Exile: A Novel

by Ann Ireland

Overview

Short-listed for the 2002 Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction and the 2002 Roger Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

Rescued from the dangers he faces in a Latin American military dictatorship, writer Carlos Romero Estevez is given a new life in Vancouver. His rescuers, a benevolent group devoted to aiding oppressed writers, believe they've found a poster-boy. Carlos thinks he's found a new life, new freedom, and new, powerful friends. But soon everyone's illusions are dispelled, and Carlos finds life in exile to be a new kind of prison.

Now available in trade paperback format for the first time, Exile is the work of an author in full control of her considerable talents. Award-winning author Ann Ireland is the author of two previous novels: A Certain Mr. Takahashi (1985 - now available from The Dundurn Group), and The Instructor (1996). She teaches at Ryerson University, and is a past-president of PEN Canada.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770707627
Publisher:	Dundurn Press
Publication date:	04/01/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	302
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Ann Ireland is the award-winning author of two novels, A Certain Mr. Takahashi (which was made into the feature film, The Pianist), and The Instructor. She teaches at Ryerson Polytechnic University where she coordinates the Writing program in Continuing Education. She is a past-president of PEN Canada.

Ann Ireland was the author of A Certain Mr. Takahashi (winner of the Seal First Novel Award), and Exile (shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize). The first edition of her novel The Instructor was a finalist for the Ontario Trillium Award.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"(Ireland's) characters are delightfully stereotypical, and she playfully puts people's prejudices and assumptions on display."

Editorial Reviews

Her characters are delightfully stereotypical, and she playfully puts people's prejudices and assumptions on display. As past president of PEN Canada, Ireland has cleverly and cheekily turned the work of that organization into folly, earning her a deserved nomination for a Governor General's Award for fiction.

The Calgary Herald - Danyael Halprin

It is a reflection of the strength of a novel.

The Toronto Star - Ryan Bigge

This book will touch a nerve in the writing community. Not only does it reveal some of the motives of First World political networks, but it also examines cultural correctness and the universality of real freedom. Exile is not only a good read, it's a good-for-you read, particularly those given to benevolent acts of mercy.

The Edmonton Journal - Margaret Macpherson

Exile is social commentary at its subtle and witty best.

The Vancouver Sun - Doretta Lau

This is a fable that feels very real.

Eye Weekly - Alex Bozikovic

"This is a wise, funny, sad, and compassionate book. Carlos's chagrin and pain are palpable, but Ireland holds out hope that as a clever man with a talent, he may transcend his shallow past and desperate present."

Quill & Quire - Maureen Garvie

In the hands of a lesser writer, the broad strokes might simply have betrayed a lack of craft. But here, this deficit of details read more like a clever stylistic device used by a writer absolutely in charge of her tools. And there's no mistaking Ireland's talent.

The Gazette - Skidmore

Ireland's prose is intelligent, witty and subversive.

National Post

Exile is a brilliant tour de force, a refreshing antidote to the flag-waving fictions of multiculturalism.

University of Toronto Quarterly

Ireland's prose creates a vivid character in the flawed figure of Carlosand Ireland has deep insight into the lives of exiles.

Now Magazine

Ireland has written one of the year's best novels, a witty satire on cross-cultural expectations, the distances between people, and the frailty of good intentions.

Uptown Magazine - Quentin Mills-Fenn

Exile is a tour de force. I haven't been so amused and appaled by a fictional character since reading Vladimir Nabokov's Pnin.

The Hamilton Spectator - Susan Evans Shaw

Exile is a brilliant tour de force, a refreshing antidote to the flag-waving fictions of multiculturalism.

Universityof Toronto Quarterly

In the hands of a lesser writer, the broad strokes might simply have betrayed a lack of craft. But here, this deficit of details read more like a clever stylistic device used by a writer absolutely in charge of her tools. And there's no mistaking Ireland's talent.

The Gazette - Skidmore

Ireland's stint as president of PEN Canada undoubtedly opened her eyes to the tension between the artistic and political lives of writers around the world and the desire of Canadian cultural community to help (but only according to our rather bland and flat-footed rules). She paints these two solitudes with great wit and cunning observation.

Browyn Drainie

Ireland's prose creates a vivid character in the flawed figure of Carlosand Ireland has deep insight into the lives of exiles.

From the Publisher