was starting to work for me.
The first protagonist we meet is Jacques Re ... (continue)

When I started reading 'Human Traces' for the first fifty pages I was unsure it was going to appeal to me. Once the introductions to the two protagonists had been made and the author went on to describe their first meeting it was starting to work for me.
The first protagonist we meet is Jacques Rebiere, a farmers son from Brittany with an interest in science and a love for his mentally disturbed brother Olivier. Olivier is treated like an animal by the rest of his family, only Jacques seems to have any sympathy and an interest in the way his brothers brain works. With the local Cure Abbe Henri encouraging Jacques in his education he studies medicine and it is while holidaying with the Cure after successful examination results that he first meets Thomas Midwinter.
Thomas a young man from Lincolnshire, England also studying medicine is staying in the same boarding house in Deauville, France, with his sister Sonia and her husband, as Jacques and Henri. Despite initial language difficulties which the young men soon overcome, they find they share more than just medicine in common but both have a specific interest in psychiatry. A desire to learn more about how the human brain functions. As Thomas explains to Sonia he feels he has found a friend that although coming from a completely different background thinks in the same way as him. When they part at the end of the holiday they make a pact to remain friends and one day work together when they have finished their degrees.
What a complex and enjoyable novel this turned out to be. It took me so much longer than normal to read as I needed to really concentrate on the scientific information. It was no surprise to learn that Sebastian Faulks spent five years researching Victorian psychiatry before writing this novel. There was just so much information to take onboard, some of which is quite disturbing but important as we follow the life story of these two young men as it unfolds after their chance meeting. The drama of their lives is blended seamlessly with the ongoing exploration of the human mind.
It was absolutely fascinating and I would recommend it highly to any fan of Sebastian Faulks, he is a master storyteller. However be warned this is not a quick or light read and some of the descriptive passages are not for the faint hearted.

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Lindyloumac said on May 1, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback