Mister Pip
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones, published by Penguin Canada on September 29, 2008, is a novel set in a small village on Bougainville, a region affected by civil war. The story follows Matilda, a young girl who attends a school run by Mr. Watts, the only white man on the island. He introduces the children to Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, which becomes a source of solace for Matilda amid the turmoil surrounding her. The narrative explores her deep connection to Pip’s journey as she navigates the challenges of her environment.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of coming-of-age themes against a backdrop of historical conflict. As Matilda identifies with Pip, the story unfolds with the tension of rebel raids and the impact of war on her village. The novel delves into the power of storytelling, as Mr. Watts encourages the children to retell Pip’s tale from memory when their book is destroyed. This edition contains 240 pages and is presented in English, offering a unique perspective on resilience and imagination in the face of adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
Winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2007
Winner of the Montana Medal for Fiction 2007
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2007
Winner of the Kiriyama Writers’ Prize 2008
Lloyd Jones’ new novel is set mainly in a small village on Bougainville, a country torn apart by civil war.
Matilda attends the school set up by Mr Watts, the only white man on the island. By his own admission he’s not much of a teacher and proceeds to educate the children by reading them Great Expectations. Matilda falls in love with the novel, strongly identifying with Pip. The promise of the next chapter is what keeps her going; Pip’s story protects her from the horror of what is happening around her – helicopters menacing the skies above the village and rebel raids on the ground. When the rebels visit the village searching for any remaining men to join their cause, they discover the name Pip written in the sand and instigate a search for him. When Pip can’t be found the soldiers destroy the book. Mr Watts then encourages the children to retell the story from their memories. Then when the rebels invade the village, the teacher tells them a story which lasts seven nights, about a boy named Pip, and a convict . . .
Also available as an eBook
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Mister Pip” about?
Who is the author of “Mister Pip”?
When was “Mister Pip” published?
What is the ISBN for “Mister Pip”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
