Matthew Kneale

This novel tells two parallel stories: one of three eccentric Englishmen who set sail for Tasmania to find the garden of Eden; the other of a young Tasmanian aborigine and his tribe, struggling against the invading British, who prove as lethal in their good intentions as in their cruelty.

English passengers

A Novel

English Passengers

Sarah Sammis

The book had its moments, especially the scenes that take place with the sailors during their brief sojourn to Tasmania but over all the constant moving between characters, time lines and writing styles dragged down an otherwise straight forward historical fiction about a smuggler forced to take a group of fanatics to Tasmania to pay off his customs fines. My favorite scenes were those involving encounters with wombats. They really do try to burrow under or in anything so I could completely believe one burrowing itself between the two hulls of the ship (I once saw one burrowing under an over-turned canoe). The author also captured well the danger of hiking through the south western corner of Tasmania (from Cradle mountain -- aka Wilson's mountain -- out to the shore). All these years later it is still a very dangerous and untamed land.

Prashanth Srivatsa

Hilarious and painful at the same time, English Passengers presents a plethora of witnesses to the discovery, enslavement and the cultural massacre of the aboriginal tribes of Tasmania by the English. The historical obscurity (and the boring sound) of the conquest is overshadowed at every page by Kneale's brilliant characters, each a bagful of self-serving, multi-accented and brutally unfortunate souls whose voyages, wars and repentance ultimately destroy a simple tribe with their simple ways. There's a lesson within these pages of our racial failure, and an even bigger failure in our struggles to overcome it.

Cams Campbell

Originally posted on the Motley Fool UK Bookclub board

I'll start off by saying that I enjoyed the book, and enjoyed the feeling of being part of the [Motley Fool UK] book club. I wouldn't have read this book otherwise.

Narration

I found the style of narration easier to follow than I expected. Then again, a multi-person narrative isn't uncommon in the fantasy genre which is where I'm usually to be found. Such narratives generally lead to a more-favoured and less-favoured but in the case of this book, there weren't really any narratives that I dreaded. If I had to pick a more- and less-favoured, the former would be Peevay and the latter, Potter. More on that to follow.

I think the author had to do a little toying with time in order to bring the narratives together and it seemed a little contrived to me. Jack Harp's demise was a bit sudden and the minor thread pertaining to the prison system seemed to vanish. I guess they were minor parts and supplemented the story both in terms of its plot and to add a bit of historical significance. 

Characters

The three English Passengers were quite obviously caricatures with little depth to them but they played their parts well: Wilson on the "religious" end of the scale, Potter on the "scientific" and Renshaw sort of in the middle. I agree with Greatrakes that Renshaw could have had more to do. He should at least have been given a bit more airtime to allow us to see an Englishman's view of the other two. 

I found that Potter's style of narration gave a good impression of the sort of character he was, but it did get annoying to read.

The scene with Potter and Wilson battling it out on the ship's pulpit was a particular favourite of mine and showed just how ridiculous both characters were. Potter got his just desserts, with his remains being showed at the exhibition; I found that to be most satisfactory for the reader. 

Wilson did seem to have a bit more depth than the other two but not much; it was funny to note that his "unselfish" wife encouraged him on his quest - no doubt she couldn't see the back of him quick enough!

The Manxmen were my favourite characters in the book, although for a crew who were as unfamiliar with a ship as they were at the beginning, they seemed to handle such a long voyage with some ease. 

The Manxmen's attitude towards the English was well done. 

I found Peevay's style of narration quite endearing and him a likeable fellow. I think it was a good choice to make the spokesman of the natives a half-caste as it showed from the outset the horror of what the colonials did. 

Overall, I found myself strangely compelled to read this book and I got through it quicker than I thought I would. That said, it's now two or so weeks since I finished it and it's not a book that will remain in my mind as one of my favourites but I'm glad to have read it. It's a shame my location means that I have to buy each book rather than borrow it as this one will take up shelf space and I'm quite sure I won't read it again. 

The main thing I'd say I got from the book was an idea of a part of history about which I knew absolutely nothing. If the conversation of the history of Tasmania ever comes up, I'll now be able to hold my own! Or indeed, a Trivial Pursuit question about the former name of Tasmania!

Kali Olson

In 1857, Captain Illium Quillian Kewley is a rum smuggler. In order to lend an air of respectability to their escape from the clutches of suspicious customs officials, Captain Kewley and his crew take on three English passengers who are headed down under to Tasmania to find the original site of the Garden of Eden. This is the pet theory of Reverend Wilson; Dr. Potter is looking for supporting evidence for his sinister theories about the races of men. These guys are only slightly less odd than Captain Kewley and his rag-tag crew, who are currently on one of the worst runs of luck this side of the British Isles. Of course, it could be argued that the aboriginal tribes of Australia and Tasmania have it really bad—they are being systematically hunted down, rounded up, and “civilized” by self-righteous colonialists. Peevay is one of these aborigines, a young boy whose greatest skill is his ability to endure. Kneale’s characters take turns narrating their stories, and they are distinct characters indeed. Captain Kewley is a clever rascal, Revered Wilson is priggish and sanctimonious, Peevay has a powerful ability to observe, and others provide glimpses into the real histories of the settlement of the Australian territories, including the brutal convict system. Author Matthew Kneale won the prestigious Whitbread Award (renamed the Costa Award in 2002) for this novel, and it’s a masterpiece of narrative voice that will make readers laugh and cry and keep the pages turning. The plotlines of Kewley’s ship and passengers are on a collision course with those of Peevay and the aborigines and settlers on Tasmania; the results of their meeting are the stuff great novels are made of.

Will Vunderink

Georgi Mitrev

Juliana

Ewan

Antonella Romani

An electrifying modern classic - Kneale's sweeping adventure story vividly brings a past age to life WINNER OF THE WHITBREAD BOOK AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE In 1857 when Captain Illiam Quillian Kewley and his band of rum smugglers from the Isle of Man have most of their contraband confiscated by British Customs, they are forced to put their ship up for charter. The only takers are two eccentric Englishmen who want to embark for the other side of the globe. The Reverend Geoffrey Wilson believes the Garden of Eden was on the island of Tasmania. His travelling partner, Dr. Thomas Potter, unbeknownst to Wilson, is developing a sinister thesis about the races of men. Meanwhile, an aboriginal in Tasmania named Peevay recounts his people's struggles against the invading British. 'Deeply impressive. . . Every page fizzes with linguistic invention' Guardian 'A big, ambitious novel with a rich historical sweep and a host of narrative voices . . . The sort of novel that few contemporary writers have either the imagination or the stamina to sustain' Daily Telegraph

English passengers

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