Travels in the Scriptorium, the late Shirley Hazzard’s final novel, is a wild ride. It’s a complex and disorienting piece of fiction, a story of betrayal, obsession, and love. But before reaching this, her last work, Shirley Hazzard had already authored nine books, including her critically acclaimed The Transit of Venus.
The Transit of Venus is a love story, set in the backdrop of the 1950s-60s, after the second World War. At the heart of the novel is Caroline Bell, a young, beautiful Australian woman living in England, looking for love. When her two cousins, Gino, an Italian designer, and Edward, an English officer, both enter her life, Caroline finds herself forced to choose between them. Set in multiple countries, and full of passionate interludes and brief, bittersweet events, the novel blends history, passion, and human connection.
The Transit of Venus goes further than a mere love triangle. It is a reflection of the 1950s-60s era and its social, political and cultural climate, which Hazzard explores deeply. Through her multifaceted characters, Hazzard paints a portrait of a changing world and the resulting complex relationships between people. Despite the turmoil of the time, the novel exudes an atmosphere of hope that anything is possible.
Hazzard uses the term ‘the Transit of Venus,’ to refer to a psychological turning point for Caroline, which allows her to face her choices for her family and future. This notion of transit is similarly applicable to the era that the novel is set in. As Caroline and Gino traverse around the world, from England to Africa and Venice, the idea of transit becomes a metaphor for the people of the 1950s-60s. There is a feeling of a new beginning, a yearning for stability, and a need for adjustment.
Hazzard’s masterful storytelling illuminates the struggle between love and loyalty that many people faced in the post-war era. Her passion for her characters, her ‘attention to moral turmoil’, and her vivid descriptions of places create an intense and beautiful atmosphere. Although the narrative follows Caroline’s experiences, its themes are universal, as they touch on the difficult choices that many have had to make in their own lives in order to reconcile their personal choices with the values of society.
Ultimately, The Transit of Venus is a timeless classic that centres around the power of love, belonging, and identity. It was Hazzard’s first international bestseller, and for good reason. It is an intricate love story, exploring the tensions between the past, present and future, that grips us from the first page to the last. Hazzard’s signature style makes this a captivating and memorable read.
