Call Upon the Water by Stella Tillyard
Set during the fall and rise of King Charles II of England, this story does not bring court intrigues, what it offers instead is an intense depiction of lives of simple people and those with education who used their knowledge to make a mark in history by draining and developing wetlands for human use. And a deeply moving portrayal of a man exploring the power of nature and the power of love. 1649, Jan Brunt, an engineer, arrives in Great Britain from the Netherlands to work on draining and developing wetlands known as Great Level. His work begins with mapping the area, then planning how to drain the whole. This brings original descriptions. With another Dutchman leader, they “measure and draw, calculate and note (…) They are the first engineers to map this whole wilderness, and take pride in that fact, as if they were explorers out on the ocean.” One day, as Jan is engrossed in his work of calculations, a native woman approaches him. Her name is Eliza. When Jan...