Destiny, or The Attraction of Affinities

Destiny, or The Attraction of Affinities (1996), authored by John David Morley, is a novel that spans the years 1934 to 1990, offering a multi-generational psychological exploration of modern Germany.

Summary

In 1961, Jason Gould travels to Germany following his father Magnus and chooses to stay, witnessing firsthand the erection of the Berlin Wall and the nation's division. During his time there, he develops a romantic relationship with the daughter of a woman Magnus once intended to marry. Written in parallel with the reunification of Germany in 1990, the narrative delves into themes such as collective responsibility stemming from the Holocaust, ideological repression in the GDR, and extremist violence linked to the Red Army Faction. The story alludes to Kleist’s Michael Kohlhaas and Caspar David Friedrich’s painting Chalk Cliffs on Rügen, charting a cultural identity forged through enduring political upheaval.

Reception

Robert Hanks, writing for The Independent, described Destiny as “an unusually rewarding work, deeply thoughtful and informative, skillfully balancing concepts and their symbolic representations with captivating precision.” In The Times Literary Supplement, Valentine Cunningham remarked on the novel’s layered structure—combining narrative, historical context, art history, documentary elements, essays, and travelogue—all executed effectively to confront Germany’s intricate history. Tom Hiney of The Spectator praised Morley's writing for possessing "both emotional depth and intellectual rigor," enhancing the novel's appeal.