Treasure by Kim Fielding

Narrated by Joel Leslie

I so enjoyed listening to Kim Fielding’s Farview a few weeks ago that I decided to back-track and listen to the novella that preceded it, Treasure. It’s a little gem of a tale that introduces listeners to the magical world of Greynox and Croftwell with its imps and wizards and dragon-drawn carriages

Julian Massey – a quiet, bookish young man who has suffered from poor health all his life – is sent by his family to the seaside town of Urchin Cove in order to take advantage of the restorative effects of the fresh, sea air. When he arrives at the holiday cottage rented for him, Julian is at something of a loss; he’s never had to look after himself before, so has to learn how to do simple tasks very quickly (I have to say that I found it odd he was sent there alone given his family’s worries for his health). But he does learn, surprising himself with the sense of achievement he feels and enjoying his new-found freedom from his family’s constant and suffocating concern, his books and his occasional chat with the quirky inhabitants of the nearby village. It’s not long before Julian begins to feel the benefit of the change of environment and the exercise.

He’s taking a walk on the beach the morning after a terrible storm when he sees what he first believes to be a bundle of rags lying on the sand; on closer inspection it turns out to be the body of a man. Having ascertained the man is still – if barely – alive, Julian somehow drags/carries him back to the cottage where he sees to the man’s wounds as best he can, cleans him up and makes him comfortable in his own bed, nursing the stranger through a bad fever. When the man eventually comes round, he tells Julian his story, giving his name as Kit Archer and telling him that after the death of his lover some years before, he joined the crew of a pirate ship well known in the village for plundering their shores – and that he’s stolen (and hidden) a treasure of great value from the pirate captain, who is now out for his blood.

Kit’s insistence that he’s a thief and a no-good scoundrel does nothing to deter Julian’s growing interest in him, however, as he finds himself feeling things for Kit that he’s never allowed himself to feel for anyone before. He’s long been aware that he’s attracted to men and has always believed it was something to be ashamed of, yet finds it impossible to be ashamed of his growing feelings for Kit.

Treasure packs a lot into its four hour running time. Alongside Julian’s journey of self-discovery and his romance with Kit, there’s danger and a bit of swashbuckling adventure before we get to the well-deserved HEA. The setting is well evoked and the story is beautifully written – if a little flowery in places – but Kit’s character is somewhat under-developed, and while it makes sense that Julian would fall for Kit quite quickly, the reverse isn’t true, especially as it at first seems Kit is still mourning his lost love. But I liked the way that getting to know each other and falling in love enables both men to find things within themselves they’ve never before realised they possess; Julian gives Kit a new sense of purpose, a desire to stop running and learn to be a better man, and learning to look after first himself, and then Kit, sees Julian gaining confidence in his abilities and discovering that he’s so much stronger than anyone – including himself – has ever given him credit for.

Whenever I listen to Joel Leslie, I know I can sit back and relax, secure in the knowledge that the narration will be both technically accomplished and well-acted with close attention paid to the emotional content of the story. Mr. Leslie performs with his customary skill and panache, using a considerable array of tone and accent to portray a small but distinctive cast of characters, from Julian’s landlady, the wonderful Mrs. Crabbottom, to the local wizard, and the dread Captain Booth. His characterisation of Julian is simply perfect, expertly capturing his innate kindness, his determination and his tenacity, and you can hear the wonder in his voice as he learns that it’s not wrong for him to love as he desires.

Even though there were a few small things that didn’t quite work for me (the ending feels overly convenient and Julian’s family just seem to disappear from the picture), Treasure is a charming, whimsical and expertly narrated story of growth, redemption and love, that’s definitely worth considering when you’re in the mood for something short and sweet.

Caz