Peter Ackroyd’s latest novel — his 13th — reminds us that his considerable talents probably lie outside the arena of fiction. The Fall of Troy is a foray into fantasy, but it is closely based on actual events in the life of Heinrich Schliemann, the unorthodox German archaeologist who discovered Troy in the latter part of the 19th century. The setting is the archaeological site i tself, at the Turkish village of Hissarlik. Schliemann’s name has been changed to Obermann (his first name is still Heinrich), and aspects of his biography have been altered, but the main facts have been adopted and roped into a story that, when all is said and done, fails to convince.

The plot unfolds largely through dialogue, which keeps things entertainingly brisk. But there is not enough differentiation between the voices: everyone seems to speak with the same stilted formality. The idea may be to conjure the world of the ancient heroes, but it doesn’t come off. Abandoning verisimilitude in favour of so much ancient myth-mongering leaves the reader unconvinced by what is happening in the present and therefore unconcerned with how it may link with the past.

Blackwell Bookshop

Purchase your copy here, 10% off RRP