In a week's time, the Cornflower Book Group will be in Regency England with Georgette Heyer's A Civil Contract. Mindful of the need for variety, I've chosen something very different to follow that confection, picking a first novel published only two years ago but set in the 17th. century.
Here's the gist of The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding: "August 1616. The whaling ship Heartsease has ventured deep into the Arctic, but the crew must return home before the ice closes in. All, that is, save Thomas Cave. He makes a wager that he will remain there alone until the next season, though no man has yet been known to have survived a winter this far north. So he is left with provisions, shelter, and a journal - should he not live to tell the tale...."
"Bewitching" and "extraordinary", say the reviewers of this book; "haunting", "divine and mesmerising", the praise goes on. Having recently read Georgina Harding's The Spy Game (my post on it is here), I can attest to the quality of her writing, and from what I can judge of Thomas Cave, we are in for something memorable.
As ever, I have checked availability, and the book should be easily obtainable in libraries or through retailers (The Book Depository are selling it slightly cheaper than Amazon and offer free worldwide delivery, should anyone abroad not find it locally). Allowing five weeks to read it, let's meet back here for discussion on Saturday, 6th. June.
This looks like a book I would love to read. And thank you for posting the book club FAQ, as I've been wondering for a while. I'd love to join this read.
Posted by: claire | 05 May 2009 at 12:36 PM
Consider yourself welcomed, Claire!
Posted by: Cornflower | 05 May 2009 at 02:54 PM