The Eloquence of the Sardine: The Secret Life of Fish & Other Underwater Mysteries

by Bill Francois

Humans have identified just a fraction of the 2.2 million species living in the sea. Roughly 91% of all marine species remain unknown: myths still to be written, discoveries still to be made, blank pages with room to dream . . .

As a small boy, Bill François was frightened of deep water. Until a chance encounter with the elusive sardine set him on course for a life in marine science: a mission to better understand, and preserve, the underwater world, to find his place in that ecosystem and learn how to converse harmoniously with the ocean.

In a series of exquisitely rendered vignettes of marine life, François invites us on a whistle-stop global tour to reveal the mysteries of the sea, beginning with the simple eloquence of the sardine. He unpicks the sound of the sea - an underwater symphony orchestra voiced by a choir of fish - and deciphers the latest scientific discoveries on the immunity of coral and the changing gender of wrasses. We visit the depths of underwater Paris as François delves into the mysterious world of the eel and explore an extraordinary three-generational friendship between humans and killer whales, and the role a shoal of herrings played in Cold War tensions.

Throughout, François effortlessly brings the inner workings of fish to life - their language, their emotions, their societal rituals. He also makes a case for why we should look to the sea for inspiration for improving society and investigates the shocking journey from sea to plate.

Drawing on history, myth and legend, but always grounded in science, The Eloquence of the Sardine will change the way you think about the sea in the most poetic of ways.

• ISBN10: 1472134036
• ISBN13: 9781472134035
• Publish Date: 17 August 2021
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 25 August 2023
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Constable
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 208
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Eloquence of the Sardine is a beautifully written and evocative ode to the sea and the life and drama to be found there, written by Bill François. Due out 17th Aug 2021 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

This is that rarest of beasts - carefully, scientifically correct, popular writing which is layman accessible, accurate, and lyrically pleasantly written. I was drawn in from the first, as the author describes his somewhat inauspicious start as a child who had a healthy fear of the ocean until an encounter with a sardine and early snorkeling experiences unlocked a lifelong fascination with the underwater world.

The author relays his fascination through vignettes and stories of different species and their environments. The chapters aren't annotated and there's no bibliography for further reading, but it was nice to be able to read about tuna, eels, dolphins, shellfish, and other creatures without any interruption or distractions chasing down references and sources.

This was a very relaxing and engaging read, with the perfect amount of science and information without the slightest difficulty understanding what's being said. The book was originally written in French, and for me the translation work in the English edition was seamless; it didn't read as though it had been translated.

Five stars. This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition, for the home library, or for readers who enjoy popular science.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Jeff Sexton]

Poetic Narrative More Memoir Than Hard Science. This is a memoir of a man who was afraid of the sea as a small child and who had one chance encounter that turned his life around... and inspired his life long study of the sea. This book really is as much about the author's own experiences and thoughts as it is the actual scientific facts he states throughout, which is seen perhaps most glaringly in the extremely short bibliography (at least on this advance copy I read). But truly poetic and beautiful regardless, one is almost inspired to pursue a career (or perhaps second career) in something that gets one out in, on, or under the water just from the sheer awe Francois shows here. All of this noted, I do have a bit of a bone to pick with the actual title: "eloquence" is "a discourse marked by force and persuasiveness", according to Webster. And while I found quite a bit of beauty, wonder, and awe within this narrative, I found little truly forceful or persuasive. Francois doesn't seem to be making any major point or trying to persuade anyone to any particular position other than the sheer wonder of all that exists under the seas. Truly an excellent work, even with the quibble over a part of the title. Very much recommended.