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The Solitude of Thomas Cave
In 1616, as the last warm days dwindle in the north Atlantic, the men on an English whaling ship prepare to head back toward home. But there is one exception among them: the quiet, headstrong Thomas Cave. For Cave has bet the rest of the crew that he can spend a winter on this Arctic island. Alone.
His shipmates sail away, the days shorten, and the cold weather moves in. Thomas Cave faces months of darkness, ice, and blizzards. He has nothing to his name except his rations, shelter, and a journal—a record in case he doesn't survive to tell his story. But nothing so threatens the willful sailor as his own mind: he is haunted by the remembrances of another life and a lost love. From his post at the edge of the known world, Cave sees his own past, and begins to reflect on man's relationship with God and the wilderness.
A beautiful, ghostly tale, The Solitude of Thomas Cave brings us back to the beginning of the modern world, in a story infused with the violence, power and beauty that define both man and nature.
His shipmates sail away, the days shorten, and the cold weather moves in. Thomas Cave faces months of darkness, ice, and blizzards. He has nothing to his name except his rations, shelter, and a journal—a record in case he doesn't survive to tell his story. But nothing so threatens the willful sailor as his own mind: he is haunted by the remembrances of another life and a lost love. From his post at the edge of the known world, Cave sees his own past, and begins to reflect on man's relationship with God and the wilderness.
A beautiful, ghostly tale, The Solitude of Thomas Cave brings us back to the beginning of the modern world, in a story infused with the violence, power and beauty that define both man and nature.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
17 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Georgina Harding
26 books48 followersGeorgina Harding is an English author of fiction. Published works include her novels Painter of Silence (shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2012), The Spy Game (shortlisted for The Encore Award 2011), and The Solitude of Thomas Cave.
She has also written two works of non-fiction: Tranquebar: A Season in South India and In Another Europe. She lives in London and the Stour Valley, Essex.
She has also written two works of non-fiction: Tranquebar: A Season in South India and In Another Europe. She lives in London and the Stour Valley, Essex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 17, 2021
"Und wer ist er, Thomas Cave? Ein Mann aus Suffolk, den es in die leere Unendlichkeit des Nordens verschlagen hat. Ein erfahrener Mann, nicht wie dieser Junge. Er hat bereits ein Leben hinter sich. Ein erwachsener Mann, ohne Frau, ohne Kind. Ein Mann, hager wie ein Halm, vertrocknet und ausgehöhlt. Ein Mann, der Holzabsätze macht, der früher einmal Seemann war, der Geige spielte. Ein Mann, der einem Geist erlaubt, sich seiner Gedanken zu bemächtigen, der mit ihr spricht, als wäre sie so wirklich wie er selbst."
July 28, 2012
I'm wondering if I'm being too stingy with 4 stars instead of 5. I'll write the review and then reconsider. First, the prose is absolutely beautiful. Second, the subject matter: an individual manuevering the complexities and pain of life--is not only well done but insightful! The setting 1600's, whaling ship, Greenland--is fascinating. I love psychological novels and this novel fits that description. There is a bit that is disturbing which revolves around animal cruelty and since I was listening to this as an audiobook, I almost stopped the book but decided to carry on and am glad I did. I recommend this book. I wonder if I'm stingy with my rating because of my discomfort with the bits of violence. Oh well....
July 30, 2008
This novel about survival in the far north & how it affects the rest of Thomas Cave's life is written quite gorgeously. Periodically it includes Thomas's journal entries--& these are no exception, which undercuts the author's occasional assertion that he is a man of action rather than words. If he did not wield words well, he wouldn't have the capacity for such deep & subtle thinking.
Exploring the long-term effects of his prolonged experience of hyper-cold is a fascinating undertaking; I'm not sure this final half (or third) of the book works as well as the survival chapters, but good for Harding for trying.
Exploring the long-term effects of his prolonged experience of hyper-cold is a fascinating undertaking; I'm not sure this final half (or third) of the book works as well as the survival chapters, but good for Harding for trying.
May 20, 2008
I picked this book up from the public library looking only for an adventurous tale of the sea and the arctic, barely glancing at the descriptions on the cover flaps. It was a propitious whim, for while it is not a book of high adventure, reading its quiet pages of beauty and sorrow brought me instead to a place of my own solitude and reflection. Very enjoyable.
December 1, 2008
Beautifully written, but only gave it three stars because I thought Harding gave short shrift to the actual substantive part of the book (the isolation). I felt that the winter passed too quickly.
February 7, 2015
I will start with what I loved about this book. I loved the way it was written. The words are measured and flowing and easy. Reading it was no hardship and the prose seems to just take the reader like a stream carrying a leaf, bobbing along easily. It felt as if this book were written decades ago and reminded me of my favorite classic authors, like Dickens. I loved the subject of whaling and the Arctic and eagerly gobble up any books on this topic. It's such an alien, foreign adventure and I always love to see how people might have survived.
Now, for what I didn't like about this book which, unfortunately, is a longer list. I wanted to read more about Cave's survival in the Arctic winter. While there were a few harrowing descriptions, it wasn't enough for me to understand what he went through and what changed him so profoundly. I also wanted more of a description of Cave's earlier tragedy, for the same reason. I felt this area of the book existed solely in hints rather than enough detail to help me understand his motivations. I also really, really didn't like the paranormal aspect of the book, although it was explained at the end. I felt this cheapened the story and was an unwelcome intrusion on what should have been a quietly moving existence.
Overall, this book was never better than just okay for me. I will say, though, that I thought the author wrote in a masterful way and I will be searching out other books by her.
Now, for what I didn't like about this book which, unfortunately, is a longer list. I wanted to read more about Cave's survival in the Arctic winter. While there were a few harrowing descriptions, it wasn't enough for me to understand what he went through and what changed him so profoundly. I also wanted more of a description of Cave's earlier tragedy, for the same reason. I felt this area of the book existed solely in hints rather than enough detail to help me understand his motivations. I also really, really didn't like the paranormal aspect of the book, although it was explained at the end. I felt this cheapened the story and was an unwelcome intrusion on what should have been a quietly moving existence.
Overall, this book was never better than just okay for me. I will say, though, that I thought the author wrote in a masterful way and I will be searching out other books by her.
January 30, 2009
Either writers really like writing about the Northern sea, whaling, and surviving in the polar ice, or I have a prediliction for choosing the only ones out there. This is the story of a whaler who takes a bet that he cannot survive alone on a northern island (off of Greenland) throughout the winter. He is provided with a cabin, a gun, and enough stores from the ships for 5 men to survive. I suppose the focus was how does a person survive psychologically in the cold and dark for months on end. Indeed, he is haunted by his dead wife and son. I never really felt like surviving was a challenge for him, and I don't feel like he resolved anything concerning his feelings about his wife and son. The only thing he seemed to carry away from the experience is that man tried to have dominion over things that should be left alone, that they are cruel and wasteful, and that the only evil that exists is found in man. If you want to read about whaling, read Moby Dick. If you want to read about surviving in extreme conditions read Island of the Lost.
January 6, 2010
A simple story that doesn't want to dazzle the reader. It's only purpose is to tell a compelling story of survival and the things from our past, present and future that drive us to continue. Brilliant first novel.
March 6, 2014
THE NARRATIVE OF THOMAS GOODLARD
Related on the Suffolk coast, one evening of June 1640
I shall not forget the sight of him as we left, that picture stays strong with me; his figure still and straight on the wide shore, the land huge and bare about him, the snowy dip of the valley at his back, the mountains on either side, twin peaks they were of seeming identical height, rising steep and smooth and streaked with grey as if in some strange reversal the rock were ashes that had been poured down onto the snow from heaven; the sea a darkened pewter and having that sluggishness to its movement that comes when it is heavy with the beginnings of ice.
This is not an adventure story of derring-do, or a quest to be first at this or that; neither is it a story of a stranded crew marooned in ice and attempting to get home. This is a story of one man waiting it out in the artic winter to win a bet.
So, there is little action.
The pages are filled with the memories of the eponymous protagonist, and *yawn* they are not enough, or artistically inventive enough to keep this reader happy. I shall skim through to the end, maybe something will keep my attention.
Later - nope! Mundane fayre indeed but at least it prompted me to go researching Svalbard. 1.5*
Related on the Suffolk coast, one evening of June 1640
I shall not forget the sight of him as we left, that picture stays strong with me; his figure still and straight on the wide shore, the land huge and bare about him, the snowy dip of the valley at his back, the mountains on either side, twin peaks they were of seeming identical height, rising steep and smooth and streaked with grey as if in some strange reversal the rock were ashes that had been poured down onto the snow from heaven; the sea a darkened pewter and having that sluggishness to its movement that comes when it is heavy with the beginnings of ice.
This is not an adventure story of derring-do, or a quest to be first at this or that; neither is it a story of a stranded crew marooned in ice and attempting to get home. This is a story of one man waiting it out in the artic winter to win a bet.
So, there is little action.
The pages are filled with the memories of the eponymous protagonist, and *yawn* they are not enough, or artistically inventive enough to keep this reader happy. I shall skim through to the end, maybe something will keep my attention.
Later - nope! Mundane fayre indeed but at least it prompted me to go researching Svalbard. 1.5*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2019
This book will probably appeal more to introverts, and as one, I (mostly) loved it. A lot of what "happens" is quiet and interior. Much of it is beautiful. I will however, give the warning that there is a plot-pivotal scene of animal abuse that is extremely disturbing. As in - for me anyway - the most disturbing scene I've ever read in a book. That was really hard to take, and left me rather conflicted about the bk, since I loved the rest of it (which actually hinged on that one scene, and wouldn't have made sense without it...)
August 3, 2014
This book is my favourite ever book. I have read thousands and love the classics. This books language has a clear beauty in its lucidity. It transforms me, and that is all anyone ever wants from a book.
Thank you Georgina :)
Thank you Georgina :)
September 26, 2014
Did not want the great read to finish but needed desperately to know how it all played out, I was with him alone every second (curiously that means he was not really alone). Brilliant, picked up remaindered for $1. Best dollar ever spent.
September 17, 2008
Begins like a modern day Frankenstein, then slowly fades.
April 17, 2022
On a dare Thomas Cave agrees to spend a winter alone on an island off of Greenland. He had been working for a whaling ship and when the season is over the ship leaves him ashore with what they hope will be enough provisions for his survival.
As the winter drags on Thomas finds that the lack of sun and warm temperatures and the solitude are hard to deal with but not quite as hard as dealing with his own introspection. He keeps a journal outlining his observations and how he spends his days.
Will his shipmates find him still alive when they return for the next whaling season?
As the winter drags on Thomas finds that the lack of sun and warm temperatures and the solitude are hard to deal with but not quite as hard as dealing with his own introspection. He keeps a journal outlining his observations and how he spends his days.
Will his shipmates find him still alive when they return for the next whaling season?
August 8, 2019
'Not at all.' Cave spoke calmly against the Mate's swagger. That calm in his voice gave it a power, and I was drawn to it and forgot all else as it ran on into philosophy in that stark midnight light. I remember the eeriness of the light and the coolness of his voice: 'A man never knows what is or is not possible until he has tried it.' - Pg. 17
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October 3, 2024Second hand from Hay Cinema Bookshop, trip with Mum and Dad.
April 18, 2016
I started reading The Solitude of Thomas Cave some weeks ago, but I put it down after just one chapter. Not because I didn’t like it – quite the opposite! I was so taken by the ideas, the prose, the images forming in my head, that I wanted to save the book for just the right day when I could get completely lost in it.
That day came a week ago and The Solitude of Thomas Cave has been echoing in my mind ever since.
The story begins in 1916, with a whaling ship sailing away south from the icy seas around Greenland. Winter is approaching, and yet a man has been left behind.
An argument among the crew provoked Thomas Cave into a bet with another crew member – that he could survive the winter alone in the Arctic. His fellow seafarers have little hope for his survival and try to dissuade him, but he is determined to remain behind. And so they leave him, with just basic shelter, food and supplies.
That was the opening chapter that captivated me.
“I shall not forget the sight of him as we left, that picture stays strong with me: his figure still and straight on the wide shore, the land huge and bare about him, the snowy dip of the valley at his back, the mountains on either side, twin peaks they were of seemingly identical height, rising steep and smooth and streaked with grey as if in some strange reversal the rock were ashes that had been poured down to the earth from heaven; the sea a darkened pewter and having that sluggishness to its movement that comes from when it is heavy with the beginnings of ice. In all God’s earth, from the tip of Africa to the Indies or the wide Pacific, a man may never see a sight so lonely.”
The following chapters watch Thomas Cave, as he struggles to come to terms with not only the Arctic winter and with the pain and loss in his past that led him to the Arctic.
In the spring the Heartsease returns. What the crew find and what happens then it would be unfair to say. But what I can say is that the story remains intriguing right to the end.
The Solitude of Thomas Cave is a simple story quite beautifully told. Georgina Harding writes lovely prose – simple, but so evocative.
She paints wonderful pictures, and the chill and the isolation of Thomas Cave’s world are quite tangible.
And the story has so much to say. About man’s ability to survive, and indeed to do extraordinary things. And about his relationship with the world he lives in.
So this is a book with everything I look for – a captivating storyline, beautiful prose and thought-provoking ideas.
If only all books were like this!
That day came a week ago and The Solitude of Thomas Cave has been echoing in my mind ever since.
The story begins in 1916, with a whaling ship sailing away south from the icy seas around Greenland. Winter is approaching, and yet a man has been left behind.
An argument among the crew provoked Thomas Cave into a bet with another crew member – that he could survive the winter alone in the Arctic. His fellow seafarers have little hope for his survival and try to dissuade him, but he is determined to remain behind. And so they leave him, with just basic shelter, food and supplies.
That was the opening chapter that captivated me.
“I shall not forget the sight of him as we left, that picture stays strong with me: his figure still and straight on the wide shore, the land huge and bare about him, the snowy dip of the valley at his back, the mountains on either side, twin peaks they were of seemingly identical height, rising steep and smooth and streaked with grey as if in some strange reversal the rock were ashes that had been poured down to the earth from heaven; the sea a darkened pewter and having that sluggishness to its movement that comes from when it is heavy with the beginnings of ice. In all God’s earth, from the tip of Africa to the Indies or the wide Pacific, a man may never see a sight so lonely.”
The following chapters watch Thomas Cave, as he struggles to come to terms with not only the Arctic winter and with the pain and loss in his past that led him to the Arctic.
In the spring the Heartsease returns. What the crew find and what happens then it would be unfair to say. But what I can say is that the story remains intriguing right to the end.
The Solitude of Thomas Cave is a simple story quite beautifully told. Georgina Harding writes lovely prose – simple, but so evocative.
She paints wonderful pictures, and the chill and the isolation of Thomas Cave’s world are quite tangible.
And the story has so much to say. About man’s ability to survive, and indeed to do extraordinary things. And about his relationship with the world he lives in.
So this is a book with everything I look for – a captivating storyline, beautiful prose and thought-provoking ideas.
If only all books were like this!
July 7, 2017
An enigmatic and haunting tale that leaves a lingering mystery and much to consider. The one thing that marred this novel was the passing reference to deliberate and disturbing cruelty—which, at best, was as unsettling as it was mindless.
Quotes:
“But is a man’s diary ever the truth? Isn’t it always an invention, an idea of a possible truth which he uses to control his understanding of himself?”
“The truth is that the hardest thing to bear through the frozen days has not been the dreams but the absence of them. The loneliness.”
“It is not the cold that he fears most now but the inertia of his existence. It may be that the inertia itself is a product of the cold and the incessant dark and of his poor rations, but it is that which he feels crushing his soul: inactivity, enervation, indolence.”
“A man is what he does, God is his witness to his actions. A man who does nothing is nothing.”
“[…] each man […] had brought his past with him, a history there whether it was wanted or not, […]”
“I wonder now if the madness that we thought we saw in him that day was in part a reflection of the fear in ourselves? We looked at him and did not see Thomas Cave but imagined only the cold and the darkness and the solitude, and did not think that we could bear it, and I could not have said which one of these three horrors to me was the worst.”
“ ‘If there was one thing I learnt in the North, […] it was this: there are no devils out there. No devils in the ice or the snow or the rocks, none but those inside us, those we bring. That is why they can be dispelled, because they are all in our imaginations; how could it happen otherwise? They can be dispelled because they are not there, because they are no more than words, dreams, pictures in the mind.’ ”
Quotes:
“But is a man’s diary ever the truth? Isn’t it always an invention, an idea of a possible truth which he uses to control his understanding of himself?”
“The truth is that the hardest thing to bear through the frozen days has not been the dreams but the absence of them. The loneliness.”
“It is not the cold that he fears most now but the inertia of his existence. It may be that the inertia itself is a product of the cold and the incessant dark and of his poor rations, but it is that which he feels crushing his soul: inactivity, enervation, indolence.”
“A man is what he does, God is his witness to his actions. A man who does nothing is nothing.”
“[…] each man […] had brought his past with him, a history there whether it was wanted or not, […]”
“I wonder now if the madness that we thought we saw in him that day was in part a reflection of the fear in ourselves? We looked at him and did not see Thomas Cave but imagined only the cold and the darkness and the solitude, and did not think that we could bear it, and I could not have said which one of these three horrors to me was the worst.”
“ ‘If there was one thing I learnt in the North, […] it was this: there are no devils out there. No devils in the ice or the snow or the rocks, none but those inside us, those we bring. That is why they can be dispelled, because they are all in our imaginations; how could it happen otherwise? They can be dispelled because they are not there, because they are no more than words, dreams, pictures in the mind.’ ”
June 6, 2010
Picked this up in the bargain bin in my local bookstore and was very pleasantly surprised. Capturing the eerie isolation and stark beauty of Caves wintry outpost, while adhering to a very traditional form of story-telling, this is beautifully told, a real winters night read.
Thomas Cave takes on a wager to winter in a remote isolated shelter in the Arctic; his crewmates on the whaling ship the Heartsense, leave him, convinced that he will not survive the harsh, dark winter months and lonely isolation.
Harding grips the reader throughout, and we soon learn that Cave has to battle more than freezing temperatures - he has demons of his own to confront, and this becomes the greater challenge.
Harding doesn't flinch in describing the essential cruelty of life as a whaler,and long before this book ends, the reader senses that Cave has been forced to re-assess his way of life, and mans constant attempts to assert dominance over the natural world.
This, above all things, is a proper story, beautifully told. A memorable read.
Thomas Cave takes on a wager to winter in a remote isolated shelter in the Arctic; his crewmates on the whaling ship the Heartsense, leave him, convinced that he will not survive the harsh, dark winter months and lonely isolation.
Harding grips the reader throughout, and we soon learn that Cave has to battle more than freezing temperatures - he has demons of his own to confront, and this becomes the greater challenge.
Harding doesn't flinch in describing the essential cruelty of life as a whaler,and long before this book ends, the reader senses that Cave has been forced to re-assess his way of life, and mans constant attempts to assert dominance over the natural world.
This, above all things, is a proper story, beautifully told. A memorable read.
September 4, 2012
A treat of a birthday present - I read this while on the warm windy beaches of Southern Portugal which was perfect as its set in the icy tundra of the arctic. it's described as a parable and that it is - a lament for the horrors man is capable of (the image of that baby seal being flayed alive will be a hard one to shake) while reminding us of our inherent ability to deeply connect. it's also a paean to solitude as the space where that deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us takes place. A great one to read while on that monastic retreat or if you simply want a reminder that there is a way to escape the escalating madness of the modern world
March 30, 2020
First of all, don't read this expecting a descent into madness by any means. Harding did a great job mimicking a pre-Victorian writing style, which added a feeling of authenticity. And luckily it lacked the true Victorian trait of extrapolating on scenery for page and after page. But at the end I felt cheated, as I wanted more suspense and psychological issues. The love story was realistic but, sadly, not overly romantic, which also was a let down. I don't think I'd read it again, but it was worth reading once.
May 12, 2012
I so much wanted to like this book more than I did. It was beautifully, *beautifully* written - atmospherically perfect. I felt the echoes of Defoe and Melville and, more than that, the descriptions of the north - the short summer and icy winter of Greenland, the harshness of whaling, it was all there.
But somehow, there wasn't anything in this book for me to grasp on to. I read it, loved the descriptions, and never connected to the story. It just didn't feel like a book that stood alone, only one that worked in context of other works.
But somehow, there wasn't anything in this book for me to grasp on to. I read it, loved the descriptions, and never connected to the story. It just didn't feel like a book that stood alone, only one that worked in context of other works.
December 23, 2009
I liked this a lot. Almost as much as I'd hoped to from the description. Plenty of isolation and the examination of self that encourages. Plenty of vivid description of icy surroundings. I got so wrapped up in it that I lost track of how long ago it is set.
Interesting scribble on the title page too - someone, perhaps the author herself, has crossed out the final 'a' of Georgina and changed it to an 'e'. I love little puzzles like that!
Interesting scribble on the title page too - someone, perhaps the author herself, has crossed out the final 'a' of Georgina and changed it to an 'e'. I love little puzzles like that!
April 22, 2012
Bargain book. Thought it would be better than it actually was. Story is slow and lacks focus. Beautiful writing doesn't make up for the sloppy narrative. There are better novels about arctic survival. Read one of them.
November 5, 2014
Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this one at the time of reading, but I never really managed to get going with this. The writing and imagery is beautiful but I think I was looking for something else.
January 21, 2008
The prose in this book is haunting. I like reading about the 'old ways' and the whaling era was interesting. A well written story in the language of another century.
July 24, 2013
3.5 stars. It was no more or less than my expectation. I wished there were a little more...something...
April 25, 2011
A slow-paced, thoughtful story of solitude, contemplation, man's effect on the world, and the presence/absence of god or devil.
January 27, 2021
As a general rule, "one man pitting himself against a harsh environment to prove a manly point" stories annoy me at best. This one didn't.
'The Solitude of Thomas Cave' didn't glorify man's triumph over nature. The protagonist did endure nature's harshness, but also recognized and appreciated the beauty and glory as it was without mankind. He slaughtered without remorse for his job and his survival, but he didn't do so for sport or to entertain others.
This novel didn't smugly brag how toxic masculinity makes men "real men" but instead gave us simply a man living in the 1600's living as many men did. Yes, Thomas Cave was a whaler, a flenser, a hunter... he was also an apprentice cobbler, a mediocre violin player, and an introvert. None of these aspects overwhelmed his worldview and all contributed significantly to the story.
The author depicted various types of socially acceptable, genuine, and deep love without belaboring the point that it was real love: love of a man for his god, for his wife, for his father-in-law, for his children, for his mentor/friend. Other emotions were just as carefully crafted: sorrow, determination, loss, perseverance.
I genuinely enjoyed this book.
'The Solitude of Thomas Cave' didn't glorify man's triumph over nature. The protagonist did endure nature's harshness, but also recognized and appreciated the beauty and glory as it was without mankind. He slaughtered without remorse for his job and his survival, but he didn't do so for sport or to entertain others.
This novel didn't smugly brag how toxic masculinity makes men "real men" but instead gave us simply a man living in the 1600's living as many men did. Yes, Thomas Cave was a whaler, a flenser, a hunter... he was also an apprentice cobbler, a mediocre violin player, and an introvert. None of these aspects overwhelmed his worldview and all contributed significantly to the story.
The author depicted various types of socially acceptable, genuine, and deep love without belaboring the point that it was real love: love of a man for his god, for his wife, for his father-in-law, for his children, for his mentor/friend. Other emotions were just as carefully crafted: sorrow, determination, loss, perseverance.
I genuinely enjoyed this book.
September 15, 2024
If I had space for more than one “guy overwinters in the arctic” in my heart, I might have liked this better, but Michelle Paver’s Dark Matter unfortunately stole that crown. But I also just was not grabbed by this. I liked the first narrator, but Thomas Cave himself was just not very interesting. It never felt like there was any reason for me to care about him. His tragic tale held nothing unusual or subtle, felt a bit bog-standard. So I found myself bored for stretches of it.
However, the prose itself was very lovely, and I enjoyed the ending quite a bit.
However, the prose itself was very lovely, and I enjoyed the ending quite a bit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews