Book Review: “The Longbow, The Schooner, and the Violin”
“The Longbow, The Schooner, and the Violin” Wood and Human Achievement. Marq De Villiers. Sutherland House 2022. ISBN 978-1989555590 (307 pages)
I got a call last January from a pastor friend who said he had just read a book that was inspiring him to develop a four-part sermon series that he was calling “The Theology of Wood”, and as part of his preparations, could he come to my shop and immerse himself in wood? Of course he could, but the book piqued my interest and so I put it on hold in the library.
Having read the book now, I thought other woodworkers as well as those fascinated by wood might be interested in reading it. Yes, it does devote many pages each to the longbow (the medieval weapon of mass destruction) as well as to the schooner (the apex of wind driven ships) and the violin (an instrument “in the best hands…capable of teasing out every emotion in the wide human catalogue”). However, interspersed between these three chapters are other tree related discussions. He begins with the evolution of “proto-trees” of 420 million years ago and their eventual growth into trees that we can recognize today. He then tells us about the tree itself, its composition and functioning. Another chapter talks about extreme trees – extremely large, extremely old (evolutionarily speaking), extremely aged, and other oddities among trees.
Other chapters teach about forest uses and introduce the reader to tribes that live in forests and use the forest to provide their needs for living. We are also introduced to various amazing forests around the world, most of which are threatened and diminishing. De Villiers also shows us what woods are best for a large range of uses, from making charcoal, to making medicines, to making paper, to making clothing, and several pages to making furniture. Here I had to question his real knowledge of furniture making. On page 188 he says: “Standard hardwood veneers are one-eighth of an inch thick (three millimeters) although with sophisticated rotary slicing machines that can reduce all the way down to one-twenty-fourth of an inch (one millimetre)”. My experience of buying veneers tells me that 1/42 of an inch thick is much more common with even thinner veneers being produced.
The latter part of the book deals with his views on the future of forest and trees and has much to say to us. An easy-to-read and highly recommended book. And the sermon series? I listened to them on YouTube and enjoyed them. Here are the links if you are interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV3NOPguhLs (wood as a marvel of creation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfdskTTOnA (wood used for evil by man – the longbow)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM-6wp3WtnM (wood used creatively by man)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTC_4uwJnlA (wood used to bring glory - the violin)
Full disclosure – I have no affiliation with Marda Loop Church, but the pastor did consult with me for week one and especially for week three.
Herm Stolte