The rich man's house

In The Rich Man's House Andrew McGahan has created a world surrounding the overpowering presence of a gigantic mountain located between Tasmania and Antarctica. Included in the story are names of famous explorers and mountain climbers that become involved in the author's imagined world.

The Wheel is a huge, imposing, mountain, three times the height of Mount Everest, rising from the ocean. Many mountaineers have attempted to climb its slopes but only Walter Richman succeeded. Ten miles away is an island where Richman later built his home, The Observatory. Much of The Observatory is built inside the mountain on this island and provides excellent views of The Wheel. It was designed by Richard Gausse who died during the construction of the building. Gausse's daughter, Rita, was surprised when she received and invitation demanding that she stay at the The Observatory for several days before its official opening.

This book is largely the story of Rita as she is confronted with past experiences and fears that she has tried to forget. Once on the island she is aware of the power of The Wheel in the distance and that extreme danger is not far away. Confronted by the extravagance of Richman's new accommodation Rita becomes aware of the The Wheel's growing displeasure with events occurring on the island and impending doom.

Reading this novel I became immersed in much of the story, especially at the beginning and end of the novel, but generally I thought that the book was far too long, especially in the middle section. In the first sections of the book the author also includes articles about the mountain and attempts to conquer it plus chapters from Rita's book that she wrote ten years previously together providing background to the story.

In The Rich Man's House Andrew McGahan has produced a powerful novel involving the foibles of humanity and the power of presences beyond our understanding.