BOOK REVIEW: 'Across the Herring Pond': A Wonderful Addition to Time Travel Genre
Reviewed By David M. Kinchen
One of my favorite subcategories of science fiction is the time travel novel. The modern master of this genre is Jack Finney (born Oct. 2, 1911 in Milwaukee and died Nov. 14, 1995 in Northern California). He's most famous for his 1955 novel "The Body Snatchers", filmed the following year under the direction of Don Siegel as "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." It has been filmed several times since, most recently with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig in 2007 as "The Invasion."
In 1970 Finney's first time travel novel novel, "Time and Again," was published. (A sequel, "From Time to Time", was published just before Finney's death in 1995). The protagonist of both books, Simon Morley, is working in advertising in New York City in "Time and Again"-- Finney was a "Mad Man" in NYC before he became a full-time writer -- when he is recruited for a secret government project trying to achieve time travel, with participants steeping themselves in the history and culture of a place and time. Morley did this and traveled back to 1882 New York City through self-hypnosis.
Finney's classic time travel novel came to mind while I was reading Evelyn De Wolfe's "Across the Herring Pond" (Trafford Publishing, 364 pages, $26.95, available on Amazon.com. An autographed copy may be obtained from the author for $26.95 (shipping included). Contact: evie2000@dslextreme.com).
The Simon Morley of De Wolfe's fantasy novel is a young American journalist named Evelyn Ashlin, who comes upon a travel journal of a 19th century Cornish squire, who is in fact her own great-great-great grandfather. Quite taken with her discovery, she fantasizes viewing early America as it was almost 200 years ago, traveling back to 1810 Cornwall and traveling to America as his companion.
Empowered by the mind's inner vision, and with the magic of invisibility at her command, Evelyn Ashlin takes a bold leap backward through time, determined to meet face-to-face with her ancestor and persuade him to let her ride on the coattails of his fascinating adventure. Her portal of entry is an heirloom painting through which she is led magically to the land of Cornwall and the world of 1810.
At first, both annoyed and mystified by the presence of a female "spirit", Squire James Hosking finally gives in to her wish when promised a trade-off gift he cannot refuse -- a glimpse of the future.
Just as Finney gives us a finely detailed picture of Manhattan in 1882 in "Time and Again" so does De Wolfe paints a detailed picture of early 19th century Cornwall and the places of the East Coast of America that she visits with James Hosking. Their ship lands at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan, today a popular tourist destination, and -- as we embark on a journey through the country -- we can almost feel and smell everything.
Evelyn and Squire James travel by ship and stagecoach through a pre-railroad America, visiting the nation's still new capital city, Washington, where they attend a reception given by President James Madison and his party-loving wife, First Lady Dolley Madison. In those pre-Homeland Security Days, just about anyone can walk up to the White House and talk to the doorman and secure an invitation to a reception. No background check required! Young Evelyn also sees the cruelties of slavery first-hand, on a coastal packet boat where the captain physically abuses a slave who's a cook on the boat.
De Wolfe has created a remarkable time travel novel in "Across the Herring Pond." ("Herring Pond" is a Cornish way of describing the Atlantic Ocean, the source of herring favored by the protein-seeking people of the Cornish peninsula. I personally favor their pasties, pot pies that are also a staple of the cuisine of the Upper Peninsula of my native state of Michigan, which has a substantial Cornish-American population.
Another personal note: I worked with Hollywood resident Evelyn De Wolfe at the Los Angeles Times, where we both wrote for the Real Estate section. She's a delightful woman and a wonderful writer with an exotic British-Brazilian background (see below).
About the Author
Author/journalist Evelyn De Wolfe, a graduate of the University of Brazil, was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro and came to this country on a student/teacher fellowship to the University of Washington. She served as interpreter for the US Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs and the Photographic Unit of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and was later hired by Mr. Walt Disney as a project researcher. She also served as a Hollywood Foreign Press correspondent for Brazilian and British publications, before engaging in a long career as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. A resident of Hollywood, California, she has traveled worldwide on assignments for domestic and international publications and was listed in Who's Who of American Women.