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""Remembering Babylon is another rare chance to read a work by one of the few contemporary novelists who examines our constantly battered humanity and again and again brings out its lingering beauty." --The Globe and Mail
"There are passages of aching beauty in "Remembering Babylon, and passages of shocking degradation. Mr. Malouf has written a wonderfully wise and moving novel, a novel that turns the history and mythic past of Australia into a dazzling fable of human hope and imperfection." --"The New York Times
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The plot of 'Remembering Babylon' revolves around Gemmy, a white youth who is taken in by an isolated settlement of Scottish migrants in mid-nineteenth century Queensland. Gemmy has been living for many years with an Aboriginal community who found him washed ashore after the then young cabin-boy had been thrown overboard. The remainder of the novel essentially examines the interaction between Gemmy and the white community: Malouf achieves this by relating the thoughts and actions of Gemmy and the expertly-crafted range of diverse characters within the settlement. Although compassion and tolerance are shown by members of this community towards Gemmy, the novel mainly illustrates the mistrust and fear that even supposedly civilised individuals and communities show for that which is unknown or incompletely understood. Thus, the white community is fearful of the 'half-savage' white boy within their midst; the hostile, alien Australian landscape, and the native inhabitants of the land, whilst Gemmy is mistrustful of many of the settlers and afraid of the answers to his self-examination as to his own identity.
'Remembering Babylon' offers a range of treats for those interested in language. Gemmy's cry on first encountering children from the white settlement - "Do not shoot. I am a British object" - prefaces some interesting observations on the acquisition and retention of language. The white settlers' spoken English reflects their Scottish roots, whilst the schoolmaster's interests allow for more linguistic play. Two passages of note in a novel replete with fine language are one on bee-keeping (of all things) that transforms the life of Janet, a young lady coming of age in the settlement, and another describing bushfires that is guaranteed to make expatriate Australians homesick!
In short, 'Remembering Babylon' is a truly remarkable reading experience. On the strength of this novel and my limited exposure to his earlier works, I have recently bought three more of his novels. If you love quality contemporary fiction, then 'Remembering Babylon' would be an excellent introduction to the work of this exceptionally fine writer.
As he has in previous works he sets the tale in Australia, and once again brings settlers from Europe, in this case Scotland. Mr. Malouf then takes a familiar human interaction, which is by definition tragic, and it is here he makes it his own. In terms of Race, Gemmy is as white as any of the settlers. He spent thirteen years in London, and then was washed upon the coast of Australia where he then lives amongst the Native Aborigines for sixteen years. As Gemmy has lived the better part of his life is the harsh sun he is no longer as light in complexion as the self-described white newcomers. Gemmy one day happens across the path of some children, and in fear of his safety announces he "is a British Object". The irony of this statement could be dwelt on for pages by itself.
There are many relationships a reader can explore in this story. I felt a key one was between Gemmy and the family headed by Jock that takes him in. Jock does so to please his wife, as Gemmy is not a person he would bring into his home of his own volition. The reaction of the balance of the settlement ranges from degrees of fear, to desire to destroy the race that Gemmy has morphed into from the viewpoint of the duller of the participants. Gemmy at once becomes a trusted member of Jock's Family, and the focus for every evil fantasized, imagined, or counterfeited by others.
The storyline must be left for the book; however one experience shared by Jock and Gemmy is of note. Gemmy treated like the savage he is not, routinely stays several steps ahead of those who attempt to exploit him to gain knowledge of his tribe, and then extinguish them. Far from being intellectually inept, he combines the street smarts of the former London Urchin, with the practical knowledge of sixteen years of learning to live in harmony with the same land the settlers come to conquer. He becomes a harmless, productive and trustworthy part of Jock's Family if not the community.
Gemmy knows his own heart, and those he has come to live amongst. He is under no illusions as to how he is viewed, or how he sees the world. Jock goes through a major reassessment of what he thought he was, as events build around Gemmy. The Author explores in a thoughtful manner what our thoughts are made of, how they change, and whether it is we that change, or our views of others that change us.
The book is filled with smaller observations that are material for contemplation. The loneliness of settling a new land is a reality, but when the Author takes one player and has her ponder the thought of being the first dead to be buried here as well, and the loneliness of knowing no family that has gone before, no one to join in the new resting place, is beyond poignant.
Another great piece of work from this Author.
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