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Cross Channel, Julian Barnes (1996)
Jonathan Cape 0 330349112 Paperback 211pp £7.99
A collection of short stories about Brits in France, one of which
features a neophyte professional cyclist
 
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Britain's relationship with France and the French is one that has had
relatively little literary consideration. Perhaps for that reason, Barnes
chose this as the theme for this collection of short stories. In one of
these, Brambilla, a young English couple move to the other side of the
channel so that he can pursue a career as a professional cyclist.
It is a short piece of just 13 pages, in which intersperses each of
their perspectives, written in the first person. Clearly Barnes knows
something of the cycling, and his exploration of the pressures of being
a journeyman sporting pro and how it might effect a relationship is an
intriguing perspective. Like a lot of short stories, however, Barnes manages
to flick a couple of interesting concepts in the air - the transition
from fan to pro, and the juxtaposition of him - a professional sportsman,
and her, dancing on some manner of chorus line. There is not the space,
however, to achieve much resolution.
PS Mar 10
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