Corridors of Time

Corridors of Time, a novel divided into three parts, covers a time scale from the 1880’s Victorian music hall through to post prohibition New York. In 1886 James Roberts, son of a wealthy Scottish merchant marries Miriam McCauley, daughter of a Music Hall proprietor. After the birth of their daughter, Miriam’s mental health deteriorates and James Roberts’ obsession with the young showgirl fades. She is sent to a convent in Ireland and as a result he bigamously marries and sets up a new family consisting of four sons and a daughter. By 1910, Miriam is suffering from consumption and the McCauleys demand money for her treatment. James, now a wealthy shipping merchant, has no intention of helping Miriam; he switches identity with his invalid brother and leaves for America and a new life. After the brother is found drowned in the River Thames, James’ son David falsely identifies the body as that of his father. After the 1914-18 war, David migrates to America but the trauma of his father’s behaviour never leaves him. The story explores the customs and conventions of the time scale and the effect of these mores on the family, and in particular David.