The Only Problem

Harvey Gotham, a wealthy scholar, isolates himself in rural France to write a treatise on the Book of Job. His work becomes centered around frequent visits to the Epinal Museum to study Georges de La Tour's painting "Job Taunted by his Wife," which reminds him of his estranged wife Effie. His solitude is interrupted when his brother-in-law Edward arrives, followed by Effie's sister Ruth and her baby Clara. The situation grows complex when police begin investigating possible connections between Harvey and a terrorist organization that may involve his wife Effie. The narrative interweaves Harvey's scholarly examination of suffering and faith through the lens of Job with the mounting tension of present-day events. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a small French village, an empty chateau, and the ever-present painting at the museum. The novel explores themes of divine justice, human suffering, and the relationship between intellectual pursuit and real-world chaos. Through Harvey's academic obsession with Job and his personal circumstances, Spark creates a modern parallel to ancient questions about faith and tribulation.

Readers note this is one of Spark's more philosophical novels, with extensive discussion of the Book of Job woven throughout. Many find it intellectually challenging compared to her other works. Readers appreciate: - The dark humor and wit - Complex exploration of suffering and faith - Tight plotting despite heavy theological themes - The protagonist's intellectual wrestling with Job Common criticisms: - Too much biblical analysis for casual readers - Less engaging plot than other Spark novels - Some find the pacing slow in middle sections - Character development feels limited Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (126 ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (limited reviews) Several reviewers called it "demanding but rewarding." One Goodreads review noted it's "more concerned with ideas than story." Multiple readers mentioned needing familiarity with the Book of Job to fully appreciate the novel. One Amazon reviewer said "the theological discussions overshadow character relationships."

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🎨 The painting "Job Visited by His Wife" by Georges de La Tour, central to the novel, is housed in the Musée départemental d'art ancien et contemporain in Épinal, France. 📚 Muriel Spark wrote this novel while living in Italy, where she spent much of her later life after converting to Catholicism in 1954. 🏆 The Book of Job, which the protagonist studies, is considered one of the most complex books of the Old Testament and was written between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE. 🌍 The novel's setting of St Die in Vosges has historical significance as the birthplace of cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, who first used the name "America" on a world map. 💫 The theme of terrorism in the novel reflects Spark's interest in contemporary issues - she often incorporated current events into her fiction to explore moral and philosophical questions.