Note 2: English Passengers by Matthew Kneale

What is it? 

First published in 2000, winner of the Whitbread Prize and shortlisted for the Booker Prize that year. 

The book is set in the mid-19^th century at the time of the colonisation of Tasmania by the British. The main story is of Captain Kewley a Manx smuggler,  his ship’s crew and the eponymous English passengers who charter his ship. They set off on an expedition to Tasmania in search of the site of the Garden of Eden. The book charts the often extraordinary events that befall them, their chequered relationships and the effects of their experiences. It also tells the story of native Tasmanian Peevay and the grim fate that befell most of his race at the hands of the colonisers.  The story is told by multiple narrators, the chief being the Captain himself, the priest Reverend Wilson- self-styled leader of the expedition, the surgeon Dr Potter and Peevay. Their accounts move the story forward at a lively pace while giving a vivid picture of the prevailing prejudices, beliefs and behaviour of the time. 

Why read it?

We all found this book an entertaining and engaging read with distinct, well-drawn and contrasting characters - from the arrogant, self-deluding Reverend Wilson, his rival the sinister racial profiler Dr Potter, to Peevay who grows from boy to man during the tale.  Each has an idiosyncratic language which adds to the richness and colour of their accounts: from the curious Manx dialect of Kewley, to the cultural amalgam of Peevay’s speech.  We admired the way that the writer has balanced the detailed accounts of the grim treatment of the native Tasmanians with adventure, history, satire and, at times,  laugh out loud humour so that they do not become overwhelming.   The plot detailing the expedition itself is lively and eventful. The historical detail feels well-researched giving the story, particularly the parts set in Tasmania,  validity and weight.  

Why give it a miss?

We had a few quibbles about the length: at 450 odd pages this is a fairly long book and also needs the reader to hold the various narrators in their head until they become familiar. In addition there is some jumping around in time which, although well-signposted, could be confusing. So it's not a book to be read in short bursts but needs longer periods of time.  We also thought that some of the coincidences in the plot – particularly in the fortunes of the Captain and his ship -could be criticised as a bit over-contrived.

What we asked

Do we believe in the characters? Or did they feel like devices to represent certain ideas?

What is the main theme of the book? Is it prejudice? Self-deception/delusion?

Is the author drawing a comparison between the quest for the Christian earthly paradise  and the destruction of the 'paradise'  of pre-colonial Tasmania?

Do the characters learn something about themselves by the end?

Did it leave us feeling sad at what happened to the natives? 

Was the ending satisfying? 

Score

4.5 out of 5

Keep?

Definitely.