By Anne Korkeakivi
Like Mrs Dalloway in Virginia Woolf's novel, diplomat's wife Clare Moorhouse goes through a single day in Paris; in her case, she's preparing for an important dinner that could help her husband's quest to be appointed British ambassador to Ireland. Two disconcerting events disturb her day, but do not affect her efforts to create the perfect dinner. First, her 15-year-old son is disciplined at his English boarding school, and shows up at home unexpectedly, but Clare never takes the time to learn the cause of the action. Additionally, a sickly Turkish man stops her to get directions to a doctor's office, and she learns on the news that the man is later that day arrested for the assassination of a politician in another part of France - but the assassination occurred at the same time Claire helped him with directions, thereby giving him an alibi -- if she should reach out to inform authorities. What does affect Clare, however, is the memory of a faraway summer, a rebellious young Irishman, and her part in a plot that she fears could impact her husband's career, if the truth ever became known. Clare fears that her perfect life as a diplomatic wife could start to unravel. Very well written and compelling story. Makes the reader question what things are really important in life. While this story reads like an updated Mrs Dalloway, it stands on its own and raises its own unique moral questions.
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