by Jim Crace
First published 2013
Walter Thirsk wakes the morning after harvest expecting celebration and rest. Instead, two columns of smoke rise against the sky. One comes from fire damage at the master's outbuildings. The other signals newcomers camping at the village edge. The villagers suspect connection between these events and brace for trouble. But the real threat comes from a third stranger who maps and sketches their land. His presence signals changes that will destroy their ancient way of life. As economic forces close in, Walter watches his community unravel. The villagers turn suspicious and violent. Their pastoral world crumbles under pressure from outside interests. Crace captures the final days of a medieval village through Walter's eyes, showing how progress can shatter lives built on tradition.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, agriculture, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: community-unraveling, social-change
Setting: Village
Period: Medieval
282 pages · Kindle Edition · Nan A. Talese