The 53rd Parallel is the product of an author and a publishing house (Light Messages) that are located practically in my backyard in Durham, NC… but I swear I’m not biased in my assertion that this is a BEAUTIFUL book. It is a blessing to a reviewer to receive a book that is so gorgeously written, so full of compelling characters, and such finely crafted story.
Our tale begins in the 1950s in the beautiful countryside and villages of Galway, the setting of the famously filmed in Ireland John Wayne flick “The Quiet Man.” It is populated with hard-working village folk and dedicated IRA operatives – people who – right or wrong, pursue their lives with equal earnestness and fervor.
The story unexpectedly takes us across the sea to the pristine rivers and mountains of Canada, where our main characters Brian and Maureen hope to build The Great Lodge of Innish Cove, a place for wealthy, homesick Irishmen to fish and hunt in the wild places of Northern Ontario. They hire the native Ojibway, who have lived and fished on the English River for generations to serve as guides for their guests.
The Great Lodge holds much promise for the preservation of the river, but Maureen’s former connections with the IRA and the imminent construction of pulp mill upstream threaten to muddy the waters in figurative and very real ways.
It’s a sweeping tale that encompasses surface themes of environmentalism, Native American Relations within Canada, and more deeply, themes of sacrifice and redemption… and, really, it’s just a stunning piece of writing to read.
Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!
