The Place of Tides by James Rebanks

Book Review

 

This is the second James Rebank book I’ve read. In his first “The Shepherd’s Life”, he explores his place in a lineage of sheep farmers of the Lake District in England. In this, his newest book “The Place of Tides”, he is the storyteller on an adventure into the islands off the coast of Norway to collect the story of a duck woman. What would appear to be a typical woman, once a year for ten weeks she becomes a warrior to protect wild Eider ducks from predation so they can hatch their brood and go back to life floating on the sea.

The duck woman takes leave for a final season out on the uninhabited island. This final journey and nurturing she will share with another duck woman and the author as he steps into her boots and takes up a cause recognized by UNESCO and the Queen of Norway.

Don’t let her everyday facade fool you, she will not be deterred from her task! James Rebanks truly pays homage to the years of dedication in nurturing these lives. He is keenly aware as they compare to lambing season of his beloved Herdwick Sheep. (they have their own ties to Norway as the genetic lineage of Viking sheep) Over 10 weeks of grueling, dirty work and angst filled waiting, punctuated with celebration at the return of the ducks to their nesting ground James learns the ways of a duck woman. It is the skill of listener that helps him soak up this story and relay it to us in the magnificent tale of the power of one woman to change the tides of the Eider ducks from loss to gain.

A brilliant read for the earth and farm lover, the believer in species preservation and all who appreciate the rare find of a common woman with an extraordinary life. Thanks to James Rebanks for sharing her world with us!