This Thing Of Darkness by Harry Thompson

[megustaleer]

I so loved this novel, which is the story of Captain Robert FitzRoy, the voyages he made in command of the surveying brig 'Beagle' and of his subsequent career. Charles Darwin has an important r?le in the story having been invited by FitzRoy to join the ship, ostensibly as the Beagle's 'natural philosopher', but mainly as a companion to FitzRoy himself who found that the loneliness of life aboard ship (naval etiquette forbad mingling with the junior officers) triggered bouts of deep depression, or uncontrollable mania.

FitzRoy was a very devout Christian, driven by a sense of duty, whose determination to Do The Right Thing brought him into conflict with his superiors, particularly in respect of the colonization of the outer edges of the Empire, and who found that his deepest beliefs were being challenged by the scientific advancements of the day. The conclusions that Darwin was reaching during his geological researches shook FitzRoy's world, and their originally strong friendship eventually foundered.

Darwin, on the other hand was a bit of a dilettante, unable to settle on an area of interest, or a career. He was dabbling in 'natural philosophy' while supposedly studying to take Holy Orders, and continually calling on his exasperated father for money. He continued to be financially irresponsible throughout the voyage, but his observational skills, and his intuitive leaps to previously unthinkable conclusions brought him great scientific acclaim.

Thompson's research has been very thorough, and he reveals FitzRoy as a true hero, badly treated by his contemporaries and by history. FitzRoy treated all men with respect and humanity, and grieved bitterly the wrongs that he saw meted out to the aboriginal peoples of S. America and New Zealand. He was loved and respected by his officers and crew, and his greatest legacies were the detailed charts he made of the complicated coastline of the furthest tip of S, America, and the mapping of weather systems, which he developed in to the production of weather forcasts for shipping, Although forcasting storms saved the lives of many seamen, and was taken up by many other nations, his own country gave them a very short trial and then abandoned them. It was only after his death, and following insistance from seamen and fishermen that they were reinstated.

Only in 2002 was FitzRoy honoured by having the sea area formerly called Finisterre renamed "FitzRoy" in his honour.

It's a weighty book, and it took me some time to read it, but I am now raving about it to all and sundry. I think all who read it will hold FitRoy in the greatest respect for his physical and moral courage, and his humanity.

It's also a great sea-story.

Go read it!!