I bought this book because I was completely engrossed by an article in The Sunday Times that was written by Knight, based on his book. The focus of this article ‘Cornwall Uncovered’, timed for the annual invasion of tourists to our county, considers what life is like for the remnants of the fishing communities that exist on the fringes of the westernmost coastline of the UK. Knight spent time with several people within these communities, and the book narrates their tales.
The Swordfish and The Star is a narrative non-fiction, with a feel like you’re eavesdropping on yarns being spun in a pub. It fits then that the book is named after two pubs in Newlyn. The book is rambling, and at times feels like there is a lack of focus, unlike the pithy, well-argued article in The Sunday Times. The narratives come from the men (mostly) that Knight interviewed, and their stories are written in layers around each other, with the feel that the voices are clamouring to be heard. I am not convinced, having read the book, that I have any one story straight in my mind. There is a vast call of characters, and at times it is confusing.
What I loved about The Swordfish and The Star was the fascinating insight into the lives of the fishing communities, and the harshness of the existence. It is a social history of today, drawing on parallels of the Cornish of the past. Knight explores the essence of the Cornish – a lawless, maverick and isolated people. Those wanting independence, and perhaps a resentment of the ‘emmets’. That argument is lost in the closing scene, where the tourists are seen to be part of the weekly shanty-singing evening in the Cadgwith pub.
Where I thought the book fell short was that Knight, keen to explore the myths and legends of the past, seemed to be taken in by those told to him during his research. This is as much a part of the Cornish of today. Yarns are spun, tales are exaggerated, and I wondered where the lines of truths were. Everyone loves a good story, and the Cornish are happy to embellish when someone has their ear.
Overall, Knight’s book is compelling, and illuminates the harshness of the Cornish winters and the rural poor. A world away from the cream teas, the Padsteins and the affluent second homers and holiday makers that drift down from upcountry. Cornwall is one of the poorest regions in the UK, with one of the poorest towns in the EU, and Knight does well to explore that. However, his article does it with more clarity.
22 December 2019 at 18:33
Whilst I have never set foot in either the Swordfish or the Star, my family did spend most of our holidays throughout the 80’s and 90’s in and around Cadgwith and we fell in love with the area. To read some 25 years later about some of the characters that lived there (especially Nutty Noah) at that time took me back to those days in a most delightful way. We always ate in the Cellars just off the shingle beach which was run by Sharkey (not sure if this is the same guy referred to several times in the book but suspect it is) and well remember the plaque on the side of the wynch room dedicated to Hartley & Buller. Apart from the lovely memories that this book has evoked in me, I really like the way it has been written from a semi-documentary perspective. Anyhow, loved the book and would recommend it to anyone who also loves this unchanged part of Cornwall. Ta.
5 January 2020 at 14:55
Thanks Mike, really appreciate your thoughts. It made me re-read my review. I think looking at it as an exploration is a better frame. I did enjoy it, although (at the time) I think I wanted the clarity that his Times article had. I now can’t recall the article (haha!) but the voices I can.