On the WaterH.M. van den Brink
Translated from the Dutch by Paul Vincent
ISBN 0-8021-3895-0 (pbk.)
Grove Press
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
On the WaterA Review by G. H. Phillips
To experience the feel of gliding on flat water, in a narrow, long boat, being so close to it, yet totally separated, is very hard to explain. The book, On the Water has done so remarkably well. I received this book from a friend of mine because we both are rowers. I have been rowing since 1997 and truly love it, but not so much from a racing standpoint although I do compete on occasion and probably will more often it in the future.
Taking place pre WWII, is in itself a very interesting stage for the story. What will become of these too young men, one of which is Jewish the other, Dutch? What will happen to them when the Nazis occupy the Netherlands?
The story rolls forth from Anton's mind while on the raft of the partially demolished boathouse. It's cold and wet and dark, but as he lies on his back on the raft, he feels the heat of summer, the pulling of his muscles, and sees the beauty of his pair partner. The partner, David, the beautiful David, appears to him in his mind as he is lying there, thinking of this much better place and time.
There was much going on in the Netherlands at this point in time. Most of the city lights were turned off in preparation for war. The boathouse and other structures around the canal are in the process of being demolished so there would be less obstruction during the fighting that was sure to evolve. The thought of such a drastic measure being taken… I know how I'd feel under such conditions should that ever happen to our little boathouse... has caused him to be very deep in thought about the past and the mostly good times.
The story is written in what I'd call a dreamy or misty style, or in a visual sense, kind of in a Monet style of painting, but at times seems to snap from reflection and slide right into the true feeling of competition. I myself, have raced only once and did well. That feeling of being on the starting line, waiting, with oars in the water, seat at 3/4 slide… staying in line, waiting for the starting call: "Get Ready. Are You Ready?…GO!” The sound of all the oars flailing and splashing at once, That feeling of possibly tipping because the start is the most dangerous part of the race, the one time where you can flip rather easily. The adrenaline is flowing to be sure!
The writer has brought us back very clearly to a time before and right to the edge of WWII, to the type of wooden boat, and even the wool rowing outfits that were worn. His reflections on childhood are elegant and, well, downright wonderful. The writer describes the humble background of Anton's mother and father, and very concisely, the apartment he was raised in. Their weekly showers at the community bathhouse and even the soap that was used is described in wonderful detail.
His need to experience that neighborhood canal in the boat as well as just swimming in it is so clear, right from his earliest age, he is more than drawn to it. His being on the bridge over the canal with his father, seeing the eight (boat with 8 men, 8 oars, with Coxswain [person who steers]) for the first time, passing under it. He was fascinated by the sport and just had to try his hand at it. We have all had this sort of exposure to something in our young lives; something we get a fire inside us for. These exposures eventually lead a very few of us to becoming world-renowned. We see, and therefore want to do!
You can feel the conflict in the young boy's mind as he convinces his very common, introverted father to let him try this wonderful sport. Since his father and mother hardly liked to leave the house, this took some doing, approaching the Committee at the Boatclub, petitioning for his son to be accepted into the learning program.
After being accepted in the learning program for schoolboys, his life grows and grows from his experiences on the water and he never appears to stand behind his father again. He and David are chosen from their Eight to try the Pair, and the very interesting German man, the Doktor, coaches them. A Pair is a two-man boat, each with one oar with no Cox'n. This is by far the most difficult boat to row straight, without tipping over, let alone to go fast enough to win races! The Doktor brings Anton and David into manhood.
When we coach nowadays we have a Launch with an outboard motor to keep up with those being coached. Since this was in the late 30's, before the widespread use of the outboard motor, most coaching was done from the shore. The Doktor would follow them, with megaphone in hand on his racer bike. The Doktor would "go away" for fairly long periods of time. We never found out why; perhaps it was some kind of business? But before he would go, he would leave a detailed training program for them to follow.
Anton has feelings for his partner, or so it seems but doesn't act on them, but silently obsesses on him. David, a Jew, is much more well off than Anton is, but does not look down on him; he most likely has the same feelings for him. Anton sees himself in the mirror, sees the strength he has built, the firmness he has developed, and is happy. He is firm, strong, and has the suppleness of a teenager in excellent shape. He is rowing, he is happy. His and David's rowing is the center of his life at this point.
During one particularly long row, they stop and relax, lying back in the boat, always being sure to keep the oars extended, "feathered" or flat on the water to keep from tipping. Without them, the boat would tip in a matter of seconds. His partner, David, is in the Bow (front) position so when Anton lies back, he's laying on David's legs. There is electricity that seems to flow between them as he feels the hair on his legs and smells the scent of his partner. They look straight up and see things from a different view, one that is hard to explain, but the writer has done so with such a feeling, a feeling of knowing, with a feeling of having been there.
They race, and they win, the coaching the Doktor has given them, from rowing to weight training, has paid off. They would even have a chance at the pre-WWII Olympic Games, so he said. The story becomes somewhat misty and indecisive, leaving some things to your own imagination. Perhaps the writer wanted to leave it that way?
Their last and very important race is rowed, and they lose. They will come back next year...there's always a next year...
Anton visits David's house, but no one is there, it is totally dark and lifeless. One can only imagine that David and his family have taken safe haven somewhere because they know what is coming. But in any event, his partner is gone, and he is upset, perhaps even heart-broken over that, and the demolishing of his wonderful second home, the Boathouse.
It is very cold. The planes will be flying over head near daybreak. The water is lapping on the raft and up through the boards. From what little light there is from the moon and stars, and perhaps an errant light or two, you can see the partially demolished boathouse and Anton on his back on the raft. He had gone through the barbed wire, cutting and scraping his hands, to look in on the boats. Houses and buildings can be dark and alone, but boats need people. There are no boats in the partially demolished boat bay; they have been taken to a safe haven.
The water is making him cold and wet, as it seeps into the back of his coat, but he is neither. He is hot, and the sun is shining. He begins to smell the scents of summer; he opens his eyes to see his partner, the beautiful David, with his sturdy legs, and his beautiful blue eyes, standing behind him. He hears his voice. David extends his hand to help him up, but Anton does not need it. They head up the stairs; the stairs that are now present again. David's arm is on Anton's shoulder, they both head into the boathouse.
“Yes, Anton we'll go on rowing, that's a promise...”
I very much enjoyed this book. To a rower, the feeling of history seems right, as if the writer experienced it himself.
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