There She Blows!

Published in the early 1950s, this book reads like a publicity piece for whaling. Even by that time, restrictions had been put in place on the quantity and size of whales which could be slaughtered each year, and it was obvious to many that a continuation of commercial whaled would sound the death knell for whales. This books reads like it was written to sway public opinion, to promote the good work the whalers and all the personnel on the factory ships do, and to promote that fantastic array of goods which rely on whale oil for their production.

Nowdays, it makes for an odd read. I have a passing interest in the incredible engineering, the brave and hardy men who carried out the whaling, and an interest in learning more about the whales themselves. The quantities, volumes and other statistics are mind boggling; the process cruel and the corporations and governments exploitative, and while the world is too weak to stop the harvesting of whales under ‘scientific research' and ‘cultural heritage' conditions, then we are not so much better in the 21st century.

The writing is odd. Although it is a translation from Danish, for a large part it is written in a comedic tone, short amusing anecdotes from the crew, and on the boats, and with some sarcasm of the whaling restrictions. However the factual parts, the descriptions of the process is clear and comes across as accurate, and for me was interesting.

Interesting one to rate - for the parts which describe process 4; for the propaganda and snide remarks about whaling restrictions 2; I guess on balance it has to be 3*. I notice I have two of this authors other books in my shelves, so not sure what to make of his writing yet!