The Cameraman

The Cameraman by Matthew Kneale, published by Atlantic Books in 2023, is a historical fiction narrative that follows former cinema camera director Julius Sewell as he embarks on a journey across Europe with his family to attend his sister’s wedding in Rome. This road trip is marked by complexity, as Julius has recently been released from a mental institution, and his family dynamics are fraught with political tensions. Set during Easter 1934, the story unfolds against a backdrop of rising fascism in Europe, highlighting the contrasting ideologies within Julius’ family.

Readers will find a rich exploration of familial relationships intertwined with historical context, as Julius navigates the challenges posed by his stepfather and mother’s involvement in Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists. The narrative also touches on the aspirations of his half-sisters, one studying in Munich with dreams of meeting Adolf Hitler, while the other, a member of the British Communist Party, seeks to disrupt the wedding due to the groom’s connections to Italy’s Fascist regime. This edition spans 288 pages and is presented in English, offering a detailed look at a tumultuous period in history through the lens of personal and political conflict.