The Dig by John Preston

First published in Great Britain in 2007; published by Other Press on April 19, 2016

The Dig is a fictionalized retelling of a famed archeological dig in Suffolk during 1939. The story takes place on property owned by Edith Pretty. Point of view changes from time to time as different characters narrate parts of the story from their own perspectives.

The most interesting character is Basil Brown, the self-taught archeologist Mrs. Pretty hired to search the burial mounds on her property for treasure. The first half of the novel consists of Basil digging around and his eventual discovery of a buried ship -- a shockingly large ship, larger and older than any found before.

When it becomes clear that Brown has uncovered an Anglo-Saxon royal burial site that may be filled with priceless antiquities, word travels fast. The novel’s second half is largely political, as the Ipswich Museum and the British Museum vie for control of the project, as does everyone else who can think of an excuse to share in the glory of discovery.

There is an elegant subtlety to the characters -- Brown digs a bomb shelter, knowing England is on the brink of war, while doing his best not to think about its purpose -- but perhaps they are too subtle. None of the characters leap from the page as fully realized beings, although the passion for discovery that drives archeologists is evident in key characters. In that regard, a woman named Peggy Piggott (who turns out to be Preston’s aunt) stands out as a pioneer among women who cast aside traditional roles for the joy of digging in the dirt.

The Dig is fascinating, but it might have worked better as a work of nonfiction. For example, the novel explores the conflicting claims of buried treasure ownership (does it belong to the British government or to the property owner?), a question that was resolved by a jury after an inquest. As interesting as the political issues are, John Preston develops the intrigue with only a modest degree of dramatic tension.

The story also seems a bit cursory. That makes it a quick read, but a nonfiction account would likely have fleshed out the story with a wealth of detail that Preston omits. Still, the story captures the time, place, and sense of wonder associated with the key archeological discovery in twentieth century England, and that’s more than enough to make The Dig a satisfying read.

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