Books like The colony of unrequited dreams by Wayne Johnston
Set against the sprawling landscape of Newfoundland, Wayne Johnston’s novel charts the intertwined destinies of Joey Smallwood, a scholarship student with Dickensian dreams, and Sheilagh Fielding, a tart‑tongued journalist. Their paths collide when an anonymous letter to a local paper sparks political and social upheaval. Smallwood embarks on a powerful journey along the island’s railroads to unionize workers and shape the province’s future, while Fielding pens satirical column pieces, diaries, and a “Condensed History of Newfoundland” that counter the broader narrative. As Newfoundland moves toward autonomy, the novel explores their ambition, political idealism, and a doomed love that tests both their convictions and personal vows.
First publish date: 1998
Genre: Historical Fiction/20th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Wayne Johnston
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