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The Greenlander
Book by Adlard, Mark
319 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1982
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 28, 2012
This is excellent fiction, with an historical basis. Anyone with an appetite for Arctic literature or northern sailing stories will enjoy this one. Apart from giving us some fine writing and a simple, vivid story, Adlard takes us back to the last days of sail and the hunting of whales in Greenland waters. The timbers creak on board ship and the whalers somehow engage our entire attention and sympathy, simple poor men that they are, even though in our so much more developed world, we shun the very notion of their trade. But for generations they had to do this job, leaving for months at a time, frequently falling victim to the ice. In seaport towns on both sides of the Atlantic and in parts of the Southern Hemisphere as well, there are rich traditions associated with the ghastly ritual of the harpoon. It is just as well that their stories be preserved; it is a vanished way of life and one that needs to be more carefully documented.
I don't know any more about Mark Adlard, but it is indeed a pity that he seems not to have published much other work. "The Greenlander" whether as history or as fiction, is very good quality material.
I don't know any more about Mark Adlard, but it is indeed a pity that he seems not to have published much other work. "The Greenlander" whether as history or as fiction, is very good quality material.
January 31, 2015
I'm not sure how to review this book.
Although the writing is spectacular and keeps you riveted for most of the book, the end is rather disappointing.
It just...ends.
What it does do is give you an idea of the end of Northern whaling; having being fished out. It also gives a vivid encounter with the characters, specifically Arthur. We can all agree that life on a Northern Whaler must have been a harsh existence, but the everyday struggles and the actions that occur kind of left me with a new respect for this culture.
It wasn't exactly what I expected but the way Adlard brought the story to life kept me reading. There were several times I was going to put it back on the shelf but then something would happen to keep me reading.
I would like to read some more of his works. I imagine they are difficult to find.
Although the writing is spectacular and keeps you riveted for most of the book, the end is rather disappointing.
It just...ends.
What it does do is give you an idea of the end of Northern whaling; having being fished out. It also gives a vivid encounter with the characters, specifically Arthur. We can all agree that life on a Northern Whaler must have been a harsh existence, but the everyday struggles and the actions that occur kind of left me with a new respect for this culture.
It wasn't exactly what I expected but the way Adlard brought the story to life kept me reading. There were several times I was going to put it back on the shelf but then something would happen to keep me reading.
I would like to read some more of his works. I imagine they are difficult to find.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews