The Englishman’s Boy
Sometimes, good people make bad mistakes. Every country, regardless of how flawless its reputation may be. Germany was party to the deaths of millions of Jews, America killed just as many Japanese, and Canada caused enormous atrocities to Aboriginal peoples. The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe explores one of Canada's darkest moments, the Cypress Hills Massacre, during which a group of innocent Indians were slaughtered (Goldring n.p.). The book follows Harry Vincent, an aspiring writer, as he searches for an illusive man named Shorty McAdoo and listens to tales of Shorty's past which reveal that he was there during the massacre and followed the murderers, a group called the Wolfers, led by a cowboy by the name of Tom …show more content…
Wiley makes use of his gun training to kill Chance at the end of the book, which is a great choice separating it from other narratives, as it is not any of the main heroes who does it. Instead, it is the middle man. He makes a choice, and acts on it. Another example brings us back to the beginning of the book, when Chance is introduced. He talks about what he believes in and goes on to become an important recurring character. At first, the reader may think he is just a catalyst for Harry’s half of the narrative, but towards the end, he becomes more than that - He becomes a villain. He believes a different truth about the events of the 1870s, and Harry, Shorty, and most importantly, Wiley, disagree with the movie he wants to make, one that would make Tom out to be the hero. Wiley goes to the premiere, and what results is the aforementioned shooting. A seemingly small character comes back at the end, completing the Chekov’s Gun …show more content…
It is written expertly by a seasoned author in a way that is nearly impossible to replicate. Vanderhaeghe makes excellent word choice, with one or two words a page that many readers may not even recognize, but that certainly does not ruin the story - It just enhances it, using creative descriptions with the intention of immersion. Like many great writers like Stephen King and Ray Bradbury, he uses his skill in diction to fully immerse the reader in the world his story takes place in. He takes great pride in its ability to engross the reader in not one, but two massive worlds with a profusion of history behind
Sometimes, good people make bad mistakes. Every country, regardless of how flawless its reputation may be. Germany was party to the deaths of millions of Jews, America killed just as many Japanese, and Canada caused enormous atrocities to Aboriginal peoples. The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe explores one of Canada's darkest moments, the Cypress Hills Massacre, during which a group of innocent Indians were slaughtered (Goldring n.p.). The book follows Harry Vincent, an aspiring writer, as he searches for an illusive man named Shorty McAdoo and listens to tales of Shorty's past which reveal that he was there during the massacre and followed the murderers, a group called the Wolfers, led by a cowboy by the name of Tom …show more content…
Wiley makes use of his gun training to kill Chance at the end of the book, which is a great choice separating it from other narratives, as it is not any of the main heroes who does it. Instead, it is the middle man. He makes a choice, and acts on it. Another example brings us back to the beginning of the book, when Chance is introduced. He talks about what he believes in and goes on to become an important recurring character. At first, the reader may think he is just a catalyst for Harry’s half of the narrative, but towards the end, he becomes more than that - He becomes a villain. He believes a different truth about the events of the 1870s, and Harry, Shorty, and most importantly, Wiley, disagree with the movie he wants to make, one that would make Tom out to be the hero. Wiley goes to the premiere, and what results is the aforementioned shooting. A seemingly small character comes back at the end, completing the Chekov’s Gun …show more content…
It is written expertly by a seasoned author in a way that is nearly impossible to replicate. Vanderhaeghe makes excellent word choice, with one or two words a page that many readers may not even recognize, but that certainly does not ruin the story - It just enhances it, using creative descriptions with the intention of immersion. Like many great writers like Stephen King and Ray Bradbury, he uses his skill in diction to fully immerse the reader in the world his story takes place in. He takes great pride in its ability to engross the reader in not one, but two massive worlds with a profusion of history behind