The Silence of Water is the stunning debut of Perth author Sharron Booth. Tracing a family’s history across three generations, the novel is based on true events and grounded in thorough primary research. At the same time, it is a compelling work of fiction, goading the reader to solve the mystery behind Edwin Salt’s transportation to Australia.
The timeline is asynchronous, with each chapter shifting between the perspectives of different members of the Salt family. The effect is like being in an archive surrounded by contrasting documents. The reader joins protagonist Fan in the role of sleuth, gradually uncovering her grandfather Edwin’s secrets. But beneath Edwin’s tale, many other significant stories swarm: the stories of women’s lives, so often absent from historical record.
This novel is as rich in period detail as it is suspenseful. Booth’s writing is plain-spoken yet highly poetic, and the focus on women’s lives is both satisfying and provocative. The Silence of Water draws the reader to a space of imaginative empathy, where we can wonder: what was life really like for women in the past and are there parallels for the lives of women today?