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Flora Mackie, a Dundee whaling-captain’s daughter, spends much of her adolescence above the Arctic Circle, via her father’s ship, and feels most comfortable there. Her tale unfolds alongside that of Jakob de Beyn, who comes of age in fin de siècle New York. When they first meet, in northwestern Greenland in 1892, she’s a serious-minded meteorologist leading a British expedition, while he has joined a rival American party as a geologist.
Their unspoken attraction later blooms into a complicated love affair, relayed with candid intimacy. Competition for new discoveries leads to heightened tensions, and a mystery emerges after a tragedy occurs and suspicions of deceit arise.
Serious issues like gender bias and exploitation are adeptly handled, and the icy Arctic setting comes alive in passages of shimmering beauty. Penney conveys both the elation and fear evoked when crossing into unfamiliar territory, be it geographical or emotional. She also delves into the customs and beliefs of the Inuit, whose generous hospitality to the Westerners is indispensable. An exceptional epic about an unconventional woman’s life and loves.
Stef Penney's Under a Pole Star is published tomorrow in the US by Quercus in hardcover and ebook (608pp). I wrote this (starred) review for Booklist's August issue.
Over the years (I've been reviewing for them since 2005) my editors have sent me quite a few historical epics on the topic of world explorers, the harsh environments they endure, and their relationships with the indigenous peoples of the lands to which they travel. Some others include:
Brian Doyle, The Adventures of John Carson in Several Quarters of the World, which I thoroughly enjoyed; sadly, Doyle passed away this past June.
Oscar Hijuelos' Twain and Stanley Enter Paradise, the author's posthumous novel.
Naomi J. Williams' Landfalls, about the ill-fated La Perouse maritime expedition.
James Morrow's Galapagos Regained, literary satire set in 19th-century South America.
Each is different in style and approach. Although historical adventure isn't a subgenre to which I'm naturally drawn, I've been impressed with many individual books within it, including Under a Pole Star. Don't be dissuaded by the length, either! The story moves along quickly.
Another novel that would fit your list is Everland by Rebecca Hunt, a dual period novel about two Antarctic expeditions gone wrong. Like you, I'm not naturally drawn to historical adventure, but when an author delves into the emotional states of characters caught in dangerous or isolated situations, I'm fascinated!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation, Clarissa! I know where you're coming from - I'm more interested in the characterization than in the physical adventure aspect of it.
ReplyDeleteI suppose another one that would count is Tanis Rideout's Above All Things, which centers on both George Mallory and his wife Ruth, at home, during his final attempt to climb Mt. Everest. I loved the writing in the book, though many of the scenes of the climb were terrifying!