The Englishman's Boy: A Novel - Softcover

Vanderhaeghe, Guy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312195443 ISBN 13: 9780312195441

Publisher: Picador, 1998

Synopsis

Winner of the Governor General's Award

Counterpointing the stories of the legendary Western cowboy Shorty McAdoo and Harry Vincent, the ambitious young screenwriter commissioned to retell his story in 1920s Hollywood, this novel reconstructs an epic journey through Montana into the Canadian plains, by a group of men pursuing their stolen horses.

The Englishman's Boy intelligently and creatively depicts an American West where greed and deception are tempered by honor and strength. As Richard Ford has noted, "Vanderhaeghe is simply a wonderful writer. The Englishman's Boy, spanning as it does two countries, two centuries, two views of history―the Canadian Wild West as 'imagined' by Hollywood―is a great accomplishment. Readers, I think, will find this book irresistible."

About this title

From the Publisher:

WINNER OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARD

Critical Praise for The Englishman's Boy:

"Guy Vanderhaeghe is simply a wonderful writer. The Englishman's Boy, spanning as it does two countries, two centuries, two views of history--the Canadian Wild West as 'imagined' by Hollywood--is a great accomplishment. Readers, I think, will find this book irresistible." --Richard Ford

"[A] fine new novel...Guy Vanderhaeghe deftly juxtaposes the events of two different time periods to dramatize his concern with history...by turns a western, a critique of Hollywood, and a novel of ideas." --John Motyka, The New York Times Book Review

"An epic tale that brings together the American West before the turn of the century with the Hollywood of the 1920s...Each segue from past to present to past again is a graceful little leap between subtly matched gestures and images." --Katharine Weber, Los Angeles Times

"Fascinating...Vanderhaeghe seamlessly alternates two interconnected stories...Masterful storytelling." --Entertainment Weekly

"A compelling yarn that delivers provocative intellectual content about the ways our tendency to mythologize history can prevent us from learning its lessons." --David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle

From the Back Cover:

“It is a wonder and a glory – written by a man who has plundered the language for all its treasures. The story of the Englishman’s boy and his journey into hell and back is absolutely riveting.”
–Timothy Findley

“The Englishman’s Boy is one of the finest historical novels ever written by a Canadian, an impossible-to-put-down adventure story that also packs some keen insights into the way civilization works....”
–Maclean’s

“A vital and important novel with a bitterly coruscating message at its heart. Read it now.”
–Edmonton Journal

“A great accomplishment.”
–Richard Ford

“A stunning performance. Highly enjoyable. I couldn’t put it down.”
–Mordecai Richler

“The canvas is broad, the writing is vivid, and the two story-lines are deftly interwoven to contrast cinematic ‘truth’ with history as it happened. An intense and original piece of writing.”
–The Bookseller (U.K.)

“A richly textured epic that passes with flying colors every test that could be applied for good storytelling.”
–Saskatoon StarPhoenix

“Characters and landscapes are inscribed on the mind’s eye in language both startling and lustrous.”
–Globe and Mail

“Vanderhaeghe succeeds at a daring act: he juggles style and stories with the skill of a master....”
–Financial Post

“There isn’t a dull moment.”
–Toronto Sun

“A fine piece of storytelling, which, like all serious works of literature, as it tells its tale connects us to timeless human themes.”
–Winnipeg Sun

“The Great Canadian Western.”
–Canadian Forum

“Thematically, this is a big book, an important book, about history and truth, brutality and lies.”
–Georgia Straight

“A compelling read.”
–Halifax Daily News

“Vanderhaeghe shows himself to be as fine a stylist as there is writing today.”
–Ottawa Citizen

About this edition

• Publisher: Picador
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0312195443
• ISBN 13: 9780312195441
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352