McDermid and Sharp Co-Author Novella on Darien Expedition

Bestselling crime author Val McDermid and Scotland's first female Geographer Royal, Jo Sharp, have collaborated on a new novella titled 'This Door of the Seas'. The book offers a fictionalised narrative of the 1698 Darien expedition, an ambitious but ultimately disastrous attempt by Scotland to establish a trading colony in what is now Panama.

Historical Context of the Darien Expedition

The Darien venture saw over 2,000 Scots, many fleeing famine, embark on the journey with the aim of creating an overland trade route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. As reported by The Guardian, the expedition resulted in substantial financial losses for Scotland, which was already facing economic difficulties and pressure from England. This significant setback is understood to have played a role in Scotland's decision to sign the union agreement with England just seven years later, leading to the loss of its parliament, trading company, and national pride.

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Jo Sharp, a human geographer and professor at the University of St Andrews, was appointed Scotland's Geographer Royal in 2022. She explained that the project aimed to address what she described as a "whitewashing of Scotland's history," stating a desire to avoid presenting Scotland as not culpable in issues related to empire, race, and racism. The novella is part of Birlinn's Darkland Tales series, which features reimaginings of Scottish historical and folk tales.

The idea for the novella emerged when Sharp was researching for a book festival talk on Scottish geography. She discovered the story of the first Geographer Royal sending an envoy to observe the Darien endeavour. Finding the history compelling, Sharp shared her thoughts with McDermid, who suggested they write it together. McDermid, known for her meticulous research in crime fiction, noted the importance of having enough historical information to build a story while leaving space for creative interpretation.

The writing process involved both authors, with Sharp undertaking extensive research at the National Library of Scotland, including examining letters and ship manifests. McDermid, who had recently undergone open-heart surgery, worked on the writing and editing with Sharp during her recovery. The novella is structured as an epistolary novel, told through letters from a scientist on the expedition to his wife and sponsor.

McDermid commented on the historical context, noting that many European nations experienced failed colonial attempts, with high failure rates being common. The authors sought to present a more nuanced account of the Darien venture, moving beyond myths that portrayed it as solely a bumbling Scottish effort. They highlighted that the expedition faced significant challenges, including difficult terrain and attacks from Spanish settlers, leading to the deaths of over 80% of the Scottish participants within a year, primarily from tropical diseases and starvation.