The Black Eden

by Richard T. Kelly

A beautifully crafted exploration of how unexpected fortune can alter and complicate friendships, Kelly's captivating novel tracks the lives of five young Scots from disparate backgrounds in the decades before and after the discovery of North Sea oil in 1966.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

451 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Largely set in Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s, The Black Eden traces the search, discovery and exploitation of oil under the North Sea through the viewpoints of a number of different men. Most significant, perhaps, are childhood friends Aaron and Robbie, who dove together as boys but whose lives took very different paths. Aaron becomes a geologist, trying to identify the best spot in the sea to drill for oil by studying the rock strata, while Robbie moves between different kinds of skilled manual labour, eventually becoming a diver and a welder. But we also hear from a journalist; a banker; the son of an Aberdeen trawler-fishing family company; and a preacher. Unfortunately, this list-like approach is how the novel deals with these men as well. They are defined by their class and occupation, and characterisation is perfunctory. Dialogue is distinguished by accent but inside their own heads they all sound the same. Women are given even shorter shrift, appearing only as future love interests - and even the ones that start off interesting, like a female welder, collapse completely into that role. Kelly is great at evoking certain working environments, especially oil rigs and diving bells, but The Black Eden spends much too much time in offices, conference rooms and bars, and not enough time 'making hole', as the oil drillers would put it. This novel is impeccably researched, and I learnt a lot from it, but it feels both old-fashioned and incredibly predictable, creaking slowly towards the inevitable ending like an ancient trawler. 3.5 stars.

I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.

[Ollie Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but I struggled to connect with the characters because by design the book jumps around between the five main characters a lot and forwards in time at quite a pace. Also Mark’s story felt like a bit of a bolt on by the end. Was good though.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a well written and fascinating novel that brought me back in time and into the head of people from different social classes.
There's dreams, there's the will to change the world and there's the discovery of oil in Scoltand in the 60s
It's a sort of buddy novel as the women appears as love interest and play no role.
I appreciated it but some less meeting would have be greatù
Don't ask my why but I read it with Local Hero soundtrack playing in my head
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Abigail Rickard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many characters, not enough plot

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelly’s exhausting and well structured saga follows pairs of young men consumed in the search for oil off the northeast coast of Scotland from 1956 until 1982.The technical parts are balanced by emotionally believable scenes of love and conflict and the use of pairs of characters allows for contrasting points of view and a wide range of social classes. Without giving the story away I must say that Kelly’s conclusion is biblical.

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard T. Kelly writes a superb and fascinating historical novel, atmospheric and well researched about black gold, the discovery of North Sea oil in the dangerous waters off the Scottish coast, its impact on local communities, the politics, related through a diverse group of characters for whom it may represent unheard of opportunities, but what may it cost them? In the Scottish Highlands in 1956, Robbie from a farming background, Aaron, a school teacher's son interested in rocks, are best friends who dive, they are looking at different future directions, with Aaron going on to study geology at Aberdeen University. Mark attends an exclusive private school in Edinburgh, is close friends with Ally. Mark is a socialist wanting to be a writer, ending up becoming a journalist, with a brief foray as the 2nd SNP MP.

Given their different political views, the two manage to remain friends as Ally moves from company lawyer to investment banking, but how long will this last? Joseph Killday is heir to his father's trawler fishing business with his siblings, but studies Economics at Edinburgh, ending up working for Dunlop, will he be tempted to return? In a narrative that moves from the 1950s to 1974, Aaron on the advice of his academic tutor, Hugh Munro, joins the American Paxton Oil and Gas company to help identify potentially lucrative oil fields in the North Sea. Structured into 7 parts, we see it takes some time before commercial levels of oil are discovered, the politics of issuing drilling licences from the government, the inescapable turbulence for communities, coasts, businesses, families, Aberdeen and employnent amidst a background of Scottish, national and global political events.

Kelly creates a gripping set of characters and their development, deriving varying levels of benefits with the discovery of black gold, as can be seen in other oil rich parts of the world, this turns out to be both a boon and a curse. Friendships fall apart, families are divided and broken apart, there is rampant profiteering, and safety regulations are far from tight enough in the dangerous seas. There are tragedies, loss, heartbreaking grief, divisions, peril, resentment, and more that we become immersed and engaged with this terrific and astutely imagined set of characters, their development and their relationships through this historical period with an epilogue featuring Ally in 1982. This is stellar read that had me re-examining this crucial period of British history with the start of the North Sea oil business, viewed through the eyes of what feel like an all too real and authentic set of characters and their motivations. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Martin Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not personal noted

His quietly stimulating new novel, set in the years between Suez and Thatcher, centres on the discovery of North Sea oil, a subject rich in irony, not least because the advent of “black gold”, seen as the bedrock of arguments for Scottish independence, instead shored up the 80s dominance of the Tories – to say nothing of helping to overheat the planet.

The story unspools mostly in the Highlands and involves five main characters, chiefly two pairs of male friends whose contrasting fortunes we follow from boyhood into middle age. Robbie is a farm boy whose luck with the lassies is a torment to Aaron, a shy schoolteacher’s son about to study geology. Then there’s Edinburgh public school pals Mark and Ally, one an aspiring journalist with thoughts of running for office, the other a future financier who ends up holding the keys to every other character’s hopes – including those of Joe, heir to a fishing trawler dynasty on a collision course with the EU as well as a tide of overseas oil prospectors scenting riches.
Date-stamped segments switch from one character to the next with snappy scene-setting sentences
As the ensemble narrative trots through the decades – Our Friends in the North Sea, you might say – Kelly holds our attention with quick and busy chapters told in the present tense. Date-stamped segments switch from one character to the next with snappy scene-setting sentences, the passage of time neatly generating momentum via, say, an offhand reference to the divorce of characters who only a few pages earlier were married. While the novel’s action hinges on whether Aaron – lured out of academia by an US oil contractor – will figure out the exact spot where his paymasters ought to drill, Kelly’s skill lies in making us care about such questions not only for how they affect the big-picture social upheaval, but for how they tip the seesawing balance of power in Aaron’s cross-class friendship with Robbie, whose livelihood – for good and ill – becomes entwined with burgeoning developments offshore.

[Andrew Macfarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolute triumph. Tracing the paths of several people as they grow up , if not together but in several coinciding friendships, moving away, drifting apart, veering back towards each other, away again and then finally by a couple of degrees of separation back to each other. On the way the successes can give way to disillusion then to success again and ultimately disappointment, but in only one case to heart breaking tragedy. The changing mores of our world, most starkly shown when the one character with a specialist knowledge is told his specialist knowledge is redundant but he is widely employable only because of his business contacts is a fantastic twist and so brilliantly delivered in such a well written book. The attention to detail and description of the business around oil, the problems of exploration (my generation gained the false impression that you only had to drill a hole in any inch of the north sea and oil would gush upwards immediately) , the detail of politics, the world of journalism make it quite instructive. It also makes you realise nothing was as simple as we thought and today nothing in politics is as simple as the facile dumb slogans "it's scotlands oil" or such like imply. A brilliant book

[Paula Muckian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like historical fiction and the stories in The Black Eden did not disappoint. It was a real sleeper at first; but I am happy I trudged through because it picked up by the second chapter. The thing I enjoy about historical fiction is the author’s creation of characters who may have existed in the time surrounding a historical event. Richard T Kelly’s characters fit exactly like puzzle pieces in a story about the exploration for, and discovery of, black gold in the North Sea. This is a story of greed, danger, friends who become enemies, enemies who become friends, and family challenges that will resonate with many. As an American living in Aberdeen, Scotland, it was also cool to learn some history about my new home.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating novel in the way it captures a key point in Britain’s industrial history – the discovery and exploration of North Sea oil. The narrative follows the fortunes of five protagonists including business speculators, a journalist, a geologist and an oil rig worker and the way communities in Northeast Scotland – both urban and rural – are changed markedly by the rush to extract the black gold. The author is good on the technicalities of how the industry works and it’s an interesting overview of a high risk and cost versus high reward business. Perhaps it would have been an even better book had it woven in subsequent years including the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster and the gradual depletion of the resource – but there’s an idea for a follow-up novel.

[Richard Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve worked upstream, downstream and everywhere in between in the oil business across the globe, so I was looking forward to this book given the reviews. However, whilst the story of the nascent industry is well captured, the characters are all too miserable to have any affinity or empathy with. The author must have had a sad and anxious life if any of his experience is woven through it. Well written though, just too dour to recommend.

[Inga · Rating 3 out of 5]

the whole book was dull and they killed the only character i actually liked. i couldn’t really tell you the point of this book. also, the author is kind of annoying with his use of uncommon words when more common (and honestly more fitting) words would have sufficed. put the thesaurus down, king. overall… meh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Alexander Bancroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fitting that William Boyd had a quote on the book jacket as it reminded me of a few of his novels, a full world of characters that cross paths. I enjoyed it for bringing to life a world I wouldn’t have thought to investigate, and still relevant today as Aberdeen oil chugs along.

[Nic Compton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a brilliant idea for a book, but the writing is mediocre and the plot somewhat plodding and predictable. Very weak depiction of female characters (apart from the wonderful Evie) and all very determinedly heterosexual. All a bit 1970s - despite the groovy cover.

[Jo Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great saga how the oil industry affected these young mens lives

[Stephen Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this despite some fairly wooden characterisations and wonky Aberdeen accents.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong story and a good treatment of events that seem to be quickly being forgotten namely the North Sea oil rush in the 60s and 70s.

[Thomas Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story following several characters' changing lives over a couple of decades around North Sea oil discovery is well-paced and smoothly plotted.

[Alison Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this. not my usual but enjoyed the different characters and the passage of time

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.5