Four Souls - Softcover

Erdrich, Louise

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007212275 ISBN 13: 9780007212279

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2010

Synopsis

A stunning novel that explores the things that can complicate revenge – like falling for the man you hate – from the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction 2012

Seeking revenge on the lumber baron who has stripped her reservation, Fleur Pillager takes her mother's name, Four Souls, for strength and walks from her Ojibwe reservation to the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. But revenge is never simple, and she quickly finds her intentions complicated by her own dangerous compassion for the man who wronged her.

The two narrators of ‘Four Souls’ are from utterly different worlds. Nanapush, a ‘smart man and a fool’, is both Fleur's saviour and her conscience. Elderly, he would like to face death with his love Margaret beside him. Instead, the two find themselves battling out their last years. When Nanapush’s childhood nemesis appears and casts his eye toward Margaret, Nanapush acts out an absurd revenge of his own.

The other narrator, Polly Elizabeth Gheen, is a hanger-on in a wealthy Minneapolis family, a woman aware of her precarious hold on those around her. To her own great surprise the entrance of Fleur Pillager into her household and her life effects a transformation she could never have predicted.

About this title

Review:

‘She is a writer of stunning prose. At a certain point in reading ‘Four Souls’ I realized it was useless to keep underlining the passages I wanted to quote – every page was marked. ‘Four Souls’ is not only a beautiful and absorbing novel but an extremely timely one.’ Boston Globe

‘Full of satisfying yet unexpected twists. The book begins with clean, spare prose, but finishes in gorgeous incantation and poetry.’ New York Times

‘Ms Erdrich is such a gifted writer.’ New York Times Book Review

‘A triumph of voice enriched by American Indian lore ... Erdrich stands alone.’ San Francisco Chronicle

Synopsis:

From the author of the modern classic, "Tracks", comes a stunning new novel charting that explores the things that can complicate revenge - like falling for the man you hate! Seeking revenge on the lumber baron who has stripped her reservation, Fleur Pillager takes her mother's name, Four Souls, for strength and walks from her Ojibwe reservation to the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. But, revenge is never simple, and she quickly finds her intentions complicated by her own dangerous compassion for the man who wronged her. The two narrators of "Four Souls" are from utterly different worlds. Nanapush,a 'smart man and a fool', is both Fleur's saviour and her conscience. Elderly, he would like to face death with his love Margaret beside him. Instead, the two find themselves battling out their last years. When Nanapush's childhood nemesis appears and casts his eye toward Margaret, Nanapush acts out an absurd revenge of his own. The other narrator, Polly Elizabeth Gheen, is a hanger-on in a wealthy Minneapolis family, a woman aware of her precarious hold on those around her.

To her own great surprise the entrance of Fleur Pillager into her household and her life effects a transformation she could never have predicted. In Louise Erdrich's series of interconnected novels, "Four Souls" is most closely linked to "Tracks". These works continue and elaborate on the intricate story of life on a reservation peopled by heroes and sinners, clever fools and tenacious women. "Four Souls" reminds us of the deep spirituality and the ordinary humanity of this world, and is as beautiful and lyrical as anything Louise Erdrich has written.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0007212275
• ISBN 13: 9780007212279
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240