REVIEW POTPOURRI: Kenneth Roberts

by Peter Cates

Kenneth Roberts

Kenneth Roberts

Kennebunk’s Kenneth Roberts (1885-1957) wrote the historical novel Boon Island in 1956. Boon Island is a ledge 300 by 700 feet in the Atlantic Ocean, 14 miles south of Kennebunkport and, since 1811, has the tallest lighthouse in New England.

The novel is based on the December 1710, shipwreck of the Nottingham from Greenwich, England, when it was blinded during a northeaster after 137 days at sea, and the crew’s struggle for survival against the ravages of the freezing sub zero temperatures, no food and its own dog eat dog human nature impulses.

The first person narrator Miles provided one telling description:

“I hoped that when the northeaster blew itself out, the sea would grow calm, but it didn’t. When the wind swung, it backed into the northwest and west, meaning that bad weather had only temporarily abated. We were free of driving snow and rain, but breakers still roared deafeningly on the north and west. They pounded less on the south and east, but still they pounded, throwing off manes of white foam. The wind seemed colder than on the night we were wrecked.”

Another Roberts novel Northwest Passage was made into a truly classic 1940 film starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Young and Walter Brennan.

Roberts also was known for his activities on behalf of dowsing. Finally, during his writing career, he wore out several copies of Roget’s Thesaurus.

Best book of heroes

A 1958 anthology Good Housekeeping’s Best Book of Heroes and Heroines has chapters from books of such authors as Carl Sandburg (Lincoln), Dorothy Canfield Fisher (Paul Revere), and Helen Keller (autobiography).

The selections that interested me the most were those on how Daniel Boone (1734 – 1820) outsmarted the Shawnees while in their captivity; and how Walter Reed (1851-1902) figured out that yellow fever was caused by mosquitoes, not through contact with victims of the fever.

Will and Ariel Durant

Will and Ariel Durant’s 11 volume The Story of Civilization has sold millions of sets through its introductory offerings to members joining Book of the Month Club. The books lend themselves best to browsing due to the 800 or more pages in each volume yet are written in a very interesting narrative style leading to compulsive reading .

The fifth volume, The Renaissance, tells of the number of good hospitals in Italy, starting with one opened in Siena in 1305 and “famous for its size and services.” Milan and Venice soon followed with highly competitive ones; Florence had 35 hospitals during the 1400s. Most all of them were models of architecture and adorned with art on their walls. Generous support came from the public and private benefactors within the ranks of both the church and nobility.

When Martin Luther visited Italy in 1511, he happily noted “the excellent food and drink, careful attendants, and learned physicians…beds and bedding are clean.”