Benjamin Black (John Banville)

Benjamin Black is the pen name of Irish author John Banville. For decades, Banville was what you would call ‘a writer’s writer’ – virtually unknown to the public, but nevertheless very esteemed amongst colleagues. Banvilles big break came in 2005 with his novel The Sea. It was a huge hit, and he was awarded the Booker Prize for it. As Benjamin Black he specializes in crime novels. Most of these are part of the Quirke Series, a collection of books that take place in Dublin, in the 1950’s.

Blacks new book, The Secret Guests, is somewhat of a surprise. We get a different lead character than usual: Celia Nashe instead of pathologist Quirke. The story takes place during the Second World War. It has the British princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in the centre of the action. The book follows them as they shelter from massive bombings on London. It takes them to Ireland, where aforementioned Celia Nashe has to take care of these Royals in distress. The tension rises even more when they find a body in front of their safe house. The Secret Guests is somewhat like a John Le Carre thriller, combined with a historical novel. Fun fact: John Banville – or should we say Benjamin Black? – is actually convinced that Elizabeth and Margaret where hiding out in Ireland during the war. With Buckingham Palace in huge distress in real life, this should make for a juicy conversation!

Benjamin Black is a pen name of Irish author John Banville (1945). As Black he wrote several crime novels, all taking place in Dublin. These are knows as the Quirke Series.