Review of Ophelia
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Julia Pintus
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- Latest Review: Ophelia by Norman Bacal
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Review of Ophelia
[Following is a volunteer review of "Ophelia" by Norman Bacal.]
It is hard to imagine a person who hasn’t read the immortal works of William Shakespeare. And even if such a person exists, it’s still impossible to believe that someone hasn’t heard the most famous quotes: “To be, or not to be, that is the question!”, “Frailty, thy name is Woman!”, or “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. World literature, not to mention world culture, cannot be imagined without the works of the great Englishman. The name Ophelia, used in the title of Norman Bacal’s novel, unambiguously points in the direction of and builds strong associations with Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. Even without reading the synopsis, one can guess that there will be parallels with the famous masterpiece, as a name like Ophelia simply demands this connection.
Norman Bacal's novel is a rather complex work in terms of structure. The central story that stands out is undoubtedly the tightly-knit success story of the pharmaceutical king, Gerhard Neilson, a poor immigrant from Denmark who managed to build a true financial empire. However, he failed to consider that even the closest people can be dangerously trusted, and that company presidents, especially those over seventy, may suddenly die. In such a case, a real battle for the royal throne can begin. This is precisely what young Tal Neilson, Gerhard’s son, experienced firsthand. This is the surface level: a well-executed, classic suspense novel about big business tycoons, clever financial schemes, behind-the-scenes intrigue, assassination attempts, and deceptive maneuvers aimed at eliminating competitors and covering up dishonest dealings.
However, the novel’s title urges to recall the misfortunes that befell the unfortunate Prince Hamlet. It’s worth it, because in this case, Bacal’s Ophelia will take on new shades. The author skillfully and subtly scattered allusions and direct references throughout the story: the place Elsinore, where the story begins; of course, the names of the characters—Claude “Red” King, Trudi, or, for the most attentive, doctor Rosen and nurse Guilden; the company name Danmark, founded by Tal’s father—these are all little details that add charm of the immortal classic to the harsh text about survival in the world of big money.
As is often the case with truly talented authors, Bacal’s novel isn’t just about the main plot with its tightly twisted intrigue. The text never loses its pace for a moment; the fabric of the novel is dense. This keeps the reader in constant suspense. Playing with a famous masterpiece of world literature allows the construction of assumptions, and the reader is drawn into the puzzle, trying to predict the directions in which the plot will develop. However, one should not be mistaken for thinking that the author simply wanted to create a modern version of Hamlet. Ophelia is more of a rethinking of Shakespeare’s tragedy, with a focus on the complex relationships between the treacherously murdered king and the young prince, and, to a lesser extent, a story of revenge. The image of Gerhard, Geri, looms over the plot; he is constantly present in the text. Bacal successfully shows how powerful, even overwhelming, this character’s energy was. Unlike Hamlet, where the tormented prince was the center of the narrative, Bacal vividly depicts both characters, Tal and Geri, giving each their due. This becomes the key to understanding the novel’s main idea—relationships between generations. Ophelia is distinguished by the subtle lyricism with which the author addresses the theme of fathers and their children. This theme runs like a red thread throughout the entire work. Often, the character's' traits are revealed through the principles they inherited from their parents in childhood—principles that determined all their decisions in adulthood. These principles became either an unchangeable law or were scornfully discarded, in order to construct their own doctrines, which, in turn, would have to be accepted or rejected by future generations.
Norman Bacal’s novel hides multiple meanings within itself, which can be delved into, peeling away one layer after another. The theme of fathers and children leads to contemplation of free will and selfless service, which inevitably brings up the topic of religion in a person’s life.
I would like to note the author’s extraordinary skill in how he subtly builds the psychology of his characters. There are no flat, stereotypical characters in the book. Each one is interesting in its own way, each has depth. Bacal’s characters are not static; they evolve as they confront the world and themselves. Watching their transformation is incredibly fascinating.
In addition to the captivating intellectual game Norman Bacal offers, weaving allusions to Hamlet into his novel, the author also plays with the reader in a very subtle way, allowing them to seemingly guess some plot twists, only to turn everything upside down. Such masterly control of the text, with clever traps scattered throughout, does not allow the reader to relax for a moment. What seemed to be an indisputable truth and a settled fact suddenly appeared in a completely new light.
I must also mention the excellent editorial work on the book. The absence of errors and typos allows for complete enjoyment of this fascinating read.
For me, the only possible rating for this work by Norman Bacal is 5/5. The novel's beginning immediately grabs your attention and sets the right tone. The logically structured and clear narrative develops smoothly, without sagging. The majority of the novel takes place in the present, but the successfully integrated flashbacks about the characters’ pasts create a complete picture of the story that began in 1943 on the coast of Denmark. The novel’s ending echoes Hamlet in some ways, but not enough for the resolution to be predictable in advance. The author masterfully and gracefully ties everything together in a witty and instructive finale, reminding us of the importance of reconciliation.
******
Ophelia
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
It is hard to imagine a person who hasn’t read the immortal works of William Shakespeare. And even if such a person exists, it’s still impossible to believe that someone hasn’t heard the most famous quotes: “To be, or not to be, that is the question!”, “Frailty, thy name is Woman!”, or “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. World literature, not to mention world culture, cannot be imagined without the works of the great Englishman. The name Ophelia, used in the title of Norman Bacal’s novel, unambiguously points in the direction of and builds strong associations with Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. Even without reading the synopsis, one can guess that there will be parallels with the famous masterpiece, as a name like Ophelia simply demands this connection.
Norman Bacal's novel is a rather complex work in terms of structure. The central story that stands out is undoubtedly the tightly-knit success story of the pharmaceutical king, Gerhard Neilson, a poor immigrant from Denmark who managed to build a true financial empire. However, he failed to consider that even the closest people can be dangerously trusted, and that company presidents, especially those over seventy, may suddenly die. In such a case, a real battle for the royal throne can begin. This is precisely what young Tal Neilson, Gerhard’s son, experienced firsthand. This is the surface level: a well-executed, classic suspense novel about big business tycoons, clever financial schemes, behind-the-scenes intrigue, assassination attempts, and deceptive maneuvers aimed at eliminating competitors and covering up dishonest dealings.
However, the novel’s title urges to recall the misfortunes that befell the unfortunate Prince Hamlet. It’s worth it, because in this case, Bacal’s Ophelia will take on new shades. The author skillfully and subtly scattered allusions and direct references throughout the story: the place Elsinore, where the story begins; of course, the names of the characters—Claude “Red” King, Trudi, or, for the most attentive, doctor Rosen and nurse Guilden; the company name Danmark, founded by Tal’s father—these are all little details that add charm of the immortal classic to the harsh text about survival in the world of big money.
As is often the case with truly talented authors, Bacal’s novel isn’t just about the main plot with its tightly twisted intrigue. The text never loses its pace for a moment; the fabric of the novel is dense. This keeps the reader in constant suspense. Playing with a famous masterpiece of world literature allows the construction of assumptions, and the reader is drawn into the puzzle, trying to predict the directions in which the plot will develop. However, one should not be mistaken for thinking that the author simply wanted to create a modern version of Hamlet. Ophelia is more of a rethinking of Shakespeare’s tragedy, with a focus on the complex relationships between the treacherously murdered king and the young prince, and, to a lesser extent, a story of revenge. The image of Gerhard, Geri, looms over the plot; he is constantly present in the text. Bacal successfully shows how powerful, even overwhelming, this character’s energy was. Unlike Hamlet, where the tormented prince was the center of the narrative, Bacal vividly depicts both characters, Tal and Geri, giving each their due. This becomes the key to understanding the novel’s main idea—relationships between generations. Ophelia is distinguished by the subtle lyricism with which the author addresses the theme of fathers and their children. This theme runs like a red thread throughout the entire work. Often, the character's' traits are revealed through the principles they inherited from their parents in childhood—principles that determined all their decisions in adulthood. These principles became either an unchangeable law or were scornfully discarded, in order to construct their own doctrines, which, in turn, would have to be accepted or rejected by future generations.
Norman Bacal’s novel hides multiple meanings within itself, which can be delved into, peeling away one layer after another. The theme of fathers and children leads to contemplation of free will and selfless service, which inevitably brings up the topic of religion in a person’s life.
I would like to note the author’s extraordinary skill in how he subtly builds the psychology of his characters. There are no flat, stereotypical characters in the book. Each one is interesting in its own way, each has depth. Bacal’s characters are not static; they evolve as they confront the world and themselves. Watching their transformation is incredibly fascinating.
In addition to the captivating intellectual game Norman Bacal offers, weaving allusions to Hamlet into his novel, the author also plays with the reader in a very subtle way, allowing them to seemingly guess some plot twists, only to turn everything upside down. Such masterly control of the text, with clever traps scattered throughout, does not allow the reader to relax for a moment. What seemed to be an indisputable truth and a settled fact suddenly appeared in a completely new light.
I must also mention the excellent editorial work on the book. The absence of errors and typos allows for complete enjoyment of this fascinating read.
For me, the only possible rating for this work by Norman Bacal is 5/5. The novel's beginning immediately grabs your attention and sets the right tone. The logically structured and clear narrative develops smoothly, without sagging. The majority of the novel takes place in the present, but the successfully integrated flashbacks about the characters’ pasts create a complete picture of the story that began in 1943 on the coast of Denmark. The novel’s ending echoes Hamlet in some ways, but not enough for the resolution to be predictable in advance. The author masterfully and gracefully ties everything together in a witty and instructive finale, reminding us of the importance of reconciliation.
******
Ophelia
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Ophelia by Norman Bacal
