''Sebastian'', or ''Ruling Passions'' (1983), is the fourth volume in '' The Avignon Quintet'' series by British author

Lawrence Durrell Lawrence George Durrell (; 27 February 1912 – 7 November 1990) was an expatriate British novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer. He was the eldest brother of naturalist and writer Gerald Durrell. Born in India to British colonial p ...

, which was published from 1974 to 1985. This novel is set mainly in Switzerland immediately after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. It continues the story of Constance and a Gnostic cult, which was introduced in the first novel of the quintet, '' Monsieur'' (1974).

Plot summary

A letter informs the Egyptian Sebastian Affad that he will die; a mix up has caused major ructions within the Gnostic sect in Egypt. Affad is called back to Egypt for admonishment. Before leaving Switzerland, however, he has asked Constance to use her psychiatric skills to treat his son, who has become

autistic The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...

. She is gradually successful in working with the boy. After Affad returns to Switzerland from Egypt, the couple renew their relationship. The psychopath Mnemidis intervenes. After escaping from the institution where Constance works, he goes to her flat, intending to kill her, but murders Affad instead. The book finishes in a surreal manner. Affad seems virtually to disappear from Constance's memory; and two chapters give conflicting accounts of Constance's action upon the death of her boss Schwartz. Unexpectedly Sylvie reappears, for the first time since ''Monsieur.'' (She is said to be a fictional creation of author Aubrey Blanford, also introduced in the first novel as a character). She begins an affair with Constance.

Reception

Critic Graham Hough of the '' London Review of Books'' wrote about the need to read all the novels in this series. But he also wrote, "As it happened, I read them in the wrong order, but such is the vitality and attack of Durrell’s writing that it hardly mattered. Enter them anywhere and one is sucked into the stream."Graham Hough, "Auld Lang Syne"
''London Review of Books,'' Vol. 5 No. 22/23, 1 December 1983, p. 14; accessed 17 October 2016

References

External links

The International Lawrence Durrell Society
Official website of ILDS 1980 British novels Faber and Faber books Novels by Lawrence Durrell Novels set in Switzerland Novels with lesbian themes {{1980s-LGBT-novel-stub