The Chemistry of Tears

Berkelouw Review

Opposite the title page of The Chemistry of Tears there is a list of 17 books under the heading "Also by Peter Carey". I've read 15 of them, usually falling on them greedily on the day of publication. In my opinion Carey writers two types of books - great ones and good ones. Parrot and Olivier in America was a return to greatness for me after a run of goods. What about The Chemistry of Tears?

Catherine Gehrig is a horologist working in the Swinburne Museum. When her secret lover, also an employee of the museum, dies suddenly, the bereft Catherine is unable to grieve publicly. She is given a special project by her compassionate manager Eric Croft. The work involves the reconstruction of a complex clockwork automaton created in the depths of the Black Forest in 19th century Germany. Among the components Catherine discovers the diary of Henry Brandling, the Englishman who commission the work for his invalid son, and she becomes absorbed in the story of the creation of the automaton and the mercurial figures who brought it into "being".

Gradually brought back from despair fuelled by grief and cognac (and vodka), Catherine commences the technical work of reconstruction aided by Amanda Snyde, a capable young assistant planted by Croft to help Catherine and also keep an eye on her. Amanda, the bright young "Courtauld girl" has secrets of her own - some managed by medication. She thinks it is possible that the automaton contains miraculous technology from another age and somehow this connects to her obsessive tracking of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Carey gives us Brandling in 19th century Germany contending with the strange artisans of the (Grimm Brother's) Black Forest, and Amanda in 21st century Britain haunted by the Black Tide in the Gulf, a consequence of technology overreach and failure.

Carey's novel encompasses ideas about technology and expertise (now and in the 19th century) and is replete with intricate detail. The characters in both centuries encounter emotional desolation and struggle against it. The writing is lively and vivid and the story intrigues with its complex turns and discoveries. For me this is a fine and satisfying work and while not a great Carey, it is certainly a very good one.