Wooden Sword (New Canadian library ; no. 97)

Before picking up this book I had never heard of Edward McCourt. According to an article from Studies in Canadian Literature by Winnifred Bogaards, that is the usual experience. As she says "Edward McCourt is one of the most prolific and yet unrecognized of Canadian writers." Based on this book I say that is a shame.

Steven is a professor in English literature at an unnamed prairie university (which is most probably the University of Saskatchewan where McCourt taught). He fought in Northern Africa in World War II but he can hardly remember anything about that period. He repeatedly dreams about walking in the desert and having a grey cloud advance towards him which terrifies him. This dream has caused him to withdraw from his wife, Ruth, show more and have problems with his teaching and writing. This book examines his fight to regain his memory and his life.

I couldn't find any mention that McCourt fought in the war so that makes this book all the more amazing. His descriptions of the horror of war and the longlasting effects were completely believable. I felt like I was there as he remembers holding a pass with people dying all around him. Similarily the evocation of the nightmare that Steven has repeatedly was filled with menace and horror.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Canadian literature. show less