The law of dreams npr coverage of the law of dreams by peter behrens. A novel by peter behrens and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A boy on a lifechanging journey which lives in the mind long after the final page. Possibly the most powerful book ive read for many years but its neither pleasant nor comfortable. In his first novel, peter behrens writes about the famine and its consequences as if he were an eyewitness. Peter behrens is a phenomenal artist whose imagination and memory honors the lives of millions of the irish victims including his great grandparents who suffered under english domination, injustice, and cruelty for centuries. The law of dreams by peter behrens overdrive rakuten. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Fergus survives the loss of family, friends, and home, and is thrust out into the world to seek his future. Peter behrenss first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals award for fiction and has been published in nine languages.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. When first learning about the law of attraction beverly became torn between her religious upbringing and studying about universal laws. It is 1846, the height of the great hunger, and young fergus is forced to grow up fast. Published in 2006 by house of anansi press, it was the recipient of that years governor generals award for english language fiction plot overview. The law of dreams by peter behrens, paperback barnes. The law of dreams is structured around ferguss emotional and spiritual quest. The irish potato famine of the mid1840s killed an estimated half a million people and dislocated a million more. Peter behrens audio books, best sellers, author bio.
The law of dreams book by peter behrens thriftbooks. Peter behrens powerfully evokes the young mans struggle to wriggle free not only from the workhouse in which he becomes imprisoned, but from lingering emotional attachments to what has been lost. Peter behrenss bestselling novel is gorgeously written, homeric in scope, and haunting in its depiction of a young mans perilous journey from innocence to experience. The law of dreams steerforth by peter behrens tells of a young mans homeric passage from innocence to experience during the irish famine of 1847. We feel his sadness and love for all those he has lost, both man and animal, keenly. The law of dreams by peter behrens the resident judge. Sign me up to get more news about historical fiction books. Following the destruction of his home, he loses not only his. His debut novel, the law of dreams, won the 2006 governor generals award for english fiction. Fergus obrien, behrenss protagonist, seems to be no more than a teenager. The law of dreams is a historical fiction novel about the great famine of ireland by canadian author peter behrens. The law of dreams by peter behrens abebooks abebooks. The novel follows the young fergus obrien, who lives and works with his tenant family on a potato farm in ireland.
Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world. The law of dreams winner of the 2006 governor generals award. He endures a harrowing 40day journey across the north atlantic where he and the. Also 2 collection sof short stories, night driving macmillan and traveling light astoria. The law of dreams by peter behrens ebook 9781847676412 published by canongate 4 june 2009.
Peter behrens is a canadian novelist, screenwriter and short story writer. The law of dreams has 6 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The historical detail is spot on and the language is appropriately coarse and both combine to immerse the reader in the world of young fergus. The law of dreams book by peter behrens half price books. He is also the author of the more about peter behrens. Peter behrens first novel reflects his own familys experience, forced out of ireland by. The law of dreams by peter behrens and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The law of dreams follows fergus obrien from ireland to liverpool and wales during the great potat. A novel peter behrens steerforth july 21, 2009 the law of dreams tells the story of a young mans epic passage from innocence to experience during the great famine in ireland of 1847. Spanning approximately a year, the law of dreams is a journey from the mountains of ireland to liverpool, wales, montreal, and then onward to the u. When i opened peter behrenss the law of dreams, last month.
The law of dreams follows fergus obrien from ireland to liverpool and wales during the great potato famine of 1847, and then beyond to a harrowing atlantic crossing to. The law of dreams, inspired by the authors family history, puts a human face on this widespread poverty, famine, disease, and displacement. The law of dreams kindle edition by behrens, peter. Peter behrenss first novel, the law of dreams, won the governor generals award, canadas most prestigious book prize, and has been published in nine languages. Peter behrens continues the family saga he started with the law of dreams, the tale of fergus obrien, who fled the irish potato famine and came to montreal in the 1840s. The law of dreams traces fergus, a young boy orphaned through the irish potato famine, and made homeless by the eviction of the tenant farmers by the farm overseer. Published in 2006 by house of anansi press, it was the recipient of that years governor generals award for english language fiction. Peter behrens, quote from the law of dreams sooner or later everyone disguises themselves and where they have been and what they have done. The law of dreams by peter behrens canongate books.
Peter behrens born 1954 is a canadianamerican novelist, screenwriter and short story writer. The law of dreams tells the story of a young mans epic passage from innocence to experience during the great famine in ireland of 1847. Irish paupers flee famine and pestilence in screenwriter behrenss grim first novel. Behrens held a prestigious stegner fellowship at stanford university. The law of dreams ebook by peter behrens rakuten kobo. Throughout the book, he has a series of companions and protectors who. The law of dreams is the best literary adventure novel ive read since lonesome dove. The law of dreams is a historical fiction novel about the irish potato famine by canadian author peter behrens. Life burns hot, fergus thinks, and so do these pages. His debut novel, the law of dreams, won the 2006 governor generals award for english fiction, and was shortlisted for the rogers writers trust fiction prize, the commonwealth writers prize, the cba libris award for fiction book of the year, and the amazon. The law of dreams project gutenberg selfpublishing. In both books, much of the story centred on the character actually reaching the new colony rather than what happened once they arrived although less so in grenvilles book.
The law of dreams tells the story of a young mans epic passage. Peter behrens transports the reader to another time and place for a resonant, unforgettable experience. The law of dreams by peter behrens, 9781847670854, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Ron charles, a senior editor of the washington posts book world section, named it his favourite of 2006 and compared.
Peter behrenss bestselling novel is gorgeously written, homeric in scope, and haunting in its. Impelled by his great dream, peter behrens young irish hero survives the potato famine of 1847, an allout war with his landlord, the brutalities of life on the tramp, a railroad encampment, nineteenthcentury liverpool. On his odyssey through ireland and britain, and across the atlantic to the boston states, fergus is initiated to violence, sexual heat, and the glories and dangers of the industrial revolution. Powerful, sweeping, cinematic story from an awardwinning author. He is also the author of the novel carry me and two collections of short stories, night driving and travelling light. Browse peter behrenss bestselling audiobooks and newest titles.
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