The Forgetting Room

John Walker is a professor of Spanish studies at Queen’s University.

This novel by the author of the best-selling Griffin and Sabine trilogy
is set in the Ronda district of Andalusia in Southern Spain. It opens
with Armon Hurt’s inheritance of the home (and artistic studio) of his
Spanish grandfather, Rafael. The inheritance comes with a price, as
Armon must decipher a “surrealistic conundrum,” or metaphysical
puzzle, based on the many clues (letters, cards, papers) and artistic
pieces left by his grandfather. Over a nine-day period, Armon must come
to terms with Rafael’s past (in Spain, France, and Switzerland), his
own dual childhood (in Europe and America), his relationship with his
parents and grandparents, his heritage, and his artistic vocation.

The Forgetting Room is a challenging novel that captures not only the
geography, history, and customs of southern Spain but also the legends
and myths of its Moorish past. Armon’s nine-day ordeal evokes the
atmosphere of the Spanish Civil War, along with the power of the duende
(the spirit of the earth and of creativity). There is much of the
Borgesian spirit (“I was each and every one of my ancestors”) in
this delightful book, which reminds us also of the best of John Fowles.
It comes to a satisfying conclusion, with Armon reclaiming his heritage,
his family name, and his artistic calling. The inclusion of a variety of
enclosures (maps, cards, instructions, posters, etc.) is an intriguing
way of giving concrete expression to the metaphysical problems presented
throughout the book.