The American/A Very Private Gentleman – Martin Booth

The American/A Very Private Gentleman
By: Martin Booth
Pub: Bantam Books
384 Pages



Having watched the recent George Clooney film The American I decided to pick up the book it was based upon, Martin Booth’s A Very Private Gentleman. The differences between the two are marked, with the film being tauter and slightly more action driven than the more introspective book.

Signor Farfalla is an enigma of the quietest kind to the fellow residents of the quiet Italian village where he has taken up temporary residence. Only the inquisitive friendship of the local priest Father Beneetto threatens to reveal his true nature. To the locals he is a painter of butterflies, the pursuit of which gives rise to his sobriquet - Mr Butterfly.

Beneath the intricate lies he hides behind his profession is much less wholesome. Signor Farfalla is a weapons smith to assassins around the world, with one final job to complete before he fades into obscurity and rumour.

While what I’ve written above summarises the plot of the story it does very little to evoke the tone of the book. Above all else the book is a love letter to Italy. The countryside, buildings, history, culture and way of life receive far more vivid description and page inches than any other element of the book. The level of tension is also overemphasised. It is only towards the final third or so of the book that the risks associated with Mr Butterfly’s line of work become tangible rather than anecdotal.

Layered over the descriptions of Italy, the philosophy, and the starkly presented life of a man on the lamb and working for the underground, is Signor Farfalla changing view of himself, in part due to age and surroundings but mainly because of his relationships with two local prostitutes, and the lowering of his guard this engenders.

The writing is particularly good throughout. Narrated from Signor Farfalla's viewpoint the story is presented as a deeply secretive memoir, with details changed to protect the author. The book does slip into pretentiousness at times and this could be cloying for some readers. There are occasional chucks of philosophising and the narrator works hard at justifying his profession and the work of those he supplies his armaments to. In is more despite this than because of it that the character become sympathetic.

The book relies on a surprisingly thin plot, taking its cues from the mix of character study and the interaction between the protagonists rather than outside impetuous until the later third of the book. As the final turns of the plot come into view the tone of the book changes and the quality feels lessened for it.

Despite my final point the book is well worth a read, and flows somewhat differently to the usual thriller.