National Book Award finalist and Wallace Stegner Award winner Ivan Doig has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his vibrant, authentic tales of the American West. In Work Song he takes listeners to Butte, Montana, in 1919 for the tale of one charmer's efforts to elude Chicago gangsters.
Stepping off the train in the world's copper mining capital, Morris Morgan secures a room at the boarding house of an attractive widow he'd like to know better. As the erudite Morris begins working at the local library, he tries not to take sides in the labor dispute at the Anaconda Mining Company. But when he's mistaken for an undercover union operative, he's soon caught up in the seething ferment of an iron-fisted company, radical union agitators, and beleaguered miners.
"More atmospheric, pleasingly old-fashioned storytelling from Doig, whose ear for the way people spoke and thought in times gone by is as faultless as ever."--Kirkus Reviews
About the Author :
Ivan Doig (1939-2015) wrote over a dozen books, including the Indiebound bestseller Work Song, the classic memoir This House of Sky, and the acclaimed Montana trilogy. He has been a National Book Award finalist and has received the Wallace Stegner Award, among many other honors.
Jonathan Hogan is a stage, television, and film actor. He has appeared in several episodes of Law & Order, as well as One Life to Live, As the World Turns, and Ryan's Hope. In 1985 his performance in the play As Is earned him a Tony Award nomination.
Review :
"A classic tale from they heyday of American capitalism by the king of the Western novel."
-- "Daily Beast"
"As enjoyable and subtly thought-provoking a piece of fiction as you're likely to pick up this summer. A pleasure to read."
-- "Los Angeles Times"
"Charismatic dialogue and charming, homespun characterization make Doig's latest another surefire winner."
-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Doig delivers solid storytelling with a keen respect for the past and gives voice to his characters in a humorous and affectionate light."
-- "Library Journal"
"If you were looking for a novel that best expresses the American spirit, you'd have to ride past a lot of fence posts before finding anything as worthy as Work Song."
-- "Chicago Tribune"
"More atmospheric, pleasingly old-fashioned storytelling from Doig, whose ear for the way people spoke and thought in times gone by is as faultless as ever."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"Not one stitch unravels in this intricately threaded narrative. And while Doig lays out the plot somewhat predictably, he also makes room for reflective moments in which Morrie confronts fears both real and imagined; it's through these reflections that we get fine glimpses of his darker persona...In conjunction with Morrie's interactions among the oher characters, these more introspective passages help to build an appealing storytelling rhythm."
-- "New York Times Book Review"
"Readers who fell in love with Morrie Morgan in The Whistling Season will welcome him back to Montana in Ivan Doig's latest adventure...Richly imagined and beautifully paced."
-- "Associated Press"
