The Big Why A Novel
The Big Why, a novel by Michael Winter, is published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA and was released on January 24, 2006. This first edition spans 376 pages and is presented in English. The narrative centers on a pivotal year in the life of American artist Rockwell Kent, who, in 1914, leaves New York City for Brigus, Newfoundland, seeking inspiration and a simpler life with his family. As a socialist and a philanderer, Kent’s move is motivated by his admiration for the rugged Atlantic coast and the influence of Arctic explorer Robert Bartlett. However, his presence in the small town brings unexpected challenges as he becomes a controversial figure amid the backdrop of impending war.
Readers will find a rich exploration of Kent’s character and the dynamics of a close-knit community grappling with suspicion and change. The novel delves into themes of notoriety, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, all while reflecting on the historical context of the time. Through Kent’s voice, Winter offers a thoughtful examination of what defines exceptional individuals and the societal pressures they face. This edition invites readers to engage with a historical narrative that intertwines personal and communal struggles against the backdrop of a world on the brink of conflict.
Official synopsis Publisher
Michael Winter’s powerful new novel, The Big Why, brilliantly fictionalizes a pivotal year in the life of celebrated American artist Rockwell Kent. In 1914, at the age of thirty, Kent decides to escape the superficial world of New York City and move to Brigus, Newfoundland, with his wife and three children to follow a few months later. A socialist and a philanderer, certain in the greatness of his work, he is drawn north by a fascination for the rocky Atlantic coast and by the example of Brigus’s other well-known resident, fabled Arctic explorer Robert Bartlett. But once in Newfoundland, Kent discovers that notoriety is even easier to achieve in a small town than in New York. As events come to a head both internationally and domestically and the war begins, Kent becomes a polarizing figure in this intimate, impoverished community, where everyone knows everyone and any outsider is suspect, possibly even a German spy. Writing in Kent’s voice, Michael Winter delivers a passionate, witty, and cerebral exploration of what makes exceptional individuals who they are�and why.
Shortlisted for the Trillium Award
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