The Englishman’s Boy

The Englishman’s Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe, published by Grove Press in 2009, is a historical fiction novel that explores the complexities of the American West. This edition spans 352 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Damon Ira Chance, a Hollywood studio owner in the 1920s, who is determined to create films that reflect American history. He enlists the help of screenwriter Harry Vincent to track down Shorty McAdoo, a former buffalo and now a bit player in Westerns, to retell his story.
Readers will find a richly textured exploration of themes such as power, greed, and the allure of dreams. The novel intricately weaves together elements of the Western genre with a focus on the performing arts, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of history and cinema. Vanderhaeghe’s storytelling presents an original character study set against a backdrop of honor and deception, making The Englishman’s Boy a significant addition to the literary landscape.
Official synopsis Publisher
Originally published in 1996, The Englishman’s Boy is the first in a Guy Vanderhaeghe trilogy that includes the nationally best-selling novel The Last Crossing, with the third book due to be published next year. By far his most successful book in his native Canada, The Englishman’s Boy expertly depicts an American West where greed and deception act side by side with honor and strength. In 1920s Hollywood, elusive movie studio owner Damon Ira Chance is obsessed with making pictures rooted in American history and experience, with the poetry of fact. So when he discovers that one of the most popular bit players in the Westerns is a real-life tin god–the last buffalo of the old West, Shorty McAdoo–he commissions an ambitious young screenwriter named Harry Vincent to hunt Shorty down and retell his story. Richly textured and evocative, this is an unforgettable story about power, greed, and the pull of dreams. At once an intensely original character study and a hugely entertaining page-turner, The Englishman’s Boy is a gritty, resonant novel of timeless beauty and insight.
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