In the Slick of the Cricket

A series of essays about Frank Mundus, a deepwater shark fisherman and probably the source for Sam Quint's 'grizzled fisherman' character in the movie Jaws.

It's at its best when Drumm analyzes why shark fishing has become popular - taking a very Melvillian approach about the sea being a refuge for our more animal selves when the constraints of civil society become too tight - or when he lets Mundus tell a story all the way through. But those aren't common - Drumm often interrupts Mundus with backstories and asides, and generally turns a good yarn into a series of weird, half-finished, uncalled-for elliptical sub-points. And believe me, it's not the asides that bother me. I'm the guy that loves Tristram Shandy after all.

Those quibbles aside, it's full of exciting stories about catching sharks, and good high seas adventure.

Noted on July 3, 2010