What is the author's style in The Viceroy of Ouidah by Bruce Chatwin?

The author clearly has a great love for naming. In this novel, it begins with the names of Francisco da Silva's many descendants, who are identified even though the vast majority of them never again appear in the story. This technique, reminiscent of the list of who begat whom in the Bible's Book of Genesis, creates an effect not only of time passing but of exotica, because the names have mixed African and Brazilian influences. Chatwin's love of naming continues to the designation of countries, states, cities, villages, buildings, and geographical features.