
The Adversary
ABOUT
THE BOOK
In an isolated outport on Newfoundland’s northern coastline, a ruthless act of sabotage is the opening salvo in a battle between the man and woman who own Mockbeggar’s largest mercantile firms, each fighting for the scarce resources of the north Atlantic fishery, each seeking a measure of revenge on the person they despise most in the world. As their unshakeable animosity spirals further each year, the community is increasingly divided and even the innocents in Mockbeggar find themselves forced to take sides, with devastating consequences. The Adversary is a dark, enthralling novel about love and its limitations, the corruption of power and the power of corruption.
NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS
Set in the remote coastal community of Mockbeggar in early nineteenth-century Newfoundland, The Adversary by acclaimed Canadian writer Michael Crummey explores universal themes of sibling rivalry and what motivates the best and worst in human action. The toxic dynamic between brother and sister Abe Strapp and the Widow Caines, heads of competing mercantile firms, shapes the lives and destinies of everyone with whom they have relationship. The dark energy of their hatred impacts not only the settler fishing families who rely on them for survival, but all who sail into Mockbeggar harbour. “Every creature beyond themselves,” Crummey writes, “existed only to serve their designs and appetites.” Along with Strapp (“virulent stupidity”) and Caines (“would eat her own youngsters”) is a cast of other memorable characters. These include The Beadle, Mary Oram, Captain Truss, The Abbess and Solemn Lambe, some of whom will be familiar to readers of Crummey’s The Innocents (2019). Like that work, The Adversary is well-researched historical fiction, filled with colourful turns of phrase that in some cases can still be heard in Newfoundland. Readers familiar with scripture will recognize, from title to final page, writing rich with Biblical imagery and symbol. Dark happenings and choices may call to mind the plagues of Egypt and seven deadly sins, but this powerful novel explores also human resilience and the potential for light to shine in the darkness and not be overcome. Declared NL Public Libraries’ 2024 Must-Read Book of the Year based on demand, patron feedback and staff recommendations, The Adversary is an immersive, impressive, and unforgettable literary accomplishment.