Items related to Mercy among the Children
Synopsis
Set in an isolated, wind-besieged house with bullet holes in the tarpaper walls, Richards's novel wonders whether goodness is merely a luxury.
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Review
Transpose Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure to New Brunswick's rugged Miramichi River. Surround Job with loose fists, malicious boots, and cold, gallon wine. Invite the Macbeths over for drinks. Add a lame dog named Scupper Pit and you've got the raw ingredients of David Adams Richards's Mercy Among the Children. Set in an isolated, wind-besieged house with bullet holes in the tarpaper walls, Richards's novel wonders-- pointedly, beautifully--whether goodness is merely a luxury.
At the age of 12, having borne more suffering in his child's body than any adult should endure, Sydney Henderson vows never to harm another human soul. Turning his back on the violent alcoholism of his upbringing, self-educated Sydney wins the honest respect of the beautiful Elly and the children they bear. Honest respect, however, is rarely a match for fear and base human opportunism. Manipulated, attacked, and abused by a small community eager for a scapegoat, Sydney loses his job, the health of his wife, and, most importantly, the respect of his son Lyle. "There is no worse flaw in man's character," Richards knows, "than that of wanting to belong."
The superb, controlled, and unapologetic Mercy Among the Children is nothing less than an inquiry into human strength. Richards uses the crack of ribs on a frigid night to remind us of the opportunistic populism of much so- called morality. Mercy, which shared Canada's premier fiction award, the Giller Prize, with Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost, combines the hound dog's attention to locale of fellow Maritimer Alistair MacLeod with the quotidian insight of countryman Timothy Findley's The Wars, especially its reminder that the emotions behind war also drive fights over who should scrub the dinner dishes. --Darryl Whetter
About the Author
David Adams Richards has won numerous awards for his fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Peggy, and their sons, John Thomas and Anton.
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- PublisherAnchor Canada
- Publication date2001
- ISBN 10 0224062034
- ISBN 13 9780224062039
- BindingPaperback
- Edition number1
- Number of pages371
- Rating
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Mercy Among the Children
Published by
Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, London, 2001
ISBN 10: 0224062034
ISBN 13: 9780224062039
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Joint winner (with Michael Ondaajte's Anil's Ghost) of the Giller Prize, Mercy Among the Children is reckoned by many to be the finest Canadian novel of 2000. The novel tells the story of Sydney Henderson and his son Lyle. As a young man, Sydney, believing he has accidentally killed a friend, makes a pact with God, promising never to harm another if the boy's life is spared. In the years that follow the almost pathologically gentle Sydney holds true to his promise - at terrible cost to himself and his family. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003237113
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Mercy Among the Children
Published by
Jonathan Cape Ltd 02/08/2001, 2001
ISBN 10: 0224062034
ISBN 13: 9780224062039
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Softcover
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
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Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780224062039
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Mercy Among the Children
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Jonathan Cape Ltd 02/08/2001, 2001
ISBN 10: 0224062034
ISBN 13: 9780224062039
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Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780224062039
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Mercy among the Children
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Mercy among the Children
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paperback. Condition: Very Good. Condition Notes: Clean, unmarked copy with some edge wear. Good binding. Dust jacket included if issued with one. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders. Seller Inventory # 1636551
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Mercy Among the Children
Published by
Jonathan Cape Ltd, London, 2001
ISBN 10: 0224062034
ISBN 13: 9780224062039
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First Edition
Seller: Darkwood Online T/A BooksinBulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. First Edition; First Printing. Light reading creases, light shelf wear, some foxing to endpapers and edges of reading block. ; First edition, first printing with full number line. Nice tight copy, no names inside. Cover photo by Calum Colvin. Heavy book and priced accordingly. ; 384 pages; the story of Sydney Henderson and his son Lyle. As a young man, Sydney, believing he has accidentally killed a friend, makes a pact with God, promising never to harm another if the boy's life is spared. In the years that follow the almost pathologically gentle Sydney holds true to his promise - at terrible cost to himself and his family. Trade PB. Seller Inventory # 29622
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Mercy among the Children
Published by
Jonathan Cape, Londond, England, 2001
ISBN 10: 0224062034
ISBN 13: 9780224062039
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Paperback
First Edition
Seller: BYTOWN BOOKERY, Vars, ON, Canada
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good+. First Edition. Trade Paperback. This is a Very Good + book with a solid binding and an unmarked text. Pages have tanning them, a black remainder mark to the bottom edges with a small sticker scar on the back cover. "Joint winner (with Michael Ondaajte's Anil's Ghost) of the Giller Prize, Mercy Among the Children is reckoned by many to be the finest Canadian novel of 2000. The novel tells the story of Sydney Henderson and his son Lyle. As a young man, Sydney, believing he has accidentally killed a friend, makes a pact with God, promising never to harm another if the boy's life is spared. In the years that follow the almost pathologically gentle Sydney holds true to his promise - at terrible cost to himself and his family." ; A Jonathon Cape Original; 9.10 X 6 X 1.40 inches; 371 pages. Seller Inventory # 18914
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Mercy among the Children
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Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 1.1. Seller Inventory # 0224062034-2-3
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Mercy among the Children
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Mercy Among the Children
Published by
Jonathan Cape 2001 Paperback, 2001
ISBN 10: 0224062034
ISBN 13: 9780224062039
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Softcover
Seller: Book Haven, Wellington, WLG, New Zealand
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Condition: Good. 371 pages. Seller Inventory # 1185265
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