A Dutch engineer is working to build drainage and irrigation channels in the British countryside. It’s tedious work, but he has been trained well and given a workforce of soldiers and prisoners to aid him in the construction. But it’s the local woman he falls in love with who will have the greatest impact on his project. He’s desperate to share his world with her and begins to teach her the craft. When she uses that knowledge to sabotage his work, his world comes crashing down, literally – a flood destroys parts of the settlement and kills several men. The woman is sent to the New World as an indentured servant and the engineer is sure he will never see her again. But a chance encounter on Manatus Eyland brings their paths together again. Will they reconcile, or were her actions too much to forgive?
Stella Tillyard may be best known for her debut release Aristocrats, which was developed into a BBC miniseries of the same name. Her latest release Call Upon the Water is another historical fiction masterpiece. Set both in Europe and the colonies, this book explores the world of land expansion in reference to the technology of the time, as well as the role indentured servitude played in the culture. Tillyard goes on to explore the female role in the community as a homemaker and mother, but not as an educated or politically powerful entity. This is a book about loving across the artificial borders of land or status and finding your own place in the community.
I give Call Upon the Water 3 out of 5 stars. This was a difficult read for me mostly because of the similar yet different location names – it was confusing for me at times to place where this would occur. I also found the characters and narrative slow and difficult to connect with. I did appreciate the fresh setting – when you read books set in the American colonies, they are usually in the English colonies, not the Dutch. I also appreciate the engineering and community facts the author was able to share through this book – it’s information I’m not sure I’ve seen in any other book.
If you are looking for an unusual historical fiction book, this would be a great recommendation. I would direct this book to readers over the age of 13 given the topics of sex, punishment, slavery, and death. I think this would make a great companion book for a college history course about the New England or New Amsterdam colonies!
I chose Call Upon the Water for the Read With Lindsey 2024 Reading Challenge prompt “set in the colonies”. This book piqued my interest given its usually location and central theme of the irrigation and drainage ditches. With the Independence Day Holiday coming up on Thursday, I thought this might get us in the mood for what the young country experienced. This one does go back a little further in history – set in the 1600’s, it’s about 100 years prior to the formation of our country, but the scene where the colony transfers from Dutch to British rule was something I had never read of before and found very interesting!
If you are traveling for the holiday week, stay safe and don’t forget to pack a book or two!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The Pool House, Tasmina Perry
- Current audio book: In the Unlikely Event, Judy Blume
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Ragtime, E.L. Doctorow
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