Title: The Colour
Author: Rose Tremain
Time/Place: New Zealand, 1864-5
Teaser: ‘It was their first winter. The earth under their boots was grey. The yellow tussock-grass was salty with hail. In the violet clouds of the afternoon lay the promise of a great winding-sheet of snow.’
Summary: Joseph and Harriet move their lives from England to New Zealand, seeking their fortune on a farm, but the land is harsher than they ever could have imagined. Within months, they’re hungry and desperate – and then Joseph hears of gold in the Southern Alps…
My Thoughts:
I picked this book up because it was specifically recommended to me by the same lecturer who said I should read Tracy Chevalier. I bought two books by each author, but read Burning Bright first because it was shorter, coming to this one second.
The history: When I chose this book, all I knew about it was that it was about a gold rush, and I had naturally assumed it would be set in America. I was surprised (though not unpleasantly so) to realise its basis is New Zealand, a place I had very little historical knowledge of. Tremain wonderfully portrays its harsh winters and varied landscapes, and she touches the conflict between settlers and the Māori people, all of which was informative without overwhelming the characters. This book was only the second time I’d ventured into the nineteenth century in my reading, the first time being The Tenderness of Wolves, and The Colour shares some similarities with Penney’s work in the sense that it deals with frontierism, its strangeness and its dangers. The late 1800s in a book set in England would present a very different picture to something like The Colour, and Tremain paints a good picture of people making their lives in an alien environment.
The story is powered by its characters and landscape, and Tremain’s rich language. Her style is very distinctive, her style elaborate without straying from its purpose. Her characters formed a wonderful tapestry – Joseph is possessed by hopeless gold lust and a guilty past, whilst Harriet swings between quiet determination and traditional female duty. They make an interesting mismatch, and Tremain tells the tale equally from both perspectives, meaning that neither character seems truly good or evil. The story is supported by plenty of other characters; Joseph’s exacting mother, Lillian, and the rich (but troubled) Orchard family. I was often unsure of where the characters were going next, which was perfect for a story about new beginnings and journeys across unknown lands, where Victorian values are put under pressure in a harsh environment. Although I felt there were some loose plotlines at the end of the story, I was definitely hooked by Tremain’s unique storytelling style and an interesting perspective on frontierism outside of America.
My favourite character was Edwin Orchard, the Orchard’s only son. Tremain’s style melds interestingly with the perspective of a child, and Edwin’s sincere connection with Pare, a Māori woman, was one of the most fascinating parts of the book.
Recommended: For anyone looking to expand their historical reading out of Europe – this location isn’t one often covered and Tremain paints a very informative picture, as well as telling a good story.
My Rating: 4/5
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