"Peter Watt" Topic

Has anyone read the 'Frontier' series by this Australian author (described by some as the Australian Wilbur Smith), and if so, can you offer an opinion on these novels?

I'm primarily interested in opinions on the first three titles in the series. They are "The Call of the Curlew', 'The Shadow of the Osprey'(!), and 'The Flight of the Eagle'

More online research reveals that Watt served in Vietnam and as a policemen. There are substantial samples of his novels on Google Books that demonstrate a thorough knowledge of period firearms, and a good grasp of the settler culture, attitudes and language of the times that betrays much historical research.

The first book starts in Queensland in 1862 with a surprise attack on a tribal Aboriginal camp and the ensuing massacre, all related in extremely graphic detail. As best as I can determine, the plot then goes on to trace the enmity between two frontier settler families, one wealthy and powerful, and the other struggling and victimised. One of the sons of the latter turns bushranger and partners with the only survivor of the massacre.

The second book moves the action to the late 1860s and 1870s, the plot shifting between blackbirding activity in the Torres Strait and frontier conflict on the Palmer River goldfields, with two independent central characters.

I haven't looked at the sample from the third book yet.

In an online interview Watt cites Wilbur Smith as his major influence, and Bernard Cornwell as his favourite author(!).

From the little I've read, I'd say Watt paints a very dark picture indeed of the denizens of colonial Queensland. I'd guess that the book 'Race Relations in Colonial Queensland' must have been at the core of his research. I'd be surprised if Nick Cave hasn't bought the screen rights.

Correction: '… as a policeman.'

Having finally managed to get hold of 'Cry of the Curlew' through the library, I've learned that Watt also served as an advisor to the Papua New Guinea police force. This was his first novel.

His main research sources were apparently the writings of Hector Holthouse and Glenville Pike :). It's a pity he didn't attempt to obtain a deeper understanding of his chosen subjects by mining the large body of relevant academic work. But then, if you're only intending to churn out mass-market schlock… (or am I being unfair?).

He seems to go out of his way to overdo the nastiness, in as much inglorious, brutal detail as possible. His characters slot neatly into either the noble or nefarious bracket. The villians and their actions are universally depicted as being utterly self-serving and depraved; for instance, his NMP officer is modeled on Frederick Wheeler, a known sadist and mass murderer (although there is an endnote explaining that not all officers were quite so inhuman).

Anyway, I wouldn't rate Mr Watt's efforts by any measure as pleasant, relaxing bedtime reading, and never having read any of the output of his major influence, Wilbur Smith, I have no basis for comparing their style or relative literary merit.

Having now had a chance to skim all three volumes in this series that cover the actual frontier period of the late 19th century, the best I can say is that Watt is furiously comprehensive in his attempt to not omit any of the turmoil that fills the pages of Holthouse and Pike: there are frontier massacres, bushrangers, the Palmer River goldfields, Kalkadoons, blackbirders – plus the Sudan campaign(!), all strung together in the most improbable fashion via the interconnected adventures played out through his characters' credibility-stretching family lines. His writing is cliched, clumsy, and ungrammatical, and contains many amusing malapropisms. But, then again, you might just want to make up your own mind…

Oh, and Chinese tongs… and Christie Palmerston features in a supporting role!

What's blackbirding?

I'm glad you asked, Tuscaloosa: the kidnapping, or hiring under false pretences, of south-sea Islanders by unscrupulous white ship's captains for the virtual slavery of Queensland's sugar plantations in the late 19th century.

Correction: '… ships' captains…'

Probably the most famous practitioner of this nefarious art was American captain, William Henry 'Bully' Hayes, who has featured as a character in more than one movie.

For instance, the 1954 film, 'His Majesty O'Keefe', starring Burt Lancaster.