Campbell’s Kingdom by Hammond Innes – the #1952Club

It’s the latest year reading week hosted by Kaggsy and Simon. Last week I surveyed some of the titles published in 1952 that I’d already read and my reading plans. I’m doing well, two done and I hope to fit in the Nevil Shute if I can.

My first read – or rather re-read – was this cracking thriller – my third read of my favourite novel by Hammond Innes. My family all adore thrillers, and in the 1970s, I read all the classic thriller authors of the period, including Innes, who died in 1978, thus coming slightly before Alastair Maclean and co. Innes, who had worked in publishing and journalism before WWII publishing his first novel in 1936 and carrying to write about thirty books, mostly thrillers, but also some travel titles. He was known for doing his research personally, be it learning to ski or becoming an accomplished sailor. For this novel he travelled widely in Canada visiting oil companies and riding trails in the Rockies – write what you know, indeed!

As an adventure story involving prospecting for oil in the Rockies, we have to note that it is of its time and that in 1952 the oil business was booming. If you can accept that, then it becomes the eternal story of a fish out of water and the little man versus the giants.

Bruce Campbell, a world-weary middle-aged bloke, ex-Army, now an office worker, arrives home to a visitor. A solicitor from one of the firms in Lincoln’s Inn. Fothergill quizzes him hard on his personal history to ensure he is the man he is seeking, before informing Campbell that his grand-father has left him the ownership of a package of land in the Rocky Mountains known as ‘Campbell’s Kingdom’. He’s also left him around $40k worth of debts. But it’s all good – there is an offer of $50k on the table if he’d just sign some papers for the Canadian solicitors.

Campbell hadn’t seen his grandfather since he was sent to prison when Bruce was a boy, abandoning his family after his release. Now he knows he went to Canada, and in a letter accompanying the will Bruce is convinced that his grandfather did believe there was oil in his kingdom. Something inside him tells him not to sign the papers, which would see the valley flooded for a hydroelectric plant and dam, after all, he has nothing to lose – he’s dying anyway.

To remain in London, an insurance clerk in the same monotonous rut to the end, was impossible with this prospect, this hope of achievement dandled in front of my eyes. I tore the deed of sale across and flung the pieces on to the floor. I would go to Canada. I would try to carry out the provisions of my grandfather’s will.

And off he goes to Canada, via Calgary to find out more at the Canadian solicitor’s office. It takes several days to get trains and lifts up to Jasper and then beyond to the small village of Come Lucky, the closet to Campbell’s Kingdom. It transpires that the villagers are either fans of his grandfather or have money owing to them, or are working for the dam construction company, who, unless he does find oil, will build the dam anyway. There are enough who still believe in his grandfather to revisit the testing results, especially once they find the originals had been tampered with – just one of the many tricks played on his grandfather to disprove him, and Bruce will expose further shady business practices.

It’s a real adventure – the Kingdom is remote – the snows only just clearing. Getting stuff up there is a problem. Then there is Jean, who used to look after his grandfather during the summer – it’s natural that Bruce will fall for her! As to whether they find oil, I couldn’t possibly say – but the climax is suitably apocalyptic. And will Bruce survive his previous terminal diagnosis – what do you think?

They made film of it in 1957, starring Dirk Bogarde as Campbell and Stanley Baker as Owen Morgan – the construction baddie. They couldn’t afford to film in Canada – so the Italian Dolomites stood in for the Rockies, and the rest was shot at Pinewood! I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Bogarde and James Robertson Justice came off the back of filming three Richard Gordon ‘Doctor’ movies, and it also featured Sid James!

However, I did enjoy the book again. Innes’ writing is engaging, and the sense of adventure is superb, as are the results of his research which fit into the story neatly, without blinding us with all the oil exploration terminology. I’d love to revisit some of his other novels. The Wreck of the Mary Deare being the most famous.

Source: Own copy. Vintage paperback, 301 pages.

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