You may have met Lucy Barton in Elizabeth Strout’s novel My Name Is Lucy Barton, but it is not necessary before you read Oh, William!, her newest novel about Lucy’s first and ex-husband. In her usual quirky way, the author brings authenticity to a situation that seems totally unreal in the relationship Lucy has maintained with this first husband through their marriages, divorces, deaths, and affairs with other people. The fact that Lucy, like Elizabeth, is an author of well-received books comes up in surprising incidents along the way and might make the reader wonder if there are some autobiographical tidbits hidden in the story.
When William uncovers a secret in his own family, he asks Lucy to accompany him to investigate and put some sense into his past. Lucy’s reflections all along the way about her own background, the commonalities with her former mother-in-law and her roots, and relationships with the two daughters she shares with William add depth to the actual events in the novel. William is often unpredictable even to Lucy who knows him well. Frequently, he retreats into a world of his own. Hence, her perpetual comment, “Oh William!”
Elizabeth Strout took a trip to the area in Maine where the German POW camps were located and did research on the area and its history. That research gives reality to her story. The book just might bring a few reflections for the reader along with an enjoyment of a tale well told.