The Supreme Lie

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The Supreme Lie is set in a land devastated by flooding and is a powerful story about courage, power and propaganda. We asked award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean tells us more about her latest novel: Geraldine McCaughrean is a very skilful writer and the story moves seamlessly between various different perspectives. Most interestingly the story often follows the point of view of Heinz, a dog belonging to a teenage boy called Clem. The other main point of view is of Gloria, a teenage girl who is maid to the Suprema (leader of the state of Afalia). I really enjoyed the way the writing shifted perspectives and there is a real fondness for 'man's best friend' in this story.

Geraldine says of The Supreme Lie, “Have you ever wondered, during the last year: ‘Are the Government telling us everything?’‘Are the papers trying to scare us?’‘Are they making things up?’ They’re probably not. But there have been times when statesmen told lies, when newspapers invented the facts, when promises were worthless and, as a result, a lot of people died. I read of one such scandal that took place in America in the 1920s, and I set about designing a fictional country where imminent danger threatens, panic is everywhere, and the truth is hard to come by.” So, I suppose my main theme is how disaster brings out the best and worst in people, as well as altering their lives for ever. I suppose the hero in a story is always a product of the author who put all those thoughts in her head and words in her mouth and decided her fate. But it's no good me just asking myself, "What would you do, Geraldine, in these circumstances?" I know the answer all too well: I'd be useless, hiding under the bed.

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The main premise of the story is that their is a disastrous flood that is affecting the country. The Suprema, at the start of the story, takes a train in secret to the north of the country to see what she can do to help, or so she says. As it turns out she has in fact run away from her responsibilities, leaving her husband, the maid and the dog to face the music. Timor, the Suprema's husband, decides to hide the fact that his wife has abandoned the city in its hour of need and gets Gloria, the maid to pretend to be the head of state.

I think the cleverest thing about this book is the way it uses narrative perspective to expose the class divide. First of all, the concept itself involves a lower class character stepping into the shoes of an upper class character. McCaughrean has already created opportunity for highlighting the contrast in their lifestyles. But it works even more deeply, because Gloria is a child - an emblem of innocence - being thrust into a world of corruption and lies. Placing a young and untainted character inside this dishonest government is a clever way of challenging the corruption, because Gloria and the readers who take her side are able to question the way Praesto's government handles the crisis. Normally, if I'm going to set a novel somewhere I've never been, I'll research the flora and fauna, geography, traditions, history, beliefs ... But here, for the first time I was writing about somewhere imaginary, so I was free, as I went along, to invent everything about Afalia. Great fun. I can recommend inventing places. I did draw myself a map to begin with, but it had to shimmy a bit, to accommodate the plot! Commenting on the situation of there being haves and have-nots and the glaring differences between them. The 'powerful" and the 'powerless'. How we wield power says a lot about our character, what kind of people we are. How a crisis can bring out the best or the worst in people. How resilient people can be. I began wishing the book would concentrate more on Gloria acting as Suprema and less on other stuff. The dog thing dragged a little in the 1st half of the book, even though it was an original way to see what was really happening in the rest of the country.I adore fish out of water situations. Not only does Gloria have to impersonate someone else, but she has the fate of her country in her hands and shady politics to deal with. The antithesis of her small town roots with the powerful woman she must portray is depicted quite well. The evolution of the character and her eyes opening to 'how the world really works' is done quite well too. Her 'simple' questions spark your pondering of societal issues and how life should be. Left behind are her husband and maid Gloria. These two will need to work together, conspire and lie to ensure the safety of Afalia and its people. The Nottinghill Carnival takes central stage in this story about families, memories and the power of dance and festivals. Author Yaba Badoe tells... The Supreme Lie' is set in a fantasy city called Praesto, facing disastrous flooding. The protagonist is a handmaid called Gloria who is forced to impersonate the absent Head of State, Madame Suprema. In terms of social and political protest, this is already gold dust - we have a power divide, an authoritarian government, natural disaster... I was excited just reading the blurb!