Joseph Boyden explores themes of First Nations heritage and culture, drawing from his Irish, Scottish, and Métis roots. His prose often delves into the complex interplay between tradition and modernity, examining the impacts of history on contemporary lives. Boyden's style is marked by its strong atmosphere and profound insight into character psychology. His works are valued for their authentic portrayal and narrative power.
The stories of an American Indian sniper caught up in the Great War and of his aunt, one of the last Cree Indians to live off the land, are intertwined in a mesmerising journey as they travel home over three days
A mesmerizing epic set in the wilds of 17th century North America, from a Giller Prize-winning author.
Will Bird is a legendary Cree bush pilot, now lying in a coma in a hospital. His niece, Annie, has returned to sit by his side. Broken in different ways, the two communicate in unspoken kinship, and the story that unfolds is rife with heartbreak, fierce love, ancient feuds, and the bonds that hold a family, and a people, together. As Will and Annie reveal their secrets -- the tragic betrayal that cost Will his family; Annie's search for her missing sister, the famous model Suzanne -- a remarkable saga takes shape. From the bush country of Northern Ontario to the drug-fueled glamour of the Manhattan club scene, Boyden tracks his characters with a keen eye for detail and a rare empathy for the empty places concealed within the heart. An unforgettable novel of Aboriginal life amid the dangers and harsh beauty of forest and city Through Black Spruce establishes Boyden as a writer of startling originality and uncommon power.
Chanie Wenjack je indián z kmene Odžibvejů. Stejně jako nespočet jemu podobných kluků a holek byl v útlém věku odebrán rodičům a poslán na převýchovu do takzvané indiánské internátní školy stovky kilometrů od domova. Cizí prostředí školy a kruté zacházení ze strany učitelů vyhnalo Chanieho a jeho dva spolužáky jednoho pozdně říjnového odpoledne na útěk. Jejich snahu o návrat do ztraceného domova sledujeme nejen očima samotného Chanieho, ale také prostřednictvím manitou, kteří na sebe berou různé zvířecí podoby a doprovázejí chlapce na jejich strastiplné pouti.