Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer's Reviews > Rivers of the Unspoilt World

An interesting if for me uneven collection of three, very different novellas, perhaps only (as the blurb implies) linked by the idea of exploring the past.

The first story – “Our Glad” was my favourite. Over nearly 70 pages written in a gentle and slightly old-fashioned style it unfolds both the story of a family (possibly a part autobiographical one) and some 150 years of Northern British history. The set up is of a nephew paying regular visits to his ageing Aunt – the Aunt telling stories from the family history (some so well known the nephew can tell them, some more revelatory), and the nephew giving some colour from internet researches. What is most moving about the story is the detailed picture it gives of everyday life only a few generations ago – including the War and particularly the late-era of workhouses. If I had a reservation here it is that non-fictional equivalent – for example based on collected verbal or written recollections (of which I have read some ones covering similar periods for my home country of Norfolk) are more genuine and effective.

The second story of around 40 pages was from the opening quite a contrast in tone (also old fashioned but rather formal/distant) and in content – as dealing with a historic event (the fall of the 1871 Paris Commune) through a modern lockdown lens. The main character is a Polish researcher living in Paris – after an impassioned defence of her strong views on the horrors of the atrocities committed by the French army on the surrendering Commune members – particularly the women – she leaves her online discussion groups and then befriends some refugees who restore her determination to continue her researches.

The titular third story is over 100 pages but was largely lost on me in both comprehension and enjoyment due to my complete lack of familiarity with or interest in its subject – Frederich Hölderlin, a poet in the German Romantic movement.