"Rarely does a historical novel capture the vernacular, imagery and excitement of an entire era like Gunter Swoboda's Mountains Of The Sea. As a surfer, historian and working professional Gunter has successfully synthesized his career, his chosen sport and his passion for adventure and writing into an engaging story of murder, intrigue, high-seas adventure, friendship and, ultimately, love. From its opening pages, Mountains Of The Sea ably transports the reader from the lofty realms of European aristocrats into the colorful, exotic and sometimes dangerous life of an intrepid foreigner in the Pacific Islands at the point of pre-colonial European contact. This is a novel that reads as both entertaining and educational. Extraordinary and masterful writing from a potent new voice in modern literature."-Tom Kamaki Linker, B.ED., M.A A watershed of epic proportions as Walter Beaumont faces the many moods of an ocean culture that is the center of the Hawaiian World and comes face to face with political intrigue, war and the most enigmatic experience for an English aristocrat-that of riding the giant swells of Hawai'i. Author Bio: Gunter O. Swoboda has invested more than thirty years of learning the art and culture of both ancient and modern surfing. His interest in Polynesian culture has taken him from his home on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia to the fabled islands of Hawai'i. He is a husband, father, friend, historian, psychologist and practicing psychotherapist in Mona Vale.
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I was born in Vienna, Austria, a landlocked country. Then my family and I migrated to Australia in the early seventies when I was twelve years old and settling on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, I immediately acclimatised to the outdoor lifestyle and forged a deep relationship with the ocean that focused on surfing.
From this grew an abiding passion and respect for the culture and history of the South Pacific. At university I studied philosophy and psychology and, becoming a counselling psychologist, forged a respected career as a therapist, coach and trainer in my practice on the Northern Beaches.
My ongoing interest in what makes us as humans excel has informed my continuing studies in philosophy and mythology and inspired me to pursue these concepts and ideas within the nature of storytelling. Four years ago, after an influential meeting in Los Angeles with Phil Goldfarb I began to devote more of my time and efforts to this interest in human stories, writing a high concept screen play from which I have adapted my debut novel Mountains of the Sea, which has just been published and released.
More recently I have been writing short plays one of which, Johnny doesn't live here anymore, won overwhelmingly the People's Choice in the second round of Wildcards.
Personally, my greatest achievement has been to be successfully married for over twenty-five years and raising two children to become well-adjusted and wonderful adults. I continue to explore my relationship to the sea, and when time allows I indulge my passion in music and reading.
From this grew an abiding passion and respect for the culture and history of the South Pacific. At university I studied philosophy and psychology and, becoming a counselling psychologist, forged a respected career as a therapist, coach and trainer in my practice on the Northern Beaches.
My ongoing interest in what makes us as humans excel has informed my continuing studies in philosophy and mythology and inspired me to pursue these concepts and ideas within the nature of storytelling. Four years ago, after an influential meeting in Los Angeles with Phil Goldfarb I began to devote more of my time and efforts to this interest in human stories, writing a high concept screen play from which I have adapted my debut novel Mountains of the Sea, which has just been published and released.
More recently I have been writing short plays one of which, Johnny doesn't live here anymore, won overwhelmingly the People's Choice in the second round of Wildcards.
Personally, my greatest achievement has been to be successfully married for over twenty-five years and raising two children to become well-adjusted and wonderful adults. I continue to explore my relationship to the sea, and when time allows I indulge my passion in music and reading.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dual Cultural Perspective,
This review is from: Mountains of the Sea (Hardcover)
Mountains of the Sea, by Gunter O. SwobodaGunter O. Swoboda's `Mountains of the Sea' begins in 1776 England, with Walter Beaumont wasting his privileged social position in a dissipated life of drinking, opium abuse, and whoring, making no use of his artistic talent. When the story ends, Walter is an accepted member of a Hawai'ian community on Oahu, a responsible and loving husband and father, honored for his skills as an artist, warrior, and surfer. How his life is transformed is the meat of Swoboda's lively and emotional tale. The author stumbles slightly at the outset by describing June 14, 1776 as a "midsummer night" instead of late spring, but moves swiftly to paint the background of Walter's life and the motives for his being sent to sea with the famous English explorer Captain James Cook. It is interesting to encounter a young Lieutenant William Bligh among Cook's officers, untainted by the later infamy that is now associated with him. Once Walter arrives with Cook and his crew in the Pacific, Swoboda is in his element. The action speeds up, and the Tahitian and Hawai'ian history, society, and characters take on depth and realism. It's easy to be swept up in Walter's exhilaration of first observing and later learning to surf, to ride the "mountains of the sea" - not just a thrill of accomplishment but of rising beyond oneself and becoming a part of nature's power and rhythms. I personally wish Swoboda had developed more of the meanings of Walter's dreams and encounters with Pele, which also fascinate the Tahitian and Hawai'ian characters, but this doesn't impede the story's enjoyment or importance. The author has crafted a story that allows readers to understand the early conflicts between Europeans and Pacific Islanders from both perspectives, and for this alone it is worth following Walter in his life-changing adventure. Cheryl Ann Toliver, author of Wilderness Refuge: A Prophet's Kingdom [....]
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review by Angelo Thomas Crapanzano,
By
This review is from: Mountains of the Sea (Hardcover)
Mountains of the Sea is a heart pounding thrilling journey to the exotic South Sea Islands. The first chapter had me concerned because it described life in a house of ill repute. However, my concerns were dispelled as the journey began with the detailed and realistic sea adventure. It brought back memories of my first sea experience and sea sickness. The author next painted such a detailed and informative life on the Islands that I forgot that it was a fictional novel and not an historical account. The details and knowledge portrayed by the author made me wonder if he was born in the Islands.I got so involved in the struggles of Walter Beaumont's attempts to become accepted into the culture that I found myself feeling I was also in the story, wishing with him. I became so emotionally involved in the story that I became fearful when Walter began romancing Lani, the girl wanted by the frightful and powerful warrior Koa. I don't remember the last time I became emotionally involved in a story. When I finished the novel I was so drained that I couldn't do anything else the rest of the day. I am sure that I will read Mountains of the Sea again some day.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Expert Writer Creates A Meaningful Enjoyable Tale,
This review is from: Mountains of the Sea (Hardcover)
There are many strengths to this story, its plot is exciting, descriptions impeccable and educational in regards to late 18th Century life both European and that of Pacific Islanders, and the journey's inherent mysticism keeps the reader turning pages through dramatic action-oriented situations that will have you at once at attention, at other times more reflective and genuine in moment accomplished through characters colorful, interesting; round, and you will embrace them.Of course the cornerstone of this brilliant novel lay in its protagonist, Lord Walter Beaumont, and his brilliant character development as he transforms from a spoiled, abused, naïve goodhearted prodigal son trapped in an abusive elitist family offering a life only of the short stick, into a well travelled, experienced, mature and gutsy ironical hero. If you're looking to enjoy a spectacular novel look no further before you consider Mountains of the Sea by Gunter O. Swoboda. He is an expert storyteller with an interesting, exciting and worthy tale to share. Mountains of the Sea will captivate the reader at Chapter One. Al Carrozza, Author of Universal Enzyme Universal Enzyme Part I
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