Antoine Vanner, author of the Dawlish Chronicles, kindly consented to be interviewed about the latest in the series, Britannia's Shark
J.D.: Nicholas Dawlish is a fascinating character in the classical mode, a
hero with a fatal flaw. Who or what was
your inspiration for such a complex person?
A.V.: There are a number of inspirations, all linked with the period
1845-1918, in which Dawlish lived. Several charismatic and influential British naval
officers were born in the same decade, Fisher, Scott, Beresford - and later
Jackson - among others. They joined a navy commanded by veterans of Nelson’s
day but they themselves shaped the navy that fought WW 1, having introduced new
technologies such as steam turbines, submarines, radio, torpedoes and even aircraft.
These men had very adventurous careers and managed a massive amount
of change. The closest character-inspiration
for Dawlish belongs however to the generation that followed him. Sir Walter
Cowan served on the Benin expedition in West Africa in the late 1880’s, captained
a battle-cruiser at Jutland in WW1 and commanded British forces in the Baltic
against the Bolsheviks in 1919. He then retired but came back into service in
WW2, training with the commandos in 1941 at the age of 70. In the North Africa campaign
he was to take on Italian tank crew singlehandedly when armed only with a
revolver. He was to be the oldest officer serving in combat WW2, just as
Dawlish was to have the same distinction in WW1 which, unlike Cowan, Dawlish
was not to survive!
Though of high moral character, all these men were driven by
ambition and demonstrated the necessary degree of ruthlessness which was
essential to achieve what they did. If this is a fault, then it is the one they
share with Dawlish!
J.D.: Leading on from this who is your favourite fictional hero (apart
from Nicholas Dawlish)?
A.V.: Since I first read Doctor
Zhivago 53 years ago I have always been impressed with the character of
Pasha Antipov, the schoolteacher from a
poor background who proves to have unexpected martial and leadership skills
when called to the colours in 1914. In the Russian Civil War he becomes “Strelnikov”, a military expert in
Bolshevik service. Though his story ends
in tragedy he has always seemed to me the embodiment of courage, conscience and
dignity in the most extreme circumstances.
He is faced with impossible moral choices but he confronts them head on
and does not shirk his destiny or ask for pity. As such he is the counterpoint
to the much weaker character of Zhivago himself and his death – prefigured in a
song sung by an old peasant woman earlier in the book – is of unbearable
poignancy. Strelnikov was played brilliantly
by Tom Courtenay in the movie and the memory of him thundering down the track
in his armoured train is unforgettable.
J.D.: The Dawlish Chronicles can be read as separate novels, as the
setting of each is so different. Because
the stories are historical the places where they take place no longer exist,
per se, but still do you feel a drive to explore them?
A.V.: My own career has brought me all over the world and I have lived
long term in 8 countries and undertook shorter assignments in a dozen
others. I have travelled in some 55
countries and this, combined with my enthusiasm for history, has afforded me
ample opportunities for getting the feel for the locations – and, more
importantly, cultures – in which my stories are set. A good example is my novel Britannia’s Wolf which, though set in
Ottoman Turkey in the 1870’s, reflects my own knowledge of Turkey and my
experience of having lived and worked there for three years. The search for new and challenging locations
never stops and indeed I am dictating this answer on a visit to Sarawak,
Northern Borneo. Who knows whether I may
find that Nicolas Dawlish himself might have encountered adventures here? Only further research will answer that
question!
J.D.: Before your first Dawlish novel what else was written? Are there unpublished short stories or memoirs
lurking in a desk drawer?
A.V.: I wrote a fair amount over the years, including two novels, but
never of a quality that deserved to see the light of day even after revision
and re-writing. I was clear-eyed enough to recognise that! This material has,
however, proved very useful in affording me opportunities to learn through my
mistakes. Also, in the course of my business career I have had to produce, or
edit, or approve, reports, reviews and submissions to governments which had
major economic implications. This experience proved invaluable as regards fine-tuning
documents so that every word counted and all ambiguity excluded. Such
experience is invaluable.
I was inspired to start writing again – and this time with total
commitment – by encountering the naval novelist Douglas Reeman (who writes the Bolitho series as Alexander Kent) at a
book-signing session some years ago. I understood from him just how much
dedication and professionalism is required to research, write and complete a
novel. He was inspirational. The consequence was that I made the necessary time
and within 11 months of that meeting I had produced Britannia’s Wolf.
J.D.: What are your recommendations for historical research? How do you track down the little details that
make your settings so convincing?
A.V.: The most important advice is that you don’t try write about a period
you don’t already know a fair amount about. You need to understand the overall
historical context – political, social, religious, cultural, scientific,
technological and military. The
understanding of this background is something that one builds up over years – decades in my case. I continue to read very widely, normally
up to sixty books a year, mostly non-fiction, and maybe 25% of these are
related to the 19th Century. Reading contemporary memories is invaluable,
especially as regards values and attitudes.
Within this wider context one must create a plot that links credibly
to the realities of the period and to populate it with characters who are of
that time, not 21st century people in re-enactors’ costumes. That
plot will demand more detailed research on aspects directly relevant to it –
sometimes entire books, other times information from the internet. Google is
invaluable, and often surprising in this regard. Information coming from this type of research
may often demand restructuring of the plot. Very specific details such as “In what year was Singapore linked to the
outside world by telegraphic cable?” can be easily accessed on the internet
only if and when needed. However, one has got to be careful not to go
overboard. Judging when “Enough is Enough” is the key to
effective research.
J.D.: Outside of writing and researching, what do you really like to do?
A.V.: I have a very active parallel life and, although retired from my
business and academic careers, I play a role as an elected local councillor and
as such am active in my community. My lovely wife’s horses and our dog are
great sources of pleasure and I continue to enjoy travelling widely. My
enthusiasm for history and literature remains unabated. Long may it continue!
