Approaching Tide

Sergeant Will Crosby leaves England for Australia after serving a prison sentence for bigamy and being cashiered from the army. He hopes to regain his self-esteem and the forgiveness of his wronged wife, Alice. On Stradbroke Island, a typhus epidemic forces him to stay at a quarantine station, where he forms new relationships and experiences. The absence of authority on the island leads him and Thomas, a former priest, to try to maintain civil order, encountering hostility from the emigrants fleeing authoritarian harshness. Wills encounter with an Aborigine elder, Tompani, changes his view of the world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 632 pages
Publication date: 28 June 2021
Publisher: Troubador Publishing

After serving a prison sentence for bigamy and being cashiered from the army, Will Crosby decides to leave England for good, taking up a position as a sergeant in the Queensland constabulary. His goal is to regain his lost self-esteem and seek forgiveness from his wronged wife, Alice. However, his plans are jeopardized when a typhus epidemic strikes the ship, forcing them to spend an indefinite time at the ill-prepared quarantine station on Stradbroke Island.

During his time on Stradbroke, Will forms new and unpredictable relationships, particularly with Thomas, a lapsed Irish Catholic priest, and Billy, a newly orphaned six-year-old. These connections, along with his experiences and responsibilities on the island, propel his life in previously unimagined directions. The absence of any Authority on the island forces Will, who aspires to be a policeman in the future, and Thomas, who has renounced his priesthood, to take matters into their own hands and attempt to maintain civilised order in desperate circumstances.

However, their efforts are met with hostility from almost all the emigrants, as they are fleeing authoritarian harshness in England and Ireland for various reasons. Crime and violence are rampant, and despite their own anti-authoritarian sympathies, Will and Thomas have no choice but to apply whatever justice they can to protect the community.

Through his encounter with Tompani, an Aborigine elder, and his people, Will's view of the world is radically transformed. He gains a newfound appreciation for the indigenous culture and learns about the injustices and hardships they have faced. This experience deepens his understanding of the world and motivates him to work towards creating a more equitable and compassionate society.

In conclusion, Will Crosby's journey to Stradbroke Island is a transformative one. Through his experiences, relationships, and encounters with different cultures, he gains a new perspective on life and a renewed commitment to making a positive impact on the world. His journey serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to rise above circumstances and strive for personal growth and social change.

Weight: 614g
Dimension: 215 x 140 x 56 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800462120