Mary Costello’s “Academy Street,” a novel spanning six decades from 1940s Ireland to the Twin Towers tragedy, recounts the life of Tess Lohan. Living for forty years “with quiet intensity on Academy Street in upper Manhattan,” as the book jacket describes, Tess experiences both profound love and devastating loss. While garnering praise from literary giants like J.M. Coetzee and Ron Rash, a closer look reveals a narrative that may not resonate with all readers.
A Life of Quiet Desperation on Academy Street
The novel portrays Tess as a character defined by suffering. Her life story unfolds as a series of unfortunate events. A single instance of sexual intimacy leads to pregnancy, the father disappears, and Tess raises her child alone on Academy Street, with minimal support. Intimacy and sexual connection become absent from her life thereafter. Tragedy culminates with the death of her 37-year-old son, Theo, in the September 11th attacks on the Twin Towers. While some readers might be drawn to such narratives of hardship, “Academy Street” can feel like an arduous and joyless journey.
Prose and Pacing: A Compressed Narrative
Covering sixty years in approximately 170 pages necessitates a dense and compressed writing style. Costello’s prose leans heavily on telling rather than showing, resulting in a narrative that often feels detached. Furthermore, the complete absence of humor contributes to the novel’s overwhelmingly grim and somber tone. The writing, while aiming for profundity, often comes across as heavy and unengaging, detracting from the reading experience of “Academy Street”.
Passivity and Missed Opportunities in “Academy Street”
Tess emerges as a remarkably passive protagonist. Beyond her decision to move to America and settle on Academy Street, her life seems dictated by external forces rather than personal agency. While the novel may intend to highlight Tess’s inner resilience as she navigates single motherhood in 1960s America, her inert nature makes it challenging to connect with her on a personal level. This passivity is particularly frustrating given the significant tragedies she endures throughout her life on Academy Street.
The Trope of the “Fallen Woman” and Unrelenting Misery
The narrative choices in “Academy Street” raise questions about the portrayal of Tess’s experiences. Her sole sexual encounter, described as going “awry,” results in a lifelong consequence, single motherhood, and the complete absence of future romantic or sexual relationships. While acknowledging the societal constraints faced by women in the 1960s, the novel’s reliance on the cliché of unintended pregnancy after a first sexual experience feels like a form of punishment inflicted upon Tess. This sense of punishment is amplified by her son Theo’s emotional distance in adulthood and his tragic fate. The narrative structure risks reinforcing the outdated trope of the “fallen woman,” modernized with a layer of contemporary tragedy, making “Academy Street” feel unnecessarily cruel.
A Glimmer of Hope Unfulfilled
Even moments of potential connection, such as Tess’s close relationship with her neighbor Willa on Academy Street, are ultimately denied fulfillment. A moment of intense longing for intimacy with Willa is quickly suppressed, reinforcing the novel’s overarching theme of deprivation. Just as a moment of potential liberation appears, it is snatched away, perpetuating Tess’s isolation and reinforcing the bleakness of “Academy Street”.
Conclusion: Misery Masquerading as Profundity?
“Academy Street” by Mary Costello, despite critical acclaim, may not appeal to readers seeking engaging characters or narratives with emotional depth beyond unrelenting sorrow. The novel’s relentless focus on tragedy, coupled with a passive protagonist and dense prose, can make for a tedious and ultimately unsatisfying reading experience. While some may find profundity in its depiction of hardship, others might perceive “Academy Street” as an exercise in misery-porn, dressed in the guise of literary significance.
