First published 2017
Rockwell Kent abandons New York's art world for the rocky shores of Brigus, Newfoundland. The American painter arrives in this small fishing community before World War One begins, drawn by the Atlantic coastline and the presence of Arctic explorer Robert Bartlett. Kent brings his socialist politics, his wandering eye, and his certainty about his artistic genius. The locals watch this outsider with growing suspicion. His affairs and radical views make him enemies. When war breaks out, whispers spread that Kent might be working for the Germans. The artist who sought inspiration in this remote place finds himself trapped by small town gossip and wartime paranoia. Everyone knows everyone in Brigus, and Kent's every move becomes fodder for speculation. Winter writes in Kent's own voice, capturing his struggles with isolation, creativity, and the gap between his self image and how others see him.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, outsider
Setting: Brigus, Newfoundland
Period: World War One
384 pages · Paperback · Counterpoint
Content warnings: war