Expertly weaving together the stories of Frederick Douglas's travels to Ireland to spread the abolitionist movement in 1845; Jack Alcock and Teddy Brown's first transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to Ireland in 1919 and Senator George Mitchell's assignment in Ireland in 1995 to help broker peace, Colum McCann delivers a brilliant masterpiece in TransAtlantic.
This is a novel about human connections. Four generations of women have their own histories woven with those of Douglas, Brown and Mitchell as they migrate back and forth across the sea from Ireland to America and back again. It is the history of lands of hunger, poverty, violence, peace and hope. It is rich with detail but careful not to detract from the characters and their stories. There are a multitude of overlapping themes as in any vibrant tapestry. If college students studying contemporary literature aren't reading and discussing TransAtlantic by next year, I will be shocked.
McCann is an absolutely genius writer who has created a living, breathing novel both entertaining and profound.
Look for TransAtlantic by Colum McCann and published by Random House to hit book store shelves next week.
** I received a complimentary copy of TransAtlantic in exchange for an honest review. No additional compensation was received. **
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1 comment:
Sounds wonderful. This was already on my to-read list, but it just ticked up a few notches thanks to your review. Thanks!
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