The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix by Paul Sussman

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Black Swan (4 Dec. 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552779679
• ISBN-13: 978-0552779678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

My name is Raphael Ignatius Phoenix and I am a hundred years old – or will be in ten days’ time, in the early hours of January 1st, 2000, when I kill myself…’
Raphael Ignatius Phoenix has had enough. Born at the beginning of the 20th century, he is determined to take his own life as the old millennium ends and the new one begins. But before he ends it all, he wants to get his affairs in order and put the record straight. That includes making sense of his own long life – a life that spanned the century. He decides to write it all down and, eschewing the more usual method of pen and paper, begins to record his story on the walls of the isolated castle that is his final home. Beginning with a fateful first adventure with Emily, the childhood friend who would become his constant companion, Raphael remembers the multitude of experiences, the myriad encounters and, of course, the ten murders he committed along the way . . .
And so begins one man’s wholly unorthodox account of the twentieth century – or certainly his own riotous, often outrageous, somewhat unreliable and undoubtedly singular interpretation of it.

Review

The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix is one of those books where you are not sure quite what to expect.  Paul Sussman is more well known for writing thrillers, and this is far removed from that genre.  Raphael Ignatius Phoenix is coming up to his hundredth birthday at the start of this book; born in the early hours of January 1 in 1900, he has seen a whole century pass.  He has decided to end his life on his birthday, but first he wants to tell the story of his life by writing it on the walls of the castle where he is staying .

This is very much a character led book, and narrated by Raphael Phoenix himself.  As a character I loved him, he comes across as lots of fun and has led a very interesting life.  He seems to be one of these characters where life just happens to him and fate takes him in some very different directions from a silent film actor, to a banker to a soldier.  He does confess to ten murders but these are not black and white, and are very original.  The other recurring character is Emily, his friend from childhood who  appears at important parts of his life and seems to have hand in his destiny,  There are some wonderful quirky characters, with some fabulous  names to match, who you will not forget in a hurry.

Paul Sussman writes beautifully, and takes us on a journey with Raphael.  The story is told from present day and goes back in time, with great detail to historical accuracy and opens up some of  the most important periods of the last century.  As for the ten murders, Sussman has great imagination, they are original and dare I say happen in some very funny circumstances.

The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix is such a pleasure to read with its attention to detail, engaging characters and dark humour; I really didn’t want it to end, even though the ending was a wow moment for me.  The sad thing about this book is that it is Paul Sussman’s last, as he died before it was published.  If you like and original quirky read, with an anti-hero you can’t help but love and a story that will captivate you and make you laugh, then please give this book a go, I absolutely loved it.