True North A Novel
True North A Novel by Jim Harrison, published by Grove Press in 2004, is a literary work that explores the complex dynamics of family life and the impact of legacy. Spanning 388 pages, this novel follows David Burkett, the heir to a family of wealthy timber barons, as he grapples with the destructive legacy left by his father and the emotional scars of his upbringing. The narrative delves into themes of personal violation and environmental degradation, set against the backdrop of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of characters, including David’s sister Cynthia, who challenges family norms, and the courageous women who influence David’s journey toward self-discovery. The story addresses the consequences of familial betrayal and the quest for justice, all while reflecting on the broader implications of their family’s actions on the environment and the working people who contributed to their wealth. True North presents a profound exploration of roots and redemption, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of heritage and responsibility.
Official synopsis Publisher
An epic tale that pits a son against the legacy of his family’s desecration of the earth, and his own father’s more personal violations, Jim Harrison’s True North is a beautiful and moving novel that speaks to the territory in our hearts that calls us back to our roots.
The scion of a family of wealthy timber barons, David Burkett has grown up with a father who is a malevolent force and a mother made vague and numb by alcohol and pills. He and his sister Cynthia, a firecracker who scandalizes the family at fourteen by taking up with the son of their Finnish-Native American gardener, are mostly left to make their own way. As David comes to adulthood-often guided and enlightened by the unforgettable, intractable, courageous women he loves-he realizes he must come to terms with his forefathers’ rapacious destruction of the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as well as the working people who made their wealth possible.
Jim Harrison has given us a family tragedy of betrayal, amends, and justice for the worst sins. True North is a bravura performance from one of our finest writers, accomplished with deep humanity, humor, and redemptive soul.
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