Horror's Greatest Hits
Contrarybollix asked this question about The Heart's Invisible Furies:
Where in West Cork is Skull? How could Fidel Castro send cigars to Ireland in 1952? How could Pompidou be a former French president in 1959? How was Lady Chatterley's Lover available to an Irish teenager in 1959?
Brian Gluckman On the second question, the correct answer is: he couldn't. Castro spent the first half of '52 in destitute poverty, organizing his first attempt at a…moreOn the second question, the correct answer is: he couldn't. Castro spent the first half of '52 in destitute poverty, organizing his first attempt at a revolution, and was unknown outside of Cuba at the time. He spent the second half of '52 in a jail cell, having failed in his attempt to overthrow the government. Castro as we think of him--that is, the authoritarian leader of Cuba--didn't really emerge until the late 50s. This is one of a couple of small details that should have been caught in the editing process (at one point, a character hums a song that wasn't written for three more years; there's also a reference to capital punishment being outlawed by 1952, which certainly would be a surprise to the last person who was hung in the country in '54, since it wasn't actually banned until '62).(less)
flag
More questions about The Heart's Invisible Furies…
Image for The Heart's Invisible Furies
The Heart's Invisible Furies
by John Boyne (Goodreads Author)
Rate this book
Clear rating
1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more