Editorial Content for Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery, and Murder
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
Matthew Pearl earned his reputation as a great writer with a series of well-researched historical thrillers that rivaled the work of authors such as Dan Brown. His latest book, SAVE OUR SOULS, is his second foray into nonfiction and is just as fascinating as his fiction.
In 1887, the Walker family --- Frederick, Elizabeth and their three teenage sons, along with the family dog --- attempts to enjoy a shark-hunting voyage in the area around the Hawaiian Islands. Their ship, the Wandering Minstrel, sets sail with the Walkers and a small crew. Some of them will never be seen again, and the horrors they must face make for an incredibly suspenseful and entertaining read.
"Matthew Pearl’s able hand is very much on display as he is one of our finest researchers, and his mastery of historical fiction drives this account through like a suspense novel."
The Wandering Minstrel made me think of both Shakespeare and Gilbert and Sullivan. But we learn that Frederick took the ship's name from a one-act Victorian play by Henry Mayhew, who was a friend of Charles Dickens. The Walkers need to have some success with this adventure as some bad business deals in Hong Kong have left them nearly destitute.
A major storm changes the seas to a whirling dervish of destruction that strikes the Wandering Minstrel and splits it in two. The family and most of the crew are able to get off the sinking ship and land on Sand Island, which has minimal vegetation and food sources. They also try in vain each day to watch the sea and its horizon in the hopes of flagging down any passing ship. The situation becomes divisive among the survivors, especially with a crewman who doesn’t wish to band together but goes his own way with a small group of like-minded mates.
When a hut is found on the island, they hope it can be a source of shelter for the sick and younger castaways. They are quite surprised to find that a man already occupies it, Hans Jorgensen, who claims to be the only survivor of his shipwreck. Hans appears on the surface to be kind and helpful, but it’s not long before his dark side comes out.
Parts of a small boat are washed up amongst other items on Sand Island, and the group attempts to make a new ship from these and other materials. One day, the Walkers notice that their ship’s chef absconded with the boat they made with a handful of other crewmen. They would not be seen or heard from again. Many perils are faced by the castaways on what turns out to be a 10-month stay on Sand Island. We are regaled with stories of other ill-fated ships that sailed in the same area, and we take a closer look at Hans.
The Walkers’ story is a great one and lends itself to comparisons in classic literature with novels like THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON and ROBINSON CRUSOE. It also inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to pen his own tale of survival on the high seas. The ordeal in this book is told in a way that resembles a thriller with elements of psychological horror thrown in for good measure. Matthew Pearl’s able hand is very much on display as he is one of our finest researchers, and his mastery of historical fiction drives this account through like a suspense novel.
Teaser
On December 10, 1887, a shark fishing boat disappeared. On board the doomed vessel were the Walkers --- the ship’s captain Frederick, his wife Elizabeth, their three teenage sons, and their dog --- along with the ship’s crew. The family had spotted a promising fishing location when a terrible storm arose, splitting their vessel in two and leaving those onboard adrift on the perilous sea. When the castaways awoke the next morning, they discovered they had been washed ashore --- on an island inhabited by a large but ragged and emaciated man who introduced himself as Hans. It turned out that Hans had a secret. And as the Walker family gradually came to learn more, what seemed like a stroke of luck to have the mysterious man’s assistance became something ominous, something darker.
Promo
On December 10, 1887, a shark fishing boat disappeared. On board the doomed vessel were the Walkers --- the ship’s captain Frederick, his wife Elizabeth, their three teenage sons, and their dog --- along with the ship’s crew. The family had spotted a promising fishing location when a terrible storm arose, splitting their vessel in two and leaving those onboard adrift on the perilous sea. When the castaways awoke the next morning, they discovered they had been washed ashore --- on an island inhabited by a large but ragged and emaciated man who introduced himself as Hans. It turned out that Hans had a secret. And as the Walker family gradually came to learn more, what seemed like a stroke of luck to have the mysterious man’s assistance became something ominous, something darker.
About the Book
From the bestselling author of THE TAKING OF JEMIMA BOONE, the unbelievable true story of a real-life Swiss Family Robinson (and their dog) who faced sharks, shipwreck and betrayal.
On December 10, 1887, a shark fishing boat disappeared. On board the doomed vessel were the Walkers --- the ship’s captain Frederick, his wife Elizabeth, their three teenage sons, and their dog --- along with the ship’s crew. The family had spotted a promising fishing location when a terrible storm arose, splitting their vessel in two and leaving those onboard adrift on the perilous sea.
When the castaways awoke the next morning, they discovered they had been washed ashore --- on an island inhabited by a large but ragged and emaciated man who introduced himself as Hans. Hans appeared to have been there for a while and could quickly educate the Walkers and their crew on the island’s resources. But Hans had a secret...and as the Walker family gradually came to learn more, what seemed like a stroke of luck to have the mysterious man’s assistance became something ominous, something darker.
Like David Grann and Stacy Schiff, Matthew Pearl unveils one of the most incredible yet little-known historical true stories, and the only known instance in history of an actual family of castaways. SAVE OUR SOULS asks us to consider who we might become if we found ourselves trapped on a deserted island.
Audiobook available, read by George Newbern
