The Carpenter’s Tale

Aylmer author releases first novel 

Julie Murray

Peter Darbyshire, an Aylmer translator, English teacher, and consultant, has just had his first novel published,  “The Carpenter’s Tale.”  Based on the author’s personal experiences, the story explores the journey of a man who undergoes a manic episode during which he believes he is Jesus Christ.  The protagonist, John Carpenter, finds meaning in the fact that his last name is the same as Jesus’ profession as a carpenter, and, of course, in the shared initials of their respective names.  The fictional Mr. Carpenter sets off to search for proof that he is who he thinks he is, visiting a doctor and priest along the way. Author Darbyshire suffered a serious manic episode in 2006, resulting in hospitalization for a couple of months.  

 

He wrote the book in an effort to “get it out of my system,” and to educate people about the serious illness that is manic depression.  “Much of what happens to the bipolar characters in my novel happened, to some degree or another, to me.  I wanted people to start talking about this illness.  It is more widespread than people realize.”

Bipolar disorder is normally identified when a person is in their late teens or early twenties and is a lifetime condition, but one that is treatable with medication. Initial symptoms of a manic episode are an intense alertness and an inability to sleep. “I felt incredible energy.  Usually I am very reserved, but when I had this episode, I became a real extrovert.  It was strange behaviour for me,” Mr. Darbyshire told The Bulletin.  He added that manic episodes may lead to risky activities, yet the feeling is so ecstatic and energetic that people do not seek treatment while feeling so good. 

 

Unfortunately, the lows match the highs.  “I am 49 and I can trace my first episode of severe depression to when I was eight years old.  I missed two weeks of school.  Every morning, I pretended to vomit in the morning, because I didn’t want to leave the house.”  As an adult, Mr. Darbyshire’s depression led him to seek treatment, which at first only accentuated the problem.  “I was given high doses of anti-depressants, which is not good for bipolar disorder.  Doctors recognize the depression, and prescribe drugs, but they don’t ask about any unusually energetic or active feelings.  They don’t ask about mania.”  Mr. Darbyshire is now on medication that is more appropriate for bipolar disorder. 

 

He has plans for another book, set to be released in the summer.  The working title is “The Saint Marys of the Sea,” a fictional account of the voyage of Mary the Mother of Christ, Mary Magdelene (who is carrying Jesus’ child in the story), Mary Salome, and their servant, Sarah, the patron saint of the Romani (gypsies), whose place of veneration is Saintes-Maries de la Mer.   According to legend, the four women left Jerusalem and traveled to Southern France. “This novel is not a conspiracy-theory book.  I wanted to talk about Peter and Judas, Mary and Mary Magdalene.  I picture them as normal people, all who suffered such a trauma, such a loss, when they lost Jesus.  Even Judas—without him, nothing would have been set into motion.  He felt pain as well.”