Though I am not part of a nation that ever succeeded in forming an empire, and which, historically, has been a victim more often than an oppressor, I am nevertheless a citizen of modern Europe and reaping the benefits of Western, Christian-rooted civilisation - as well as the privileges my skin colour offers. I mention this because as I read Thompson's book, the overwhelming and recurring emotions were embarrassment and dismay at the destruction white man has brought upon nations of a darker skin in the name of progress. The ill treatment of the Irish and other white yet not-quite-British peoples nonwithstanding, a white/non-white division is appropriate for this story, as skin colour seems to be the main criteria for distinguishing a civilised man from a savage in colonial exploration. Or, indeed, a man from a beast.That is the sour, painful backdrop, and told in prose, it should leave even the historically aware reader heartbroken. Against this, we have the well-known figure of Charles Darwin (whose presence in this book was the main appeal for me), but the true protagonist is William FitzRoy, an officer of the Royal Navy and the father of meteorology-a remarkable man, and a scientist in his own right. Unappreciated as he was during his lifetime, he continues to be overshadowed by Darwin to this day, even though his discoveries were just as eminent, and I would hazard to say, a great deal more practical than the famed theory of evolution.The book, as life did, puts these two ingenious men in the cramped hold of the Beagle for over five years. Barely in their twenties at the onset of the voyage, they grow older and wiser together, and we readers are privy to their most intimate conversations. They speak of science, and they speak of God, almost exclusively- for those are the two forces which set their world in motion and give it meaning. Their simultaneous existence is never disputed (what may come as a surprise, perhaps, to followers of the modern-day creationism vs evolution brouhaha)- but what brings the men to their final impasse is the interpretation of their application.The reader who would seek to condemn one man's vision and praise the other's will find himself at a loss. FitzRoy and Darwin's scientific knowledge complement each other. Both men are believers. Both make astounding discoveries and come to brilliant conclusions. Both, also, make terrible mistakes. In building his theory, Darwin meanders, at once rising to heights of enlightenment, then again falling into the trap of racism and white supremacy. Interestingly, it is not any scientific conclusion which causes him to doubt the existence of God, but a personal tragedy which he finds too enormous to bear. FitzRoy, while rejecting sound proof and logic for the literal word of the Bible, nevertheless conducts scientific research, compiles precise charts, and develops a system of weather forecasting which saves thousands of lives. His Christian devotion hinders him from embracing Darwin's theory, but it leads him, also, to reject his companion's disturbing conclusion of that theory- that men are not created equal, that a superior race does exist, and it must, without any doubt, prevail. Yet for all his sound moral standing, FitzRoy is a tool of the colonialist machine, and his convictions do not follow those of his superiors. On more than one occasion, he finds himself torn between duty and morality- a torment from which Darwin is spared, being only a passenger on the ship. At great personal cost and risk, FitzRoy leads a naive quest for civilisation; his discovery that he has been used to carry forth nothing but disease and decay all but destroys him. I recommend this book not only to anyone interested in the story of Darwin's discoveries and the British deeds and misdeeds in the Southern Hemisphere, but most especially to those who wish to explore the challenge which scientific fact poses to the Christian faith, and vice versa. In this age of snappy slogans and snarky internet memes, it's healthy to remember that no one issue is ever as simple as a clever turn of phrase.
When I finished reading this book, the first statement that made it through my mind was something said by Morgan Freeman's character Detective Somerset by the end of the movie Se7en: 'Ernest Hemingway once wrote, "The world is a fine place and worth fighting for." I agree with the second part.'This book chronicles the adventure of Captain Robert FitzRoy and the crew of HMS Beagle, joined by Charles Darwin later on as the ship's naturalist-cum-village-idiot, as they traversed the Atlantic to the dreary and unforgiving Patagonian coasts, wherein they found momentary insanity, 3 natives-turned-English-gentlemen-and-gentlewoman, bolas-wielding gauchos, the wonders and enigmas of nature, and the inevitable question of nature of God between moments of hope, human nature and death.This is an engaging and thought-inducing read, with the occasional humor on the side, and I can say that not a page is a waste even in the isolated scenes not truly relevant to the plot. I learned loads in reading this, not just historical facts, but nautical terms as well! The lesson is free of interpretation, it just states the facts, as a good historical fiction should, although it is obvious that Christianity, at that particular time at least, and Charles Darwin are not depicted in a favorable light. What is undeniable from this book is the greatness of Captain FitzRoy as a captain, scientist(he's one of the pioneers of meteorology, making his insights more practically valuable than that of Darwin's, I think), friend, and as a human being. I am wistful however of the fact that (view spoiler)[the friendship between him and Darwin was not ever repaired, his being driven to suicide because of the mediocrity of mind and good judgment by those who are many in the government, by his undeserving obscurity (which is still until now) and ridicule in the light of Charles Darwin's eminence, but, most especially, that (hide spoiler)]
Do You like book This Thing Of Darkness (2015)?
I won't give a full review because I think it's all been said, but what I will mention is that I knew I was going to like this book from reading only the preface. Harry Thompson has a good, solid style which he uses masterfully in this rendering of the Darwin/FitzRoy story. Some have chided the late appearance of Darwin himself, but this is a moot point when considering that the story centers mainly around the ship's captain and his crew. I have read a number of fictional accounts of the Beagle, but this has got to be the most erudite and satisfying one and if I could give it more stars I would.
—John
Majestic. A doorstep of a book that vividly brings to life Robert FitzRoy the Captain of the Beagle and his five year voyage with Charles Darwin to Tierra del Fuego, the Falklands, the Galapagos and beyond. The two men became close during the voyage but differences in their beliefs started as a crack and widened to a chasm. There are some marvellous discussions between the two men on whether the Biblical Flood ever happened and whether species can transmute. The book has two magnificent descriptions of sea storms that left me in awe of Thompson's writing.The voyage was the high point of FitzRoy's life and its implications continued to haunt and taunt him. Harry Thompson's depiction of Fitzroy is masterly and moving. FitzRoy was a Tory, an aristocrat and a devout believer. He was immensely gifted, kind, complex, inflexible at times and occasionally unstable. His attitude to the indigenous people he met was humane and progressive. Darwin is a fascinating character too, driven by his discoveries and feted by society at first but struggling against illness and sadness at home.
—Jane Lythell
I loved this book and thought it well written, very thought-provoking and one that stayed with me for a long time. It shows "everybody's hero" Charles Darwin in quite a different light, in fact, I won't ever hear his name in the future and think, hey he was an all-round good egg - far from it! Thompson is a spell-binding storyteller and Robert FitzRoy's "thing of darkness" certainly struck a chord with me, a fellow sufferer. I didn't want the novel to end, when it did, I felt bereavement, especially as life had dealt FitzRoy such unfair cards. Can thoroughly recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction, natural history and a good travel-logue. What could be more exciting than to hop aboard the HMS Beagle?
—Maria Thermann
