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foggy_rosamund 's review for:
Whale Nation
by Heathcote Williams
Written in 1988, Whale Nation is a call to arms: Williams discusses the beauty, intelligence and majesty of the whale, and uses this as a plea and a polemic against the practise of whaling. This book has two major problems: firstly, that it is of its time, and it much of the argument is dated, and secondly that poetry that has such an obvious message can feel amateur or lack depth. However, this remains an important and moving book. The first half of it contains Williams' Whale Nation poem, which begins with clear, precise descriptions of whales and their behaviour, and then goes on to explore commercial whaling. The second section, which is longer, is a selection of quotes about whales and whaling, from a variety of sources: primarily eye-witness accounts of whales, and scientific books or paper about whales, but also literary texts and poems. Both these sections are fascinating: Williams has a keen eye for the details that are most important and compelling, as well as a great love for the whale. His poem sets out a lot of information about whales in a clear and interesting way, and the quotes he selects are relevant and wide-ranging. When he writes in praise of the whale, his poetry comes alive, and transcends his polemic tone.
At the present time, while whaling continues, it is at smaller scale than in 1988, and it is not the primary threat on whales. Whale numbers have increased since the end of large-scale commercial whaling, and in some ways, the anti-whaling campaign of the 1980s was an enormous success. However, whales remain under threat of extinction, as does all the life in our oceans, due to climate change and pollution, and whales are particularly under threat because they are so hugely impacted by undersea noises created by humans, such as seismic sounding. The sections about hunting in this book feel a little like Williams is preaching to the converted, and they are also not as relevant as they were at the time of his writing. Whales are in as much danger as they were in 1988, but not for the same reasons.
However, this books provides a wonderful snapshot of our understanding of whales in the 1980s, and the anti-whaling campaign. It also contains fascinating and beautiful photographs of whales, and contains a sensitive portrait of whales and dolphins as individuals, and of their species as a whole. I was glad to have read it.
At the present time, while whaling continues, it is at smaller scale than in 1988, and it is not the primary threat on whales. Whale numbers have increased since the end of large-scale commercial whaling, and in some ways, the anti-whaling campaign of the 1980s was an enormous success. However, whales remain under threat of extinction, as does all the life in our oceans, due to climate change and pollution, and whales are particularly under threat because they are so hugely impacted by undersea noises created by humans, such as seismic sounding. The sections about hunting in this book feel a little like Williams is preaching to the converted, and they are also not as relevant as they were at the time of his writing. Whales are in as much danger as they were in 1988, but not for the same reasons.
However, this books provides a wonderful snapshot of our understanding of whales in the 1980s, and the anti-whaling campaign. It also contains fascinating and beautiful photographs of whales, and contains a sensitive portrait of whales and dolphins as individuals, and of their species as a whole. I was glad to have read it.