Claire Messud’s novel This Strange Eventful History is a captivating exploration of three generations of the Cassar family, spanning seven decades and continents. The story begins in June 1940 during the Nazi occupation of France and follows the Cassar family’s journey across time and space. Gaston and Lucienne Cassare, a French Algerian couple, embody unwavering companionship, and their love becomes a benchmark for their children, François and Denise. As the family moves across Geneva, Toronto, Toulon, Buenos Aires, suburban Connecticut, and New York, their lives intersect with historical events and personal conflicts.

Messud paints vivid portraits of internal conflicts and complex relationships within the Cassar family. Denise clings to her parents’ devout Catholicism, while François is drawn to the energy and freedom of America. François’s marriage to his Canadian wife Barbara survives challenges but remains strained due to her emotional distance. The characters are portrayed with depth, making their struggles and growth relatable and poignant.

The themes of love and longing are central to the novel, exploring love’s endurance and the search for meaningful connections. Memory and identity are also significant, as the Cassar family’s wanderings shape their identities, and their memories intertwine with historical events. Aging and loss are poignantly depicted as the older generations face physical ailments, leading to a moving climax that resonates with readers.

Messud’s prose is thrilling, adventurous, and illuminating. She skillfully weaves together family and national histories, creating a spellbinding narrative that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. The writing style enhances the story’s depth, making it not just a family saga but also a reflection on broader historical and cultural shifts.

This Strange Eventful History is a work of salvage and salvation, drawing from the author’s own memories. Messud expertly shapes incidents for dramatic effect, making every character and moment gripping. The novel stands as a brilliant, heart-wrenching testament to the enduring power of family bonds, leaving a lasting impact on its readers.

The novel deftly navigates the impact of historical events on its characters, spanning decades and continents while following the Cassar family—pieds-noirs (French colonizers of Algeria). Historical events shape their lives, from World War II to decolonization, migration, and cultural shifts. The narrative shifts across family members, revealing evolving personalities and challenging initial impressions. Cultural adaptation becomes a central theme as the Cassars shed their foundational French Catholic identity for a diffuse Protestant American one. Messud plays with conventional storytelling, resembling a 19th-century Russian novel, interpreting and transforming reality rather than merely reproducing it.

by Swapna Peri