Discovering Carol Dawber and River Press has led me to some varied and
interesting reading. Carol Dawber's writing is skilled and polished and
the range of topics in her books is evidence of her versatility. She seems
equally at home writing history and fiction. The Jacksons of Te
Awaiti traces the lives of the members of that family from the time of
whaler James Jackson and his wife through to the third generation of their
descendants. It is a historical document showing the author's painstaking
research and narrative skills. In contrast is Sounds Easy a
mystery story set in the Marlborough Sounds. Marlborough and Nelson provide
the setting for the books I have read, and the third book I have read is
North of Kahurangi West of Golden Bay co-authored with Cheryl
Win.
The Jacksons of Te Awaiti 2001
This book was commissioned by the organisers of the Jackson Reunion 2000 -
a reunion of the descendants of whaler James Jackson and his wife Eliza
Roil. This couple had nine children, and ninety grandchildren, so to write
about them all has been a mammoth undertaking.
Carol Dawber acknowledges the help of family members who have done family
research and lent their precious photographs for use in the book, and of
archivists, museum curators and librarians in New Zealand and Canberra.
The theme of the Jackson family gives a clear structure and unity to this
book, but it is far more than just a family history.
Why do I recommend that you read The Jacksons of Te Awaiti?
First, it held my interest from the beginning to the end of its nearly
three hundred pages. Carol Dawber's polished style, narrative skill and
gift of highlighting significant detail made it effortless reading.
Second, it is a valuable historical document, shedding light on the history
of Marlborough and Nelson, the whaling industry, and the relationships
between the whalers and the Maori in the area.
Third, it is a rich source of social history including interesting detail
about the daily lives of people in Marlborough and elsewhere in New Zealand
as family members moved to other parts of the country.
Fourth, it is a thoroughly researched and well organised volume, clearly
set out with sources of material systematically acknowledged. Primary and
secondary sources are footnoted through the text and the bibliography lists
books, unpublished manuscripts and papers, and newspapers. There is an
excellent general index and a further index of surnames which appear on the
Jackson family tree. A compact disk included with each book contains all
the genealogy collected up to the time of printing, Clear maps and charts
are included.
Fifth, the text is illustrated by a magnificent range of photographs which
bring alive the people in the text. I found it most interesting to read
about people's lives and then study their faces.
North of Kahurangi West of Golden Bay 2001
This book, co-authored by Carol Dawber and Cheryl Win, features a large
collection of clear black and white historical photos from the 1880s to the
1950s, and an interesting text. The material is well organised, being
divided into chapters on gold mining, flaxmilling, the Kahurangi
Lighthouse, farming on the coast, Westhaven Inlet, and mills and mines.
Though the material is presented in relation to industries in the area many
aspects of the lives of the people come to life through photos and text.
Transport, the importance of horses, housing, fishing, hunting, clothes
and hairstyles, cooking, picnicking, gardening, the impact of the 1929
Murchison Earthquake are just some of the aspects covered.
Other works of non-fiction
Carol Dawber has also written Bainham, a history, Awaroa
Legacy, and Collingwood to the Heaphy Track.
Carol Dawber's fiction
Backtrack, Earthwork, and Sounds Easy are murder
mysteries. Setting out to solve the mysteries are Wellington detective
Doug Fisher and librarian Liz Gresham. Carol Dawber sets her novels in
country she knows well - the Heaphy Track, Nelson, Picton and the
Marlborough Sounds - and with an assured touch writes about people she
understands - ordinary New Zealanders.
These novels provide excellent holiday reading for those who enjoy a murder
mystery. I have read Sounds Easy and hope to find copies of the
other two mysteries for my next Marlborough/Nelson holiday.
All these books are published by River Press.
Website www.bestbooks.org
Email riverpress@xtra.co.nz
