English Passengers
A Novel (Man Booker Prize Finalist)
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4.1 • 16 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
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 traveling 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, a story that begins in 1824, moves into the present with approach of the English passengers in 1857, and extends into the future in 1870. These characters and many others come together in a storm of voices that vividly bring a past age to life.
Customer Reviews
English Passengers
A well-written, entertaining historical read in which the hubris of British imperialism get it's comeuppance.
very very good
this is my secnd favorite read ever. a great, funny and grim story. if you can make funnny and grim work together, you have a fantastic read.
the characters are al so differemt and the various dialogues give one a treue feeling for charcter development and the dynamics on the ship. the Peevay character is adoring and the foreshadowing through his character is suspesful. the interaction of the relationships are fantasticly beleivable.
Kneale's other books are very different (plot, development), IMHO. he manged to capture the sense of a 9 year old boy in "We Went to Rome". that is goood stuff too, but English passengers is a gem. well done mr kneale.