Forty Fathoms Deep

This book isn't really a novel, it is based on true stories, editorialised - sure, but not invention.

As a novel, it would certainly be considered meandering, and for me this book stopped being a novel early on. Initially after some locational establishment, we follow the story of a pearl - a large and valuable pearl, which is stolen from its finder, and is subsequently stolen again and again. Once this narrative ends, the book changes tack. It outlines in a non-fictional narrative the entire goings on of the pearlers out of Broome, Western Australia. It introduces us to many more real people than fictional characters, and is accompanied by many photographs (which lead to my confusion over it being a novel). The author credits a number of people who feature in the book with assisting him in understanding the process, the people and the way of life for the pearlers.

Written in 1936, the book covers some history, going back to late 19th century, as as the book closes much more machinery is available to assist these men - electric air pumps (rather than hand pumps), motors on boats etc, although a depression has meant a return to cheaper methods.

We learn of the white men pioneering careers in pearls, but with the work carried out by the Japanese, the Manilamen (Filipino in general), the Malays and the Koepangers (Timorese). At times there are racial tensions and we learn of those. There are equipment failures, sharks, whales and other sea creatures which make victims of the divers, there is terrible weather and storms - there are many deaths - it is not a career for the timid.

We learn of pearls, their value, the hands they pass through before they adorn an ear or a neck in London (which is the market of the time). We are with the diver, the shell opener, the pearl cleaner and the middleman trading onwards. At times we are in a darkened spot with a less reputable trader who asks not where the pearl was obtained, but pays cash, albeit at a lesser rate.

We also learn all about the town of Broome and its people, wrecked ships, raising wrecks, black magic among the Malay, and some of the strange creatures of the sea and their behaviour.

As a novel, this would rate around 2 stars - a great start, but the story just fades out. As a piece of history around pearling in late 19th and early 20th centuries, with some fictional narrative side stories wrapped in it is fantastic. Not a single aspect can be considered missing. As a summary piece on pearlers and pearling, it is a 5 star book. As it is both, I settle on 4 stars.

This is the first book from this prolific author that I have read, and I now own a couple more. I am interested to see whether the mixed fiction / non-fiction approach is continued.