The Doubleman

The new novel from the author of The Year of Living Dangerously is set in his native Australia. While recovering from polio, young Richard Miller becomes addicted to fairy tales and to his toy theater""life at one remove.'' A sense of life's doubleness is reinforced by his Catholic education in the truth of the Spirit as opposed to the Flesh. But at 17, in an affair with an older married woman, he's awakened to earthly entertainments, and some time later, entranced by the music of a folk group presided over by the elusive Mr. Broderick (master of the guitar and of occult arts), he quits school to pursue his own artistic ambitionsfirst as actor, then as producer. In the 1960s the folk group, now specializing in English and Scottish ballads, reappears and persuades the young producer to take them on. Their ensuing success is a fairy tale come trueevil potions and black magic included. By the end of this intriguing if somewhat heavy-handed allegory of good and evil, of art and religion, which probes the distinction between escapist and moral innocence, Richard is reconsidering the spiritual values of the Church. 25,000 first printing; $20,000 ad/promo. March 3