Brian Doyle’s The Plover is a sea adventure with intriguing twists. A delightful, imaginative novel, the book was especially meaningful to me since I too spent time at sea, also in the South Pacific.
When Declan O’Donnell goes to sea in his converted 28-foot sailing trawler, the Plover, he’s glad to be alone, away from the complications and meanness of people, of obligations, and the trappings of land-life. He just wants to be alone and free to do as he pleases.
With no one but a gull for company, he sets sail across the vast Pacific. Nearing an island, he’s met by a fellow rowing a boat who has a written message for Declan. The message implores Declan to allow a friend from his past, a recent widower, and his mute, crippled daughter to join him. Although it isn’t what Declan has in mind, he can’t refuse his friend this favor; the man and daughter have been through so much grief.
Back to sea, they encounter an old rusty cargo ship with an unscrupulous captain. A brief encounter results in Declan’s friend being shanghaied into service aboard the cargo ship. Declan, of course, can’t allow this and not only manages to get his friend back, but also an unhappy crewman from the cargo ship as well. The crewman happens to be a woman, an islander, who immediately takes to the little crippled girl.
Along the way, they pick up other needy passengers. What was intended to be a one-person crew has now turned into six. In the meantime, the cargo ship stalks them, a ship with far greater power than the Plover.
The Plover is full of maritime wisdom, explorations of the human spirit, and one man’s quest for peace. I heartedly recommend this delightful novel.
This story renews a person’s faith in a higher power, out there somewhere, that puts people and circumstances in our path for a reason.
That’s exactly right, Judith. I loved this book.