River Thieves

by Michael Crummey

Book Overview

In a masterly debut, the award-winning poet and short-fiction writer Michael Crummey crafts a haunting novel set on the rugged coast of Newfoundland at the turn of the nineteenth century. Told in elegant, sensual prose, RIVER THIEVES is a richly imagined, historically provocative story about love, loss, and the heartbreaking compromises -- both personal and political -- that undermine lives.

In 1810, David Buchan, a naval officer, arrives...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618340718
• ISBN13: 9780618340712
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

An Impressive Debut

The poet in Crummey is very much in evidence throughout this book. His prose (which makes use here of arcane words and expressions unique to Newfoundland, as well as some of the surviving nouns of the Beothuk language) is as strong and often bleak as the island itself in his narrative of the early 18th century inhabitants and their violent relationship with the (literally) red indians, the Beothuk.Fact and fiction are seamlessly woven into a fascinating study of the bleak beauty of the place and the difficulties of the trapping/fishing lives of the residents--most of whom have found their way to the island from Great Britain. These "newcomers" are at great odds with the indigenous peoples: the Mi'kmaqs and the Beothuks; and the Mi'kmaqs consider themselves to be far superior to the Red Indians. The eternal pecking order.What makes this book so fascinating, aside from its fully fleshed, very human cast of characters and the neverending labor of their daily lives (as well as the wretched weather), is the decimation and, ultimately, the complete eradication of the Beothuks. From the modern perspective, genocide is an ongoing horror. But for those arriving on foreign, North American shores, it was a matter of killing to stake a claim to the land, killing out of fear or contempt, but killing and killing until those with the most legitimate claim simply ceased to exist.In dealing with many perspectives, the author gives us an insightful view of the rationales operating for every one of the characters in this book. It's a tour de force of collective viewpoints woven together to form an historical tapestry.Beautifully written by a writer with great feeling for his characters and for history, wrenching and sad, River Thieves is a splendid book.Most highly recommended.

Poetic Prose of "River Thieves" Steals the Breath Away

"River Thieves" by Michael Crummey captures the landscape of Newfoundland with poetic brilliance. The characters are misty and intense. The plot is a wonderful mix of Newfoundland history, adventurer's biography and beach book. I can't wait for the sequel.

A Heart Rending Experience

A wise adventure drama that will linger in your mind after you've read this sublime novel by an outstanding author. Like Wayne Johnston, Mr.Crummey have a deep love for this piercing cold Canadian state, and you will too after you read River Thieves.

very suspenseful

I'm fascinated by Native American history, particularly that of the Beothuk people. I bought this book thinking that it would be a pretty straightforward novelization of the Beothuk, and was pleased to discover that it was a real page-turner. The characters were interesting and the landscapes well drawn. I would recommend it to fiction readers and scholars of Native American (or Native Canadian, I suppose) history.

Stunning!

I've been a fan of Michael Crummey's poetry and stories for years and eagerly anticipated his first novel. I can't tell you how impressed I am by River Thieves. It's really a first-rate novel by an immensely talented writer. Crummey explores colonialism with a poet's keen eye. On top of that, River Thieves is simply a captivating read. Highly Recommended!