This Thing Of Darkness

Captain Robert FitzRoy is known as the captain of HMS Beagle who took the young Charles Darwin on the five-year survey of South America that changed his thinking for ever. FitzRoy was slightly older, richer, and better connected, but both were gentlemen and soon became friends, although their arguments about the theological implications of Darwin's discoveries gradually prised them apart. FitzRoy is generally treated in literature as a supporting role to Darwin, so it is good to see a novel that sets him front and center. And there is much in his career to interest a biographer. He graduated with perfect scores from the Royal Naval College. He was given command of the Beagle at the extraordinary age of 23. His first survey of Tierra del Fuego (three years before he returned there with Darwin) resulted in charts which were still in use over a century later. He also brought back four Fuegian natives whom he converted to Christianity, taught English and European decorum, and presented to the King, hoping to return them to their native country as emissaries for Christian civilization. After the Beagle, he became a Member of Parliament, Governor of New Zealand, and head of what was to become the Meteorological Office. Virtually single-handedly, he invented the science of weather forecasting (a term he coined himself) setting up distant observation stations to send in the raw data by telegraph. Even without the Darwin connection, his would have been a striking career, although never quite reaching the heights that his birth and talent might have predicted.The trouble is that his association with Darwin still virtually eclipses everything else. The famous second voyage of the Beagle (1831–36) takes up a little more than 300 pages of a 600-page book, but it is the most interesting section. The opening 100 pages, before Darwin appears on the scene, are eventful and exciting, rather in the manner of Patrick O'Brian's MASTER AND COMMANDER and later books in the series -- and I mean that as high praise. Whenever the action of the second voyage has to do with seamanship, FitzRoy's extraordinary abilities as a leader, or sheer derring-do, the same qualities re-emerge. But the rest of the time, his role is more as a stalking horse for Darwin's increasingly unorthodox theories, and there are times, I'm afraid, when the political or religious aspects of their conversations get a little too close to polemic. In the 200 pages remaining after FitzRoy's return to England, there are many bursts of the old interest, especially when he tries to broker a peace between the Maori natives and the rapacious colonists of New Zealand, only to end up excoriated by both sides. But for the most part, this later portion of the book is merely a series of episodes without a continuing theme to give them momentum.One private stain on the perfection of this ideal naval officer is his vulnerability to what might now be diagnosed as occasional schizophrenia; perhaps this is one meaning of the "thing of darkness" of the title, though it is an aspect that Thompson rather lets drop towards the end of the book. The main meaning, however, is given by the epigraph: "This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine," which is what Prospero says of Caliban in THE TEMPEST. Throughout the book, there is a frequent presence of darker-skinned races. FitzRoy considers them on a lower level than civilized Europeans, certainly, but he also recognizes them as human beings, who can be taught the benefits of civilization. His humanity and fairness, which shines especially in the New Zealand chapters, is a shining light in a book that is otherwise a denunciation of colonialism and missionary work generally. "It is our mission here not just to spread the word of God," a New Zealand missioner tells him, "but to suppress licentious habits and ardent spirits. […] To help the natives to understand that there is a state of future punishment awaiting those who do not follow the path laid out for them by the Church of England."Suppose you just read the middle half of the novel that deals with the Darwin voyage, what then? There is little that is new in it; Darwin did a pretty good job himself in his THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE, and numerous others have mined the ground since. But it did bring several things home to me that I suppose I ought to have known, but didn't. That the voyage was so long, almost five years. That the Galapagos Islands visit was a relatively short part of it, a matter of a few weeks. That the Beagle also spent time in the Falklands, Tahiti, Australasia, and South Africa, even returning to Brazil for one more landfall before doubling back to England after a round-the-world voyage and then some. That Darwin's first discoveries were made, not as a biologist, but as a geologist, and that his questions about the laws of God and nature were the result of a curiosity that encompassed virtually every area of intellectual study.God and nature. Darwin went out as a parson-in-waiting, a man hoping to qualify for holy orders; he returned as an agnostic. We see the results of his questioning in his various discussions with FitzRoy, who remains a conservative Christian throughout. But I can't say we really feel Darwin's inner anguish as he faces them. The occasional mention of Syms Covington, a seaman seconded to serve as Darwin's assistant, put me in mind of Mr. DARWIN'S SHOOTER by Roger McDonald, a truly extraordinary and poetic novel, with Covington as its protagonist. McDonald sets the two men against one another much as this book pits Darwin against Fitzroy, though with an understanding of the soul that Thompson cannot even approach. So by all means read this well-written saga for the history and the adventure. But please, please turn to McDonald for the heart and spirit.

This book is an adventure in reading....can't put it down. It tells the story of the captain of the Beagle carrying Darwin around So. America - where Darwin was making all his discoveries. The arguments in the wheelhouse (Capt is a devout God-Created-The Earth) Episcopalian - and Darwin is telling him what he is seeing on the voyage. their arguments are the same arguments as today. THIS IS A MUST READ, for all sorts of reasons. Mainly to be at the Ground Zero of the discovery of Evolution. We checked facts, there was only one scene that diverted from the true story...having to do with Darwin bringing back So. American natives to England, to see if they could "evolve" (they couldn't) - and the trial that ensued. The trial part is a bit skewed. the REST IS TRUE...I truly recommend everyone read this book!

Wonderful narrative. Although fiction, it is based on actual events on the five year trip of Charles Darwin and Captain Robert Fitzroy aboard the HMS Beagle. Follow Darwin as he collects evidence and builds up his Evolutionary Theory. Although Darwin is the most famous character, the most interesting is, by far, Captain Fitzroy . You can feel the deep psychological conflict that Fitzroy experiences trying to reconcile first, the 19th century politics of the Britsh Navy with his ingrained ethics and second, the theory new born Evolutionary Theory with his deep-rooted religious convictions.

Excellent adventure story based on actual history

A double biography set in the wildest places in the world at that time - early 19th century - by necessity long but incredibly compelling. Interesting comparison of two characters thrown togther by chance who begin as great friends and end as bitter enemies. One tragic and one heroic, each in the classical sense of the concept.

Accurate historical fiction which brings this amazing journey(second surveying journey of the Beagle) to life. Seen jointly from Captain FitzRoy's perspective with some insight from Darwin. FitzRoy's complex character is vividly drawn.

I greatly enjoyed this book especially as I had just read the biography of Fitzroy by John Gribbin. This book by Harry Thompson filled in the gaps with compelling characterisations. I respect how much research the author did including visiting remote places. I wish the publisher had included a Contents so I could have seen all the chapter headings at once. I wanted to read a list of other works by the author but only one was cited.

Excellent fictionalized biography of Captain Fitzroy, skipper of the H.M.S. Beagle on its historic journey with Charles Darwin. Sympathetic view of Fitzroy and his trag ic life.

I first read this novel quite a few years ago. Since then I have dipped into one or two biographies of Charles Darwin as well as other books on the voyage of the Beagle and of the controversies in Victorian Britain over evolution. The novel remained in my mind and when I saw it available as an ebook I though I would give it another go. I enjoyed it even more the second time. Although the names Darwin and Beagle will catch the eye, this is centered upon the life of the Beagle's Captain, Fitzroy, and his battle against depression ( that "thing of darkness" ) A very good novel, based upon fact, and fair to all its characters. Recommended.

I can only endorse all the other positive comments on this book. I have read many accounts of the early exploration and survey of the lands and coasts around Tierra del Fuego, I am fascinated by the voyages of the 'Beagle' ; I had my childhood in Argentina and have travelled in Patagonia so I feel I have some experience of the country. I have also been in direct contact with the descendant of Lucas Bridges (who wrote the wonderful 'Uttermost Part of the Earth') still living at Harberton.I also have some experience of sailing so all told I feel I can offer a qualified view of this book and it is to say I think it is truly a fantastic read!The book provides a riveting sense of the period and brings to life the truly remarkable scientific and naval activities of Robert Fitzroy.Please write another book Harry Thompson!.

Purchased as a replacement for one that I had lent to a friend years ago which wasn't returned.Easily as compelling a read as I remember, throwing light on the Beagle's Captain, Robert Fitzroy about whom the book revolves, as well as his relationship with Charles Darwin, originally taken on board as a companion to Fitzroy. (I'm fairly sure that Master and Commander was based on Fitzroy and Darwin, the comparisons are too similar).Fitzroy was responsible for inaugurating modern weather forecasting methods using Barometers, then a new feature as well as surveying the South American coast. The charts he created were so accurate they were still in use upto our era.

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 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.The book has two magnificent descriptions of sea storms that left me in awe of Thompson's writing.Read the author's note at the end where he reveals that he used the words of Tony Blair to put in the mouth of the Argentinian Dictator Rosas.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thompson's prose style is superb.As a story-teller, his changes of pace are perfect. His descriptive passages not overloaded with detail, but original and transporting. I have been frozen, exhausted, terrified, elated, frustrated, incredibly angry and tearful by turn. For the first time I can remember I hardly dared read through to the end of the chapter on Jemmy Button's trial for fear of what the outcome might be.The manner in which the moral issues are woven through the tale is impressive. He never preaches, just tells the tale. How far should Fitzroy have interfered in other lives? How far from collapse is civilisation? And, how civilised are we? What is it that affects our lives? Fate, nepotism, factionalism, vested interest, or our own character? Or, worst of all, zealot 'missionaries', whom Thompson gives precisely the exposure they deserve.Then there is the whole Darwin issue. Again, clever stylistic ruses are employed to cover the debate. The enormity of what he is thinking shocks us as it shocked his captain - as it shocked him indeed. We travel with Darwin as he is forced to move to his final position - and as he does so, the lesser side of his character is revealed. When we should admire him most, his flaws become most evident. And yet, for me, Darwin became a secondary player. It was Fitzroy whom I was the more intrigued by, whom I cared the more for at the finish. What a sad, sad life, blighted by conventionalism.Thank you Harry Thompson. My life has been greatly enriched.

Many years ago I watched a BBC's production, 'The Voyage of Charles Darwin', with Malcolm Stoddard as Darwin and Andrew Burt as Captain Robert FitzRoy. The series was compelling and their fabulous adventures captivated me.Many years later I find this marvellous book. And what a treat it is! The book is Incredibly beautifully crafted. The description of the storms has you terror-struck for the little ship and the men aboard, even though you know, of course, that the main protagonists and the ship survive. Fitzroy was a hero in every sense of the word.Best book I've read in many a year.

This is a very interesting read. I am only mid way through but happy to read a chapter or two before bed which gives me lots of things to think about. It is full of period detail about London as Fitzroy and Darwin knew it which in itself is interested without the very well written story. I have gone from the book to google several times to look for images of what is being described in order to reinforce my knowledge.I would recommend to anyone who enjoys history being brought to life. It will not be everyone's cup of tea and it is not quite a 'can't put it down read so I have not given it the full 5 stars though if I was comparing it directly to other books of this type it would probably merit a 5.

Took me a long time to read as it was not a page turner as such but it is a wonderful book about an amazing period in our history - part of the reason it is not a 'page turner' is that there are so many fascinating pieces of imformation, I kept googling to get more background on the characters mentioned. I thoroughly recommend this book

Beautifully written, mind boggling adventure and insight into a vital part of sea-faring history, along with the wrestling between Darwin and Fitzroy over the arguments for science and God. The characters are convincing and it is quite extraordinary how very young all the protagonists were and the unbelievable responsibilities they shouldered, not to mention the physical elements they were up against. A fascinating and absorbing read and I am on my third time round.

I found this a fascinating read. Whilst I'd known about Darwin's achievements, I had no idea of Fitzroy's, which affect us all daily, so it's worth reading just for that. But it was a captivating read, which also it dealt with aspects of empire, racism, misguided kindness, wonderful kindness and empathy, plus stomach-curdling brutality in an intelligent, sensitive way. Also it is remarkably well written, particularly the first storm.

As with other readers it seems, and in spite of the fact that I love long books, 'This thing of darkness' slept for quite a few months on one of my shelves. It wasn't its length which stopped me from taking it down but probably the fact that it dealt with the sea voyages of Captain Fitzroy aboard the Beagle. I must have thought that it might make unpalatable reading and that I might be crushed under the weight of knowledge it contained.I shouldn't have been afraid though, because the wealth of information gathered there instead of overpowering you makes you far better acquainted with extraordinary lives and I was simply awed by the incredibly difficult lives those sailors had. It wasn't the first time I had been aware of it but the author, through his humane and thorough descriptions enabled us to witness what it must have been like aboard one of HM ships. Well, let's say that it makes you wonder why now, when an Icelandic volcano erupts, everybody who is travelling and has been inconvenienced is looking to be compensated!!!No compensations at the time of course, even though so many risked their lives for something that very few accept today, for the simple fact that they had a duty to perform. It is very humbling to read about those incredible characters, all of whom have a life of their own, even when simply sketched because the author has managed to breathe life into all his ' creations'. And it is not something easily done when dealing with people who have really existed and when forced not to stray too far from reality. Such books have a tendency to be stodgy and hard to digest and yet, here, it is not so. Nor are the passionate discussions and disagreements between Fitzroy and Darwin rendered boring. It is quite the opposite in fact- one would like to take part in the dispute- as each reveals several aspects of the two characters' personalities. It is a very humane book about a very humane sea captain, a difficult man who was also an extraordinary one. A book one is happy to have read and which stays with the reader after it has been finished.

A historical novel of this kind wouldn’t normally be my kind of book. It is absolutely brilliant and a must read. Not only is it a compelling story it is also largely a true account of a time when so much was being discovered. And I am so pleased that someone wrote the story of Fitzroy as he deserved to be as recognised as his famous shipmate Darwin. It made me reflect on all the things we have gained since Fitzroy’s time and all the things we have lost. It was a time of scientific discovery, of deeply held beliefs and values and also of greed and injustice. It is a long book but I couldn’t put it down and relished every moment.

With eighty-eight reviews, it would be slightly arrogant to believe I have anything new to add to the conversation other than my approval, which I give with only a slight reservation mentioned in almost all of the other reviews. Like "Wolf Hall", at 768 pages, it is a lengthy text; my bookshelves have a clearly-defined, yard long section of unread books on the waiting list but, occasionally, books are "read around", i.e. although I speed read and am not put off by lengthy texts, occasionally I choose later additions to the list to avoid reading others. This was one such book.However, when I did pick it up, it was read to the end with enthusiasm; a writer who researched so thoroughly and took so long to write his book deserves the same effort in return from his readers, especially when the subject matter was similar - the long years it took Darwin to research, investigate and experiment until he was sure of his ideas and the additional period during which he waited, knowing what effect it would have, having already had that effect within his own family, his very religious wife.I was fascinated by the earlier sections of the book dealing with the long voyages to Tierra del Fuego, the Galapagos islands and other areas of South America; such was the detail that I often felt I was in the boat, sitting at the table or climbing the mountains. It certainly clarified and created for me the sheer physical struggles which resulted in the "Origins of Species"; although he was very ill for many years of his later life, in his youth Darwin must have been a physically and mentally very tough survivor.For Harry Thompson, it is a great (and extended) epitaph and legacy to the world.Highly recommended and do not be put off by its length. The original was a long story, peopled with great characters.

In my adult life I've read well over 200 novels - some good, some awful, a few great. This Thing Of Darkness is simply the best book I have ever read.This genuinely superb novel tells the tale of Charles Darwin and the largely forgotten Robert FitzRoy. While Darwin is well-remembered and just about everyone knows the basics of (still) controversial theory of evolution, FitzRoy seems to have slipped from the world's memory. A crying shame for the man who should be as familar to us as Drake, Raleigh and Cook. I found the book hard to put down and never skimmed a single word on its 750 pages of this rip-roaring yarn very closely based on real and often extaordinary events. I laughed out loud many times, learned so much about a period of world history I knew absolutely nothing of before and found myself with tears in my eyes three times. Oh alright, four times. Who would have thought that an old cynic like me would be so moved by a man who was born on the other side of the world and died over a hundred years before I was born and who went by the name of Jemmy Button?The core subject matter might put a few off, especially for people not normally drawn to historical novels, but the themes it explores (the relationships between friends, faith, disappointment, adventure, death and ambition) are universal themes that go beyond the context of the book. The setbacks that FitzRoy faces would test the patience of Job, while the personal tragedies of Darwin seem eerily like Divine retribution and even though I found myself disliking Darwin, it was impossible not to be moved by the torments of his daughter. The descriptions of the landscapes are rich and tangible and the well-drawn characters of the Beagle's crew and passengers are totally believeable. I've recommended this book to many of differing tastes and not one has failed to fall for its charms. With regard to the review below that describes it as mediocre, what would you expect from someone who can't even spell humdrum?This Thing Of Darkness is a staggeringly beautiful novel and would provide you with a very rewarding and entertaining read. Even though I finished the book over a month ago I have found myself thinking about it every day since and no book has ever done that to me before.If you only read one book ever again, let it be this.

This book is excellent.The first time I saw this book, in a book shop, I thought that it was a cheap horror novel and nothing more until I noticed it's length. In my experience horror novels do not come this long, so I picked it up. To my surprise it was not just an extraordinarily long horror novel and nor was it cheaply written. I was captivated from the first words and bought the book right there and then (without first checking the price on Amazon!).Sure that as time went on I'd be disappointed, especially when the technical sailing references came to the fore and with the references to Robert Fitzroy (whom?) the further I got into this book the more vital it became. I even checked on the internet that the Beagle was the type of ship described and that it had actually made the journey, crewed and captained by the crew and captain referred to.As for the rest of the information, it just got more and more jaw dropping as I advanced through the book. The length of the book became immaterial after the first chapter, and the title, while at first off-putting, became extremely poignant towards the end. I was very, very sorry to see the end of this book and even more astonished to read about the amount of research undertaken. Indeed the author says that there is only one incident which is fictitous (because he couldn't bear to write it as it actually happened!), the rest is as it was pieced together through correspondences, written by the main protagonists and the crew themselves.Three long books later, and probably as many months, this book is still with me and I think about it often.Very well written, it's an absolute joy. Can't recommend it highly enough.