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liedora's review
1.0
Oh dear. I was so looking forward to sitting down and soaking up an intriguing and interesting read when I read the synopsis for this book and, unfortunately I was sorely disappointed.
It was not an immediate disappointment, it was one that gradually crept up as I progressed through the book, and took the form of some major factual errors which most readers will pick up the minute they come across them. The result of these were that I felt this Author had not done as much research into their topic as they possible could before putting the words on paper, and from this point onwards for me it rather invalidated any other point they were trying to make. Yes, the location was part of the British Empire, and yes it was originally used by them as a penal colony; the Author could get this facts correct, what happened with the glaringly incorrect ones? If ever a book spiralled out of control in the worse possible way, this has to be that book.
In a book of this kind, much could have been gained, and an extra dimension added by including some by including some documented narrative from actual Islanders themselves as to the events covered, unfortunately this was not the case and resulted, in my opinion in a rather flat, one-dimensional piece of work. There were so many avenues of research that could have been followed, and were left ignored in the favour of the violence and abuse that took place, which resulted in this being a rather dull read. Another plus that this book could really have used were the skills of an excellent proof reader and a bold editor, there were so many bad typos in this book that, at one point I was beginning to think that somehow the unedited copy had made it into print instead of the finished piece of work; even the synopsis on the back of my library loan had typos, maybe I should have heeded this subliminal warning and left the book on the shelf. If you are interested in the history of Norfolk Island, this book is worth reading to a point, and that point is that it should not be read as an only source on the subject but in conjunction with other, better researched pieces.
I find, with this book, I cannot recommend it to anyone with a clear conscience, and based on this piece of work I doubt I will read any other works by this Author.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/01/review-dark-paradise-robert-macklin/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
It was not an immediate disappointment, it was one that gradually crept up as I progressed through the book, and took the form of some major factual errors which most readers will pick up the minute they come across them. The result of these were that I felt this Author had not done as much research into their topic as they possible could before putting the words on paper, and from this point onwards for me it rather invalidated any other point they were trying to make. Yes, the location was part of the British Empire, and yes it was originally used by them as a penal colony; the Author could get this facts correct, what happened with the glaringly incorrect ones? If ever a book spiralled out of control in the worse possible way, this has to be that book.
In a book of this kind, much could have been gained, and an extra dimension added by including some by including some documented narrative from actual Islanders themselves as to the events covered, unfortunately this was not the case and resulted, in my opinion in a rather flat, one-dimensional piece of work. There were so many avenues of research that could have been followed, and were left ignored in the favour of the violence and abuse that took place, which resulted in this being a rather dull read. Another plus that this book could really have used were the skills of an excellent proof reader and a bold editor, there were so many bad typos in this book that, at one point I was beginning to think that somehow the unedited copy had made it into print instead of the finished piece of work; even the synopsis on the back of my library loan had typos, maybe I should have heeded this subliminal warning and left the book on the shelf. If you are interested in the history of Norfolk Island, this book is worth reading to a point, and that point is that it should not be read as an only source on the subject but in conjunction with other, better researched pieces.
I find, with this book, I cannot recommend it to anyone with a clear conscience, and based on this piece of work I doubt I will read any other works by this Author.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/01/review-dark-paradise-robert-macklin/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
booksbecreads's review
3.0
I can tell why this book rated so poorly in some ways, but am also perplex at some of the comments that want to doubt the poor periods history. Norfolk Island is a beautiful place btw and if you ever get the chance it's worth a visit, but it's history is not a kind or gentle one
marryallthepeople's review
2.0
Just ugh. Popularist historical non-fiction that is told in a scaremongering which had me rolling my eyes and skimming through passages. Sad as I would have loved to read a more balanced view on the history of Norfolk Island as it's fascinating.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
2.0
‘All nations lie about their past.’
And, according to Mr Macklin: ‘No nation has been so successful in disguising and distorting the reality of its colonial brutality than the British.’ This is by way of introduction to Mr Macklin’s history of European settlement at Norfolk Island.
‘Over the next 200 years it would host all the horrors that man’s ingenuity could visit upon his fellows.’
There are four separate threads to this narrative. There’s the history of the penal colony established on Norfolk Island ; the story of the mutiny on the Bounty, the mutineers’ s settlement at Pitcairn Island and the subsequent relocation of the Pitcairners to Norfolk Island; the establishment of the Anglican Melanesian mission; and finally some comments on both the murder of Janelle Patton in 2002 and Mr Macklin’s views about the challenges facing Norfolk Island in the present.
The horrors of the penal colony at Norfolk Island are covered, as are some of the personalities of various commandants. Most, as described by Mr Macklin, were bad (and some were ugly as well). Captain Alexander Maconochie may well have been good by comparison, but he didn’t enjoy much official support.
The Reverend Samuel Marsden, known to history as ‘The Flogging Parson’ apparently employed both a left-handed and right-handed flogger in order to better cover the prisoner’s back. I am sickened, but not surprised. The penal colony at Norfolk Island had a chequered history, and I doubt that anyone was sad when it finally closed in the middle of 1855.
In 1856, the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives were moved to Norfolk Island. Most stayed there, while some returned to Pitcairn Island. This group apparently sees itself having a right to special treatment, which according to Mr Macklin has resulted in tensions with the other residents. They believe that the land was gifted to them by Queen Victoria.
Then, in 1866, the Melanesian Mission on Norfolk opened its doors. I confess: I’m not particularly interested in the history of Christian missionaries, and skimmed these chapters.
Of more interest to me were the discussions about Australian sovereignty over Norfolk Island: how will the needs and wishes of the Pitcairn descendants and other Norfolk Islanders be best met by Australia?
I was saddened by the events surrounding the murder of Janelle Patton, and wonder if the truth will ever be known.
Overall, while I found this book interesting, I was disappointed. I think this book is worth reading – in conjunction with other sources – for information about Norfolk Island’s history. Some of the writing seems to verge on hyperbole, or maybe I’m not quite as convinced of the failings of the British as Mr Macklin is. Mr Macklin makes much of Norfolk Island’s isolation and the dark side of its history. And there’s no doubt that such a small community has many challenges before it. But can the picture be quite so bleak? I hope not.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
And, according to Mr Macklin: ‘No nation has been so successful in disguising and distorting the reality of its colonial brutality than the British.’ This is by way of introduction to Mr Macklin’s history of European settlement at Norfolk Island.
‘Over the next 200 years it would host all the horrors that man’s ingenuity could visit upon his fellows.’
There are four separate threads to this narrative. There’s the history of the penal colony established on Norfolk Island ; the story of the mutiny on the Bounty, the mutineers’ s settlement at Pitcairn Island and the subsequent relocation of the Pitcairners to Norfolk Island; the establishment of the Anglican Melanesian mission; and finally some comments on both the murder of Janelle Patton in 2002 and Mr Macklin’s views about the challenges facing Norfolk Island in the present.
The horrors of the penal colony at Norfolk Island are covered, as are some of the personalities of various commandants. Most, as described by Mr Macklin, were bad (and some were ugly as well). Captain Alexander Maconochie may well have been good by comparison, but he didn’t enjoy much official support.
The Reverend Samuel Marsden, known to history as ‘The Flogging Parson’ apparently employed both a left-handed and right-handed flogger in order to better cover the prisoner’s back. I am sickened, but not surprised. The penal colony at Norfolk Island had a chequered history, and I doubt that anyone was sad when it finally closed in the middle of 1855.
In 1856, the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives were moved to Norfolk Island. Most stayed there, while some returned to Pitcairn Island. This group apparently sees itself having a right to special treatment, which according to Mr Macklin has resulted in tensions with the other residents. They believe that the land was gifted to them by Queen Victoria.
Then, in 1866, the Melanesian Mission on Norfolk opened its doors. I confess: I’m not particularly interested in the history of Christian missionaries, and skimmed these chapters.
Of more interest to me were the discussions about Australian sovereignty over Norfolk Island: how will the needs and wishes of the Pitcairn descendants and other Norfolk Islanders be best met by Australia?
I was saddened by the events surrounding the murder of Janelle Patton, and wonder if the truth will ever be known.
Overall, while I found this book interesting, I was disappointed. I think this book is worth reading – in conjunction with other sources – for information about Norfolk Island’s history. Some of the writing seems to verge on hyperbole, or maybe I’m not quite as convinced of the failings of the British as Mr Macklin is. Mr Macklin makes much of Norfolk Island’s isolation and the dark side of its history. And there’s no doubt that such a small community has many challenges before it. But can the picture be quite so bleak? I hope not.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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