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Confessing a Murder
A murder, a vanished tropical island, a thwarted love affair...clues to the origin of Charles Darwin's famous theory. A nameless narrator, abandoned on an island soon to be obliterated by volcanic activity, tells the story of his life and exile from England. The tale is as extraordinary for its observations of a surreal natural history as for the dark twistings of human nature it reveals. His particular interest is beetles―a passion he shares, most literally, with the idolized friend of his school years, Charles Darwin―and his reckless pursuit of the golden scarab has led him to a place that mirrors the Galapagos in the utter singularity of its fauna and flora. Blood-sucking mistletoe and amphibian swallows are but two of the fantastic species he records. Is this the diary of a madman? Or is it the story of why Darwin published the book that destroyed his belief in God? Fearlessly original in conception, this tale is as extraordinary for its observations of a surreal natural history as for the dark twistings of human nature it reveals.
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First published May 1, 2002
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About the author
Nicholas Drayson
11 books47 followersNicholas Drayson has written extensively about wildlife and natural history and is the author of the novels Confessing a Murder, which was hailed by Booklist for its "view of Darwin never before seen", Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa. An Englishman by birth, Drayson has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He has lived in Australia since 1982, where he received a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 9, 2010
I’m afraid that this is another book that was loudly lauded by all and sundry but leaves me going “and?” When I see the books that people I know produce and then see this, which does nothing to me at all, emotionally or intellectually, I wonder what is wrong with the world.
I was almost tempted to wipe it from Speak Its Name’s list, because, as will be clear it is speculative fiction, but I think-because of the conceit used, it can remain.
It’s an interesting concept: the conceit is that the book is real, even the publisher’s note at the beginning goes into depth extrapolating on where and when the manuscript was found, how it was written, and on what–then goes into Darwin’s life, and the possibility that this account may or may not be real. There’s also an editor’s note, bylined by Mr Drayton explaining the way it has been edited. The point, ably made at least, was to show how Alfred Russel Wallace and (more famously) Charles Darwin, came up with two independent and similar Theories of Evolution. The reason of this book being that they both got the idea from the narrator of this manuscript. (who purports to be an illegimate scion of the Darwin family).
So I picked it up, more than intrigued. Seeing as it combines two of my interests, natural history and gay historical fiction, I felt that surely I was going to love it, but try as I might, I just didn’t.
The book is told in two interweaving sections: one describes the island, and with each segment that relates to the place where the narrator (who is never named) is marooned, he goes into detail of the completely unique flora and fauna found there. Vampyric plants which parisitise young birds (but keep them free from worms), swallows that hibernate in mud, minnows that can survive in near boiling water. Drayson is a naturalist and zoologist–has written a book about birds and one about platypuses–so I don’t doubt his descriptions of these animals that never were, it’s just that it’s not terribly interesting.
I think that it’s partly to do with his narrator, who comes across as being so bland as to be frightfully dull, and this shouldn’t really be. He’s homosexual, he’s known this from quite young and seems to have had no angst about this. He’s had an event-filled life, travelling from Shrewsbury to Edinburgh to Cambridge to South Africa to Australia, hinting only as the decadence and high life he leads. He started promisingly when he realises the power he has over men who find him attractive. he uses his wiles to punish, to tease, to demand–and in this way, he says, he can keep just about any man at heel. But it’s the bland way he describes it all, not only with the bare minimum of detail, but more dispassionate than watching a beetle die in a killing jar (at which event he cried, copiously.)
Perhaps this is deliberate, perhaps we are supposed to get that he has less enthusiasm for life than he does for beetles, I don’t know. But it’s not how it seems to me, I don’t think that’s what Drayson was aiming at. I think we are supposed to find him adventurous and driven, but frankly I found him boring beyond belief and I heartily wished he’d fall into the volcano himself.
I can compare this book to Philipa Gregory’s “Earthly Joys” which I rate more highly, where the themes of passion for the natural world, and a compulsion for cataloguing and collection are described side by side by an adventurous life, and in this respect Earthly Joys succeeds and takes fruit, while in my eyes, Confessing a Murder is not deemed for natural selection and, to stretch an analogy to its limits, should have withered on the vine.
That being said, if you have any interest at all in Darwin, Wallace and the Theory, you will probably find this worth a read.
I was almost tempted to wipe it from Speak Its Name’s list, because, as will be clear it is speculative fiction, but I think-because of the conceit used, it can remain.
It’s an interesting concept: the conceit is that the book is real, even the publisher’s note at the beginning goes into depth extrapolating on where and when the manuscript was found, how it was written, and on what–then goes into Darwin’s life, and the possibility that this account may or may not be real. There’s also an editor’s note, bylined by Mr Drayton explaining the way it has been edited. The point, ably made at least, was to show how Alfred Russel Wallace and (more famously) Charles Darwin, came up with two independent and similar Theories of Evolution. The reason of this book being that they both got the idea from the narrator of this manuscript. (who purports to be an illegimate scion of the Darwin family).
So I picked it up, more than intrigued. Seeing as it combines two of my interests, natural history and gay historical fiction, I felt that surely I was going to love it, but try as I might, I just didn’t.
The book is told in two interweaving sections: one describes the island, and with each segment that relates to the place where the narrator (who is never named) is marooned, he goes into detail of the completely unique flora and fauna found there. Vampyric plants which parisitise young birds (but keep them free from worms), swallows that hibernate in mud, minnows that can survive in near boiling water. Drayson is a naturalist and zoologist–has written a book about birds and one about platypuses–so I don’t doubt his descriptions of these animals that never were, it’s just that it’s not terribly interesting.
I think that it’s partly to do with his narrator, who comes across as being so bland as to be frightfully dull, and this shouldn’t really be. He’s homosexual, he’s known this from quite young and seems to have had no angst about this. He’s had an event-filled life, travelling from Shrewsbury to Edinburgh to Cambridge to South Africa to Australia, hinting only as the decadence and high life he leads. He started promisingly when he realises the power he has over men who find him attractive. he uses his wiles to punish, to tease, to demand–and in this way, he says, he can keep just about any man at heel. But it’s the bland way he describes it all, not only with the bare minimum of detail, but more dispassionate than watching a beetle die in a killing jar (at which event he cried, copiously.)
Perhaps this is deliberate, perhaps we are supposed to get that he has less enthusiasm for life than he does for beetles, I don’t know. But it’s not how it seems to me, I don’t think that’s what Drayson was aiming at. I think we are supposed to find him adventurous and driven, but frankly I found him boring beyond belief and I heartily wished he’d fall into the volcano himself.
I can compare this book to Philipa Gregory’s “Earthly Joys” which I rate more highly, where the themes of passion for the natural world, and a compulsion for cataloguing and collection are described side by side by an adventurous life, and in this respect Earthly Joys succeeds and takes fruit, while in my eyes, Confessing a Murder is not deemed for natural selection and, to stretch an analogy to its limits, should have withered on the vine.
That being said, if you have any interest at all in Darwin, Wallace and the Theory, you will probably find this worth a read.
August 28, 2023
Just wasn’t for me now. Not finishing.
August 11, 2009
I was delighted by this book.
Fictional school friend of Charles Darwin writes about his life and the amazing ecosystem of the volcanic Island he is stranded on.
Made even better bu the editors note about provenance and verification on the science.
Fictional school friend of Charles Darwin writes about his life and the amazing ecosystem of the volcanic Island he is stranded on.
Made even better bu the editors note about provenance and verification on the science.
December 10, 2015
1883 June. Remote island in Java Sea. Narrator, now stranded old man, reminisces about all-boy boarding school, older lover Philos - yawn. He probably murdered Philos' brother Charley - hohum. I got bored with sidetracks to flora, fauna, and slow build to foretold ending.
October 9, 2024
I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this book; the premise is an interesting one and there is enough non-natural history elements of intrigue and travelogue mixed with history to keep it interesting. I did have to skip some of the more detailed passages of flora and fauna descriptions and Latin terms, but I persevered and am glad I did. But I’d like to know what the answer to the final discovery.
December 16, 2019
Don't particularly enjoy reading about misanthropes. The narrator is one. I abandoned the book 2/3 of the way through. Did enjoy Drayson's "Birds of East Africa"--very different. That one was akin to Alexander McCall Smith No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
August 25, 2012
The book was so overwhelming that sometimes I got myself looking through the wilderness and thinking if the accounts were true and if it is true i would very much like to go there and meet the different creatures existing there. Although the book was plausible the Publisher's Note made the account a conundrum for me because I've researched much of the information on the Publisher's Note and to my surprise most of its information are true that I will stop what I'm doing and think for a second if the accounts are true providing much information that will surely enthrall readers if they were to read the book.
June 13, 2011
A beautiful book that looks into Darwin's mind as he wrestles with his conscience before the publishing of The Origin of Species. I found the point of view of Darwin's fictional friend to be an intersting approach.
January 30, 2014
I tried to like this book, as the premise was so interesting, but with an entirely unsympathetic (and hardly believable) protagonist and an island populated by creatures that seemed especially designed to disgust, I just couldn't finish it.
June 2, 2014
The first half was interesting, but the second half fell completely flat, more's the pity- I very much liked the premise. Unremarkable book, not good or bad enough to evoke enough emotion for a full review.
March 11, 2015
I like the concept of this novel. It is a unique bit of work. However, the characters are purposely odious and the story is full of scientific descriptions of 'new' species; lots of scientific nomenclature etc. Not to most peoples' taste.
1
May 9, 2014amazon.com
February 21, 2010
I LURV this book!!
August 12, 2014
really enjoyed all the official-naturalist-at-work bits, flip flop between that and the plot was comfortable, thought the plot itself wasn't anything riveting
September 30, 2014
It was okay. I found it hard to get into at first but once you get past that it is pretty decent.
November 18, 2015
From a scientific point of view, enlightening and interesting. From a literary one, slow and uninteresting with an ending that is both, predictable and yet, out of place.
never-finished
March 16, 2018I did not finish this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews