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This is not actually a historical novel
but it is worth a brief mention because of the light it throws
on the fishing villages of north east Scotland and a way of life
which is fast disappearing.
During her gap year Saskia travels from London to spend two weeks
with her great-aunt Alessandra in a cliff house near the fishing
village of Fhindhaven in north east Scotland. As she gets to know
her aunt better Saskia begins to learn of some family secrets,
including the dreadful one which has ruled her aunt's life. She
also learns that it is time for her to break away from her father's
influence.
The historical interest revolves around her aunt. When she was
young Alessandra had been a herring girl. She had travelled south
to Yarmouth and worked on the quayside as a packer. Now she is
a part time volunteer worker for the local heritage centre. She
catalogues old photographs. She also takes photographs of the
fishing villages to show how they have changed as well as taping
interviews with old fishermen so that their stories will not be
forgotten.
This book has a strong conservation message but it also describes
a way of life which will soon be no more. It also shows the attempts
being made to keep alive and preserve bygone memories.
Teenage
This book was first published in 1987.
The Flither Pickers is set in a fishing village near Whitby at the beginning of the twentieth century. It shows the part played by women in the fishing industry. It is the women who take buckets and baskets and go down to the beach every day to gather flither, or bait. The "flither" is shellfish -- limpets or mussels. After the flither has been collected and taken home the women have to clean it and then bait the fishermen's lines - another lengthy task. All this on top of the housekeeping, looking after children and the constant knitting of fishermen's jerseys. Knitting may appear an innocent enough occupation but here it has a sinister edge to it. The patterns are very important. If a fisherman is drowned the pattern on his jersey will let people know what village he comes from. This underlines one main theme of the book - the constant threat of death from the sea.
We are given much detail about the lives of the fisher folk. For example the actual flither picking is back-breaking work. The limpets have to be prised from the rocks with a knife - a knife which can slip and cut fingers which sting with the salt water and the juice from the shellfish. It is cold, wet, exhausting work and at the end of it there is the walk back carrying the heavy buckets. All this is described in such a way that the reader can actually feel what it is like.
But as well as showing all the hard work involved the book also brings out the sense of fellowship and how the whole community will rally round and help anyone in need.
The story is told in the first person by young Lisa Welford. Lisa is impatient to be grown up. She is too young for the flither picking. When not at school she looks after her young brother. Lisa wants to join the flither pickers but her mother wants her to stay on at school.
Theresa Tomlinson has worked some real historical characters into this book. She mentions the Whitby writer, Linskill, but it is the photographer Frank Sutcliffe who plays a more important part. Frank Sutcliffe's photographs illustrate the book. Frank Sutcliffe is also "the picture man." He takes a picture of Lisa and her friend and, when the photograph wins a competition, sends Lisa a book as a present and invites the whole family to Whitby to see the photograph on the wall in his gallery.
The photograph in question shows Lisa and her friend on a rock on the beach. When he told them that he was looking at them upside down Lisa cheekily bent down and leant on her elbow and the picture man says it is an effective photograph and "a piece of fun."
That is an actual photograph taken by Sutcliffe.
It is from the picture man that Lisa first learns of Mary Linskill, the writer, and it is partly because of this that Lisa finally decides to do what her mother wants her to and stay on at school.
The book ends with an exciting climax which is based on a real incident. There is a storm when the fishing fleet is out at sea and it is the women of the village who launch the lifeboat.
The Flither Pickers really lets us see the harshness and reality of life in a fishing village one hundred years ago.
10+
Like The Flither Pickers this book is set in Whitby in the early years of the twentieth century. It also shows the part women played in the fishing industry.
Annie Lythe is a washerwoman. One day she has a stroke. What is to become of her family? (Her fisherman husband had been drowned a few years ago.) The dreaded spectre of the Workhouse beckons.
Young Robbie goes to Whitby to try to find work as a fisherman and thirteen year old Dory has an idea how she, too, can play her part. She says she wants to be a herring girl. The herring girls work on the quayside gutting and packing the fish as soon as they are landed. Most of these girls come from Scotland but local girls are employed too and Dory wants to join them. The people of her village rally round. Dory is given lessons in gutting and the necessary knives are bought for her. Lodging is also found for her and Dory leaves for Whitby. Then follows a detailed description of Dory's first season as a herring girl. It is hard work but there is also fun too, when there is a dance on the quayside one Saturday evening. Then on Sunday the Cornish fishermen sing their hymns.
Eventually the herring fleet moves on and the Scottish girls take the train to Grimbsy. Dory returns home proudly with her earnings and finds that her mother has made a partial recovery.
This book has been very carefully researched. I like the way in which Theresa Tomlinson always gives notes on her sources and I wish more authors would do this. The use of local words like cobles and ploshers (kinds of boats) and ganseys (jerseys) help to add authenticity. Several real people appear in the story. One of the most important of these is the picture man. He is based on the Whitby photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. The book is illustrated by a selection of his photographs.
This book said a great deal to me personally. I have had relatives who came from the fishing villages of North East Scotland and I remember an uncle telling me of how girls from these villages used to follow the herring fleet around the country.
This is a book for children. There is no doubt about it. But it can say a lot to adults too. For example, when Dory's mother has her stroke. The author clearly describes her frustration when she tries to make herself understood but cannot get the words out. Sadly, this is something which will strike a chord with many adults but will not mean so much to children.
This book comes with historical notes and bibliography.
It gives a vivid and memorable picture of the fishing industry at the beginning of the twentieth century. Fascinating.
10+
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