Set against the harsh backdrop of early nineteenth-century Newfoundland, 'River Thieves' follows a sequence of expeditions made under the order of the British Crown to establish contact between the native Beothuk Indians and the settler communities. The fallout from the expeditions is devastating for all parties involved. The Beothuk vanish and the web of secrets guarded by the settlers for so long slowly begins to unravel.
Told in elegant, sensual prose, this is an enthralling historical novel of great passion and suspense, driven by an extraordinary cast of characters. The tragic extinction of the Beothuk and lives of the settlers are masterfully handled.
Michael Crummey is an important new voice in literary fiction with this debut. 'River Thieves' is a lyrical, haunting novel, told with startling eloquence and sensitivity.
