From Madcap Schemes to Surreal Fiction: Jan Carson’s ‘Few and Far Between’
What happens when a politician’s failed historical ambition becomes the blueprint for a surrealist novel? Belfast-based author Jan Carson explores this intersection of reality and imagination in her latest function, Few and Far Between. The novel blends Northern Irish history with a magically surreal narrative, centering on a fictional archipelago born from a real-world attempt to reshape the landscape of Lough Neagh.
Inspired by a 1958 proposal to drain the UK’s largest inland lake, Carson creates a hauntingly vivid world where identity, redemption, and the ghosts of the past collide. The story doesn’t just imagine an alternative history; it examines the ecological and social consequences of attempting to conquer nature.
The Plot: Life and Eviction on the Ark
Set in the summer of 2017, Few and Far Between focuses on the final days of the Lough Neagh Archipelago, affectionately known as “the Ark.” The residents of this unique society are facing imminent eviction. A planned flood, designed to combat a devastating outbreak of blue-green algae, threatens to submerge their homes and force them back to the mainland for the first time in fifty years.
The narrative follows Rosemary, Robert-John, and Marion Connolly. They arrived at the islands as children in the 1970s, following their father, RJ, an anthropologist studying the society that developed there. For many, the Ark served as a utopia—a sanctuary free from the prejudices and violent history of the Troubles era in Northern Ireland. Still, as the water rises, the characters must confront whether this utopia was truly what it seemed.
Mapping the Surreal: The Four Islands of the Ark
Carson’s “Ark” is not a traditional paradise. The archipelago is composed of four main islands on the Far Side, each serving as a manifestation of trauma, limbo, or decay:
- Tom’s Hard: Known as a popular spot for suicide.
- Middle Flat: Home to a center for “Sleepers”—traumatized individuals in comatose states.
- Church Flat: A state of limbo populated by mute, ghostly locals hovering between life and death.
- Eglish Flat: An illegal dumping ground that appears to consume everything deposited upon it.
The Real-World Inspiration: The County Neagh Scheme
While the Ark is fictional, the catalyst for the story is rooted in actual Northern Irish political history. In 1958, Terence O’Neill, then the finance minister, proposed a “madcap” plan to drain Lough Neagh to create a seventh county—County Neagh—with the goal of boosting employment. O’Neill continued to push the controversial scheme after becoming prime minister in 1963, though it ultimately failed.
Carson’s research into this period revealed that the Victorians had previously partially drained the lough to create farmland. By studying topographical maps, Carson discovered elevated areas just below the surface that would become visible if the waterline dropped. This discovery of submerged islands provided the spark for the “Ark” and the exploration of who might live there if such a plan had succeeded.
The Creative Process: From a French Residency to Google
The genesis of Few and Far Between came during a hard writing residency in France. After struggling with a different novel, Carson received an email from a friend containing an article about O’Neill’s drainage plan. According to The Irish Times, Carson began researching the possibility of draining the lough via Google and topographical maps.
Through this process, she realized that actually draining the lough would be “impossible” as the water flows in a way that would cause it to refill incredibly quickly. This realization pushed the story into the realm of “the end of the possible,” allowing her to blend historical curiosity with surrealist fiction.
- Core Theme: An alternative history exploring identity and redemption through a surrealist lens.
- Setting: The fictional “Ark” archipelago in Lough Neagh, facing a 2017 flood to stop blue-green algae.
- Historical Basis: Based on Terence O’Neill’s 1958/1963 proposal to drain Lough Neagh to create “County Neagh.”
- Notable Media: Featured on BBC Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime, read by Tara Lynne O’Neill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “Ark” a real place?
No. The Ark is a fictional archipelago created by Jan Carson for her novel, though it is inspired by real topographical elevations and historical drainage attempts in Lough Neagh.
What is the blue-green algae mentioned in the book?
In the novel, a devastating blue-green algae outbreak is the reason for the planned flood that threatens to submerge the residents’ homes on the Ark.
Who was Terence O’Neill?
Terence O’Neill was Northern Ireland’s finance minister in 1958 and later its prime minister in 1963. He is the politician who proposed the real-life scheme to drain Lough Neagh to boost employment.
Few and Far Between stands as a testament to how historical footnotes can be transformed into expansive literary worlds, challenging readers to consider the thin line between a visionary plan and a madcap scheme.