This is the second novel by Tim Murphy I’ve featured in this series. I’m not sure I’ve done that with anyone else but he’s a writer who seems much overlooked, at least here in the UK. His first novel, Christodora, told the story of AIDS through the tenants of a Manhattan apartment building. Correspondents explores the Iraq war and its aftermath through an ambitious, bright young journalist and her Iraqi interpreter.
Rita is the daughter of second-generation immigrant parents, one from a Lebanese family, the other with Irish roots. Taken on by a liberal newspaper, she’s eager to be posted to Iraq when war breaks out. Nabil is the interpreter assigned to her, spurred on to apply by his ambitious cousin who’s also employed as an interpreter. Nabil and Rita become close, calling each other the Danger Twins, each looking out for the other as Iraq spirals into a chaos of violence, until Rita makes the mistake of speaking her mind about the conduct of the war one drunken evening.
Murphy’s immersive, involving novel is humane and deeply moving. It’s also a great piece of storytelling which left me wondering why he’s not talked about as much as he deserves.
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
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I remember Christodora, and vaguely the release of Correspondents. You’re right, he’s somehow not well known. (I wonder—this is so daft but sometimes these things matter—if his name doesn’t help. There are a few “Tim” novelists out there: Pears, Parks, Winton, O’Brien. And “Murphy” isn’t a weird enough surname to differentiate.)
I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever heard of Murphy, but I definitely get these Tim novelists mixed up, so I think you’re on to something. This one sounds very good.
I hope you’ll take a punt on him. Both this and Christodora are well worth reading.
You could well be right. He certainly lacks the profile of the other Tims which is a shame.
I haven’t heard of Tim Murphy, but that’s an Irish name. Re blasts from the pasts, I have just posted my May book reviews on Substack that includes Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June. Her much earlier book Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant is still one of my favourite books from that era. Quirky and humane.
He’s an American writer who I hope gets more recognition in the US. Three Days in June is such a treat, isn’t it.
He doesn’t ring any bells for me which is a shame as both novels sound ambitious and engaging.
They are! I suspect he doesn’t get much of a share of his UK publisher’s publicity budget.
I have a copy of Christadora, which you have now made me move to the top of the pile! This sounds wonderful as well.
Oh, that’s good news. Hope you enjoy it, Cathy.
I’ve not come across Tim Murphy. This must change!
Excellent!