A scottish bildungsroman that takes in a discovery of oil and the rise of new labour - well written and compelling

It's a well written and fascinating novel that brought me back in time and into the head of people from different social classes.
There's dreams, there's the will to change the world and there's the discovery of oil in Scoltand in the 60s
It's a sort of buddy novel as the women appears as love interest and play no role.
I appreciated it but some less meeting would have be greatù
Don't ask my why but I read it with Local Hero soundtrack playing in my head
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Largely set in Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s, The Black Eden traces the search, discovery and exploitation of oil under the North Sea through the viewpoints of a number of different men. Most significant, perhaps, are childhood friends Aaron and Robbie, who dove together as boys but whose lives took very different paths. Aaron becomes a geologist, trying to identify the best spot in the sea to drill for oil by studying the rock strata, while Robbie moves between different kinds of skilled manual labour, eventually becoming a diver and a welder. But we also hear from a journalist; a banker; the son of an Aberdeen trawler-fishing family company; and a preacher. Unfortunately, this list-like approach is how the novel deals with these men as well. They are defined by their class and occupation, and characterisation is perfunctory. Dialogue is distinguished by accent but inside their own heads they all sound the same. Women are given even shorter shrift, appearing only as future love interests - and even the ones that start off interesting, like a female welder, collapse completely into that role. Kelly is great at evoking certain working environments, especially oil rigs and diving bells, but The Black Eden spends much too much time in offices, conference rooms and bars, and not enough time 'making hole', as the oil drillers would put it. This novel is impeccably researched, and I learnt a lot from it, but it feels both old-fashioned and incredibly predictable, creaking slowly towards the inevitable ending like an ancient trawler. 3.5 stars.

Richard T. Kelly writes a superb and fascinating historical novel, atmospheric and well researched about black gold, the discovery of North Sea oil in the dangerous waters off the Scottish coast, its impact on local communities, the politics, related through a diverse group of characters for whom it may represent unheard of opportunities, but what may it cost them? In the Scottish Highlands in 1956, Robbie from a farming background, Aaron, a school teacher's son interested in rocks, are best friends who dive, they are looking at different future directions, with Aaron going on to study geology at Aberdeen University. Mark attends an exclusive private school in Edinburgh, is close friends with Ally. Mark is a socialist wanting to be a writer, ending up becoming a journalist, with a brief foray as the 2nd SNP MP.

Given their different political views, the two manage to remain friends as Ally moves from company lawyer to investment banking, but how long will this last? Joseph Killday is heir to his father's trawler fishing business with his siblings, but studies Economics at Edinburgh, ending up working for Dunlop, will he be tempted to return? In a narrative that moves from the 1950s to 1974, Aaron on the advice of his academic tutor, Hugh Munro, joins the American Paxton Oil and Gas company to help identify potentially lucrative oil fields in the North Sea. Structured into 7 parts, we see it takes some time before commercial levels of oil are discovered, the politics of issuing drilling licences from the government, the inescapable turbulence for communities, coasts, businesses, families, Aberdeen and employnent amidst a background of Scottish, national and global political events.

Kelly creates a gripping set of characters and their development, deriving varying levels of benefits with the discovery of black gold, as can be seen in other oil rich parts of the world, this turns out to be both a boon and a curse. Friendships fall apart, families are divided and broken apart, there is rampant profiteering, and safety regulations are far from tight enough in the dangerous seas. There are tragedies, loss, heartbreaking grief, divisions, peril, resentment, and more that we become immersed and engaged with this terrific and astutely imagined set of characters, their development and their relationships through this historical period with an epilogue featuring Ally in 1982. This is stellar read that had me re-examining this crucial period of British history with the start of the North Sea oil business, viewed through the eyes of what feel like an all too real and authentic set of characters and their motivations. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.