Ransom

In the tradition of Imaginary Life Malouf has taken a tangent from an ancient tale and spun a mesmerising story. I can only describe the writing as poetic prose, simple but evocative. A short journey allows Priam whose life has been a performance of being king to discover his human side as father, sensate being and interactive man. It is an interlude in a war and it changes Priam's attitude to his life but not the grisly outcome.
Should we all take regular interludes from our daily lives to discover ourselves apart from our performances as mother, professional, citizen? I think this is what happens when we travel and are far from the places and people in which we are forced to perform certain roles. At least we become aware of them and are more sensitive to what is required of us and what can profitably be discarded.