Amazon US $20.95
Amazon CA $26.95
Family Drama
1854 - 1891
Inner Hebrides
and Canada
On a lonely
Scottish Isle, a widow lights a lamp to aid sailors every night until Thomas
Stephenson (accompanied by his sickly son Robert Lewis Stephenson but known as
Louis) arrives to survey the islands with a view to building lighthouses. The
captain of the ship is Captain Otter and two of his men are Richard Williams
and Tom Masters. Both are insular characters, not mixing well with the crew and
as such become good friends. Then Richard commits suicide and Thomas, heartbroken
at the loss, and failing to find a young woman who he believes knows something
of Richard's suicide, deserts and, afraid of being captured, decides to
emigrate to Canada. On the ship, he encounters Iain, a stowaway and eventually
adopts him. Tom sets up a photography business when he settles and Iain meets
(and marries) a young Indian girl called Spring Thaw. But it is her brother,
Silent Owl, who arouses his passions.
In many ways,
this is a remarkable book - it weaves lives and loves with deftness, uses some real characters and gives an insight into Tom's
personality as he lives in fear of discovery and struggles with his sexuality
whilst still holding out hope that he will meet the mysterious woman again. It
is also a good study of the life of the native Indians.
I found two
things to comment on: an overuse of metaphors – most of a naval
nature – and the 'chance meetings' that lead to the truths and eventual
explanations. Nevertheless, the feeling of the Hebrides is as strong as the
Canadian scenes, while introducing both a young and older Stevenson is a lovely touch
and I can warmly recommend this book.
© Richard Tearle
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