2001-01-04 The best novel I have read in a long time.

Dunedin is the blissfully untouched and exotic area of New Zealand that tyrannical Presbyterian minister Jack Mackenzie and his family have been posted to. Mackay uses colourful imagery and language to bring to life the beauty of the 'New World' that these 'pioneering husbands...disgraced sons...opportunists...and ne'er-do-wells'were seeking. Mackay deftly and sensitively explores emotive areas such as colonialism, race, religion and human relations and interactions, so as to illustrate their lasting effects and impacts. To do so, the majority of the novel then focusses on the lives of William Mackenzie and Olive Schwarz (nee Mackenzie), Jack Mackenzie's great grandchildren. This part of the novel is set in modern day London, and on first reading appears only marginally related to the New Zealand events, however on second reading the themes of comparison become more apparent. Themes of lonliness, race and human relations are just as important (and indeed have changed little) to Mackay's modern day characters as they are to her late nineteenth century travellers. Mackay's message seems to be that for all our technical modernisation , in terms of humanity little has changed. The vulturistic colonisers that slayed millions of Maoris to gain control of New Zealand are comparable to Dr Barrable and his psychological testings on the 'down and outs' of modern day London. Similarly the desperate lonliness of Olive Schwarz and her inability to communicate with others seems a direct result of her unbearble great grandfather. Religion also seems a doomed endevour in both New Zealand and London, with Jack Mackenzie's complete lack of interest and faith in his 'calling', and then the end result of Father Jeremy's concern. Although the topics and conclusions Mackay draws are potentially depressing, they are so poignantly dealt with, I did not feel depressed, rather I felt satisfied - because this is a book that is definitely worth reading.