Earthly Powers Summary
Anthony Burgess

Earthly Powers Summary

Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess is an exercise in narcissism and self-indulgence. The main topics in the story are good vs. evil and homosexuality. The story begins in the 1970s, back tracks to 1918, and then moves forward to return to the 1970s when the main character, Kenneth Toomey is an old man.

The story begins with noted author Kenneth Marchal Toomey celebrating his 81st birthday. Toomey lives in Tangier with his secretary/lover Geoffrey Enwright. Toomey is visited by the Archbishop of Malta who requests that Toomey write about his brother-in-law, Carlo Campanati aka Pope Gregory XVII. Carlo had performed a miracle that would ensure that he be canonized in the Roman Catholic Church. Toomey was the only witness to the miracle.

Toomey struggles greatly with his homosexuality and how it wars with his values and the values of the Church. Although Toomey accepts his orientation, the Church does... View more of the Earthly Powers Summary