Audiobook Review: The Weight of Smoke by George Robert Minkoff

Historical fiction is a genre founded on making the past come alive, and few authors in recent memory have done that with the skill of George Robert Minkoff, the masterful author of The Weight of Smoke. This is the first book in a trilogy that dives into the legend of Captain John Smith and the fascinating mythos surrounding the British Empire and its beginnings, and this audiobook brings alive the past in riveting detail. Blurring the lines between historical fiction and historical fact through linguistic acrobatics alone, it is impossible not to be drawn into this gripping slice of history.

While most people learn about Captain John Smith and some of his exploits in high school history classrooms, or perhaps even through Disney’s animated eye, this book is a probing and phenomenally impressive book that peels back the rote facade of this individual and reveals the deeper self-doubt and raw humanity that more aptly characterized him. Smith was a man at the center of a bold and uncertain future, on the very edge of an unknown land, with threats looming on every side.

Despite now being one of the most memorable figures in English history, John Smith wasn’t thought of in that way at the time, and this narrative encapsulates the desperation and isolation he often experienced. The frequent tangents into the adventures of Sir Francis Drake seem to mirror the way he looks at his own life, and stimulate his musing on the impact his existence may have on the course of history. This entire book is a reflection on legacy, tradition, religion, culture, memory and morality, making it an unexpectedly hard-hitting story, regardless of your typical genre preferences.

The novel recounts the first nascent steps that would lead to America, the fumbling decisions that laid the groundwork for the belief systems and attitudes of those who would come after. The classic figures from this period of history make their appearances – namely Pocahontas and her father, Powhatan – and readers get greater insight to the delicate peace established between the settlers and the Native Americans all those years ago, as well as the tragedies that still echo through America today.

However, this immersive and impressive book far exceeds the basic stories laid out in textbooks; there is a richness of language that borders on poetry. Given that the story is laid out as a first-person account directly from Cap. John Smith, the somewhat anachronistic language can be forgiven, while the stoic tone of the narrator helps to hammer home the import described in these pages. The reader does veer into the monotone at times, but the prose itself makes up for that, and in fact may work better read aloud than read as text, given the complexity of the language.

Those expecting an easy listen, however, may want to look elsewhere. A great deal of historical fiction is written for escapism, but this book does not follow that path. It is a worthy challenge from the very start, particularly if you are a listener eager to unpack the beauty of words and unravel ever-present metaphors that seem torn from another age of writing. The audio can be dense, and there is arguably a dearth of plot progression, again due to the personal form of the writing, but the prose is delicious to enjoy, meticulously chosen to feel appropriate for the time. Minkoff is an incredible storyteller and a gifted writer, one who is unafraid to lose himself in descriptions, allowing the mind of his narrator to sincerely spill out for listeners to simmer in.

Some people may stumble at the language of the prose, and Minkoff should be careful not to wind into esotericism with his allusions, but overall, The Weight of Smoke tears open the fabric of history and permits readers to passively stroll through the Jamestown colony during its first two dynamic decades. Any author who can create a world with such stunning authenticity is allowed to have his verbiage occasionally veer into the verbose, making this novel highly recommended whatever the format.