Sweetland

Sweetland by Michael Crummey, published by Doubleday Canada on June 30, 2015, is a literary work that explores the lives of the inhabitants of a remote island in Newfoundland. Spanning 400 pages, the narrative follows Moses Sweetland, who faces the impending resettlement of his community after twelve generations of shared history. As the islanders are offered compensation to leave, Moses grapples with his deep-rooted sense of belonging and the memories of his past, ultimately deciding to remain on the island despite the pressures from family and friends.
In this poignant saga, readers will encounter themes of isolation, memory, and resilience as Moses navigates the challenges of survival on the deserted island. The story delves into his internal struggles and the haunting presence of the island’s former residents, whose memories linger in the landscape. As he confronts the elements and his dwindling resources, Sweetland’s journey reflects the complexities of attachment to place and the human spirit’s endurance in the face of change.
Official synopsis Publisher
For twelve generations the inhabitants of a remote island in Newfoundland have lived and died together. Now, in the second decade of the 21st century, they are facing resettlement, and each has been offered a generous compensation package to leave. But the money is offered with a proviso: everyone has to go.
But Moses Sweetland chooses to stay alone. Motivated in part by a sense of history and belonging, haunted by memories of the short and lonely time he spent away from his home as a younger man, and concerned that his somewhat eccentric great-nephew will wilt on the mainland, Moses refuses to leave. But in the face of determined, sometimes violent, opposition from his family and his friends, Sweetland is eventually swayed to sign on to the government’s plan. Then a tragic accident prompts him to fake his own death and stay on the deserted island. As he manages a desperately diminishing food supply, and battles against the ravages of weather, Sweetland finds himself in the company of the vibrant ghosts of the former islanders, whose porch lights still seem to turn on at night.
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