"Absolute Truths," the final volume in Susan Howatch's series about the Church of England in the 20th century, connects the themes found in all six novels.
The narrator of "Absolute Truths," set in 1965, is Charles Ashworth, who narrated the first novel in the series, set in 1937, "Glittering Images." Jon Darrow, Charles' mystical spiritual director, narrated "Glamorous Powers," while "Ultimate Prizes" was narrated by Neville Aysgarth, Charles' nemesis. "Scandalous Risks" offers a lay perspective of church life through the eyes of a woman, Venetia Flaxton.
The novels jump ahead chronologically to 1968, three years after the events described in "Absolute Truths," with "Mystical Paths," narrated by Nicholas Darrow, son of Jon, who takes the mystical approach of his father to extremes. These different perspectives allow the reader an in-depth and comprehensive view of this community.
In "Absolute Truths," Charles is now Bishop of Starbridge, approaching 70 and the third major crisis in his life: the death of his wife, Lyle.
Ms. Howatch's themes evolve out of her characters' crises. She TC makes witnessing the process of how these universal truths connect addictive. In all six novels, real theologians' views are shared by the fictional cast. In "Absolute Truths," Ashworth relies on both the philosophical approach of Austin Farrer and the healer's faith of Reginald Somerset Ward.
Patterns, themes and truths are all one and the same to Susan Howatch. In seeking to understand the meaning of our existence and suffering, Ms. Howatch's predominant theme is that order not only can emerge from chaos, but that chaos must exist
before order. Ms. Howatch demonstrates that good and evil, light and dark "intermingle." In other words, light or good doesn't necessarily overpower darkness or evil, but these contrasting elements "form a pattern . . . which . . . contains the meaning which makes the darkness endurable."
The chaos, darkness, evil and suffering Charles Ashworth experiences during Lyle's death are complex. As Charles is overwhelmed by his grief, he comes upon Lyle's diary of her own spiritual and prayer life. In reading this, Charles has to face several painful absolute truths: one, there were many details about Lyle he never knew; two, his own blind selfishness was to blame for Lyle's suffering for years; and three, Lyle's relentless but loving analysis of his own faults and the family's lies and illusions leads her to believe they are facing imminent disaster. Much of the novel's tension comes from wondering what this disaster will be.
Since Lyle is dead, Ashworth cannot atone for his sins and is consumed by guilt. Temptations haunt him, hidden behind illicit masks of comfort and survival. Drink and women offer temporary sanctuaries, only to puncture deeper wounds of guilt and grief.
Added to these complications is a renewed battle with lifelong nemesis Neville Aysgarth, who is Dean of Starbridge Cathedral, the seat of Ashworth's bishopric.
There are new rumors afloat about diabolical Stephen, involving embezzlement of cathedral fiscal resources.
To make sure every facet of Ashworth's being is challenged, both his sons involve him in their own crises within days of their mother's death. Ashworth has molded his adopted son, Charley, in his own image, making both Charley and himself believe that is the only way for Charley to be successful. No wonder a crisis!
His biological son, Michael, has been estranged from him for may reasons. When Michael is forced to admit his own guilt in a lover's suicide, he realizes he needs the wisdom and love of his father but has a hard time asking him for it.
In the midst of all this turmoil, Ashworth both seeks and avoids his spiritual "trainer," Jon Darrow. This time, Jon does more listening and less analyzing. He, along with another healer, Hall, offers forgiveness as the bridge between chaos and order, fragmentation and creation, despair and redemption.
With the series completed, the insightful reader will assess its weaknesses and strengths.
While there is some comfort in reading about good people giving in to temptation, the exaggerated characters and contrived plots become tiresome, especially when everybody and every event are intellectualized in order to explain life's truths, or even worse, when clever, erudite pontificating "resolves" the conflict.
A strength of the series is that Ms. Howatch presents paradoxes and illusions in an accessible way. Her stories and characters give assurance that life, especially its challenges, has a positive purpose and meaning. Labels and appearances are temporary, while a person's essence is eternal.
BOOK REVIEW
Title: "Absolute Truths"
Author: Susan Howatch
Publisher: Knopf
Length, price: 528 pages, $25