Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2006. "Signed by the Author" sticker on front cover, and remants of adhesive just beside this sticker. A highly regarded novel by this Canadian author that re-imagines the true story of two men and a woman who were cast adrift on an ice floe after the 1872 Polaris expedition failed. 407 pages.. Signed by Author. Reprint. Trade Paperback. Near Fine..

Synopsis

This gripping novel of Arctic survival, brilliantly written by an author who has been described as “a young Ondaatje,” is based on one of the most remarkable events in polar exploration. In 1871, off the coast of Greenland, nineteen men, women, and children, voyaging on the Arctic explorer USS Polaris, were cast adrift on a large ice floe as their ship began to founder. Afterlands is the story of this small society of castaways—a white and a black American, five Germans, a Dane, a Swede, an Englishman, and two Inuit families—as they try to survive a six-month winter ordeal, struggling with the harsh elements and with one another, the group splintering into factions along ethnic and national lines. Steven Heighton provocatively fills in the blanks of the documented history of this event by focusing on the suspicions, the hunger-induced delusions, and the unrequited longings among three members of the group: Roland Kruger, an educated, witty, rebellious German seaman; Tukulito, or “Hannah,” the party's Inuit interpreter; and George Tyson, the American ranking officer, who later wrote an account of the experience that solidified his reputation as a hero while casting Kruger as the villain. Throughout the novel, Heighton incorporates actual passages from Tyson’s contentious account, then daringly imagines the aftermath of the ordeal, following Kruger, Tukulito, and Tyson as they attempt to move beyond their searing memories and resume their lives in the larger world. Combining the high drama of Arctic survival and the psychological intensity of modern theater, this beautifully written novel powerfully addresses themes of belonging, nationalism, and love in times of crisis. Steven Heighton’s first novel, The Shadow Boxer, was chosen as a 2002 Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly and has been published in five countries. He is also the author of several books of poetry and short fiction. His work has received awards in Britain and Canada, has been translated into eight languages, and has been internationally anthologized. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

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Details

Bookseller: Purpora Books (CA)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 20958
Title: Afterlands (Signed)
Author: Heighton, Steven
Format/Binding: Paperback
Book Condition: Used - Near Fine.
Edition: Reprint
ISBN 10: 0676976786
ISBN 13: 9780676976786
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Place of Publication: Toronto
Date Published: 2006

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About Purpora Books

Purpora Books is a full-time business specializing in literature first editions, signed copies, poetry broadsides and fine press. Over 50% of our inventory is devoted to Canadian authors. We are committed to finding and providing our customers the nicest and most interesting copies available. Our bookroom is open by appointment - please phone ahead. We are always interested in buying books, from single collectible items to complete libraries.

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Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Trade Paperback: Used to indicate any paperback book that is larger than a mass-market paperback and is often more similar in size to a hardcover...
Reprint: Any printing of a book which follows the original edition. By definition, a reprint is not a first edition.