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Shadow Of The Boyd by Diana Menefy

In November 1809, the sailing ship is sailing across the Tasman Sea to her destination in New Zealand. Among those on board are fifteen year old Thomas Davidson, an apprentice sailor, and George, a Maori youth on his way home to the Bay of Islands, to his father and brothers.

The two become friends but their friendship is soon tested. George becomes ill during the crossing and his health rapidly deteriorates to the point where he can hardly walk. It was therefore maybe not surprising that he refused to go on the deck and furl the sails when he was ordered to. The captain, who has a reputation as a man not to be crossed, doesn’t see it the same way and has him flogged. As Thomas watches the brutal flogging of his friend, he is shocked by the violence, but doesn’t know of the violence or terrible nature that George’s revenge will be.

Shadow of the Boyd is a powerful story from our colonial past which tells of unfamiliar attitudes, violence and unease of cultural interaction at that time. It tells of a bitter clash between two cultures from a youth who survived the infamous massacre of the Boyd. Only a handful of Europeans actually survived the massacre and Thomas was one of them.

Although it is a fictional novel, shadow of the Boyd actually is based on a historical event and presents the harsh times of burgeoning colonies. The story will probably also spark more interest in this period from readers. It is written from after the boy’s rescue and voyage later on the City of Edinburgh, the period on the Boyd and from Thomas writing a report of events on the Boyd while on the City of Edinburgh. Same of these changes in location can be hard to pick up at first, but shouldn’t detract from what is essentially a good historical tale.

RRP $19.99
Published and distributed by HarperCollins Publishers
 

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