*The Ant Colony by Francis King (Constable, 1991)

 

Yet another book about a community of British ex-patriots living in Italy, this time in Florence sometime after WWII -- probably the early 50s, but published, and written (one supposes) in 1991.

The book follows Iris Crediton and Jack Prentis, two very young Brits, who have arrived in Florence to each English for a year at a Language Institute.  Iris is pretty and titled,  has lovely clothes and is socially poised; Jack is middle-class, handsome, has a very limited wardrobe, and is shy but charming.  They are both embraced (literally and figuratively) by the much-older -- some rather ancient -- British expats who, for one reason or another (homosexuality included) have remade their lives in more tolerant (and affordable) Italy.

Iris lodges in a pensione and Jack boards with the school's sub-director, Giles, who is unhappily married to an unhappy woman, Margot, their two children, Prunella and Piers, and Maria, their attractive maid.  Both Iris and Jack get involved romantically, sexually, and/or professionally with many members of the expat and local community, including a hunchbacked Italian poet, a Fascist Countess, a wealthy alcoholic woman, a homosexual man, a lesbian mourning the loss of her life partner.

Francis King is an engaging writer, and The Ant Colony is vividly charactered and located.  The book is episodic and not strongly plotted, and consequently not particularly potent or coherent.  But it is warm and gentle, and reading it is much like taking a pleasant but forgettable Italian holiday.