CALM SEA AND A PROSPEROUS VOYAGE
Rowland Hilder - Newhaven Harbour
The sea has long been an inspiration for artists, writers and musicians. Many of Turner's paintings featured the sea, in all its moods. Benjamin Britten wrote incredibly atmospheric music for his opera, Peter Grimes, called Four Sea Interludes. You only have to close your eyes to imagine the crashing surf and rolling breakers. However, the sea isn't always rough and tempestuous. Two composers, Ludwig van Beethoven and Felix Mendelssohn were inspired to write pieces of music with the title 'Calm sea and a prosperous voyage', with the sea in more passive mood. Rowland Hilder, a twentieth century painter I much admire, painted many peaceful scenes, like the one above.
The sea plays a large part in my writing, as the detective, DI Sonny Russell, lives in an old railway carriage, close to the shore, so much of the action features the sea, and those connected with it. At times, as in the opening to Blood on the Strand, the sea is an uncontrolled monster, spiteful and menacing hurling spray and threatening lives. At others, I try to portray it in gentler mood, as in this extract from Blood on the Tide.
Russell is crossing the channel on a ferry, the Cote d'Azure, newly commissioned in the 1950's when the story is set.
The ship was not only clean and bright
but fairly quiet. Few passengers seemed to be crossing the Channel at that
time. It was a balmy afternoon and the sea was almost flat calm, promising a
smooth passage. As the Côte D’Azur steamed out of Dover Harbour he leant on the
taffrail, watching the wake tumbling and foaming, the spring sun lighting up
the white cliffs. He found the scene quite soothing and felt the worries of the
case begin to fade away, although he knew it would only be for a short while.
As the white cliffs of England faded into the distance, he strolled contentedly
in to the cafeteria, ordered coffee and a pastry and found a vacant seat next
to the window. He had brought his notes but was happy to leave the file closed
and enjoy the journey. In little more than an hour the coast of France hove
into sight and a voice on the Tannoy announced it was time to prepare to
disembark. The carefree mood he had enjoyed during the crossing faded as he
prepared for what he feared might be a trying time.
You can read more of DI Sonny Russell's adventures with his little Jack Russell, Aggie, in my series of crime novels, set in the post-war 1950's.
