Exploring the Surrealist World of Jan Carson’s ‘Few and Far Between’
Jan Carson, the award-winning author of The Raptures and The Fire Starters, returns with her fifth novel, Few and Far Between. This imaginative work blends history, horror, and redemption, utilizing a surrealist lens to examine the lingering effects of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. By shifting the geographical perspective of the region, Carson creates a narrative that explores identity and the possibility of escaping one’s past.
The Setting: The Lough Neagh Archipelago
The story is centered on the “Ark,” a slight group of islands located in the middle of Northern Ireland’s Lough Neagh. In this alternate timeline, a drainage scheme around 1967 exposed patches of land, allowing a unique community to establish itself.
For the residents, the archipelago served as a utopian sanctuary. It was designed as a space of acceptance and diversity, offering an escape from the prejudices, bigotry, and dangers associated with Troubles-era Northern Ireland. The novel treats the rest of Northern Ireland as “the mainland,” effectively flipping traditional ideas of dominance and power within the region.
The Connolly Family Legacy
The narrative follows siblings Marion, Robert-John, and Rosemary, who spent their childhoods on the islands during the 1970s. They arrived following their father, RJ—a qualified anthropologist and possible narcissist—who sought to study the unique society developing on the Ark. Their mother, Ursula, is described as a practical hermit and natural recluse.
As adults, Marion and Robert-John have lived a “haunted existence” on the Ark, where they monitor the mysterious “Far Side,” a place where ghostly figures linger and secrets are swallowed by the land.
The Conflict: An End to Utopia
The plot is set in the summer of 2017, as the last remaining residents face imminent eviction. To combat a devastating toxic algae outbreak on the lake’s surface, an engineered flood is planned. This flood will submerge the islands forever, erasing the homes and histories of those who sought refuge there.
This looming disaster forces the characters to confront several pivotal questions:
- How do they cope with returning to the mainland after fifty years?
- Is it truly possible to leave the past behind?
- Will the Ark ever let them go?
Key Takeaways: ‘Few and Far Between’
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Genre | Surrealist Novel / Historical Fiction |
| Core Themes | Identity, redemption, and the legacy of The Troubles |
| Primary Setting | Lough Neagh Archipelago (The Ark) |
| Time Periods | 1970s childhood; Summer 2017 adulthood |
Critical Reception
Critics have praised Carson’s ability to blend humor and grace with darker themes. Heather Parry, author of Carrion Crow, has described the novel as Carson’s “best book yet,” noting her unmatched understanding of complicated people. Other reviewers highlight her “deadpan wit” and “brilliantly inventive” approach to storytelling, which Penguin Books UK characterizes as a stunningly original work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central premise of ‘Few and Far Between’?
The novel imagines a timeline where a community established a utopia on islands in Lough Neagh to escape the prejudices of Troubles-era Northern Ireland, only for that community to face destruction in 2017 due to an engineered flood.
Who are the main characters?
The story focuses on siblings Marion, Robert-John, and Rosemary Connolly, the children of anthropologist RJ and his wife Ursula.
How does the book address Northern Irish history?
It uses the “Ark” as both a victim of and an act of embodied protest against the ongoing conflict of The Troubles, exploring how individuals attempt to recover from that history.
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