The Vaster Wilds
A Novel
(Sprache: Englisch)
A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita will bend her belief in everything that...
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A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her. A taut and electrifying novel.Lese-Probe zu „The Vaster Wilds “
I.The moon hid itself behind the clouds. The wind spat an icy snow at angles.
In the tall black wall of the palisade, through a slit too seeming thin for human passage, the girl climbed into the great and terrible wilderness.
Over her face she wore a hood drawn low, and she was slight, both bony and childish small, but the famine had stripped her down yet starker, to root and string and fiber and sinew. Even so starved, and blinded by the dark, she was quick. She scrabbled upright, stumbled with her first step, nearly fell, but caught herself and began to run, going fast and over the frozen ruts of the field and all the stalks of dead corn that had come up in the summer already sooty and fruitless and stunted with blight.
Swifter, girl, she told herself, and in their fear and anguish, her legs moved yet faster.
**
These good boots the girl had stolen off the son of a gentleman, a stripling half her age but of equal size, who had died of the smallpox the night before, the rash a rust spreading over the starved bones. These leather gloves and the thick cloak the girl had stolen off her own mistress. She banished the thought of the woman still weeping upon her knees on the frozen ground in the courtyard inside that hellish place. With each step she drew away, everything there loosened its grip on the girl.
Yet there was a strange gleam upon the dark ground of the field ahead, and as she moved, she saw it was the undershirt of the soldier who a fortnight earlier had been caught worming his body slow from the horrors of the fort and toward the different horrors of the forest. He had made it halfway to the trees when in silence a shadow that had lain upon the ground grew denser, grew upward, came clear at last as the fearsomest of the men of this country, the warrior two heads taller than the men of the fort, who made himself yet more terrible by wearing upon his shoulders outstretched a broad dark mantle of turkey feathers. He had
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lifted with one hand the creeping fearful soldier by his hair and had with a knife cut a long wet red mouth into the man's throat. Then he dropped him to spill his heart's blood into the frozen earth and there the dead man lay splayed ignoble. All this time, he had lain unburied, for the soldiers of the settlement had become too weak and too cowardly in their hunger to fetch the body back.
She had passed the dead man and his reek had drawn itself out of her nostrils and she was nearly to the woods when she stumbled again, for the thought of these two men gave rise to thoughts of other men who lurked perhaps in the woods, men out there hidden and awaiting her. And now, as she peered before her into the dark of the forest, she saw a man crouching in ambush in ever deeper blacker shadow of each tree, perhaps a man with a knife or an ax or an arrow and cold murder in his eye.
She stopped her running for a breath, but she had no choice, she took her courage up again and she ran on.
And as she ran each imagined man in passing revealed himself to be mere shadow again.
She had chosen to flee, and in so choosing, she had left behind her everything she had, her roof, her home, her country, her language, the only family she had ever known, the child Bess, who had been born into her care when she was herself a small child of four years or so, her innocence, her understanding of who she was, her dreams of who she might one day be if only she could survive this starving time.
Think not of it, girl, she told herself, think not of it, else you shall die of grief.
And she did not turn back to look upon the gleam of the fort's fires as they painted the night sky above in red. She was unlettered but was deep devout, a good and a pious girl, and she had listened when the ministers read from the holy book, she had tracked their words and taken them whole in long phrases into her knowledge. She had learned the
She had passed the dead man and his reek had drawn itself out of her nostrils and she was nearly to the woods when she stumbled again, for the thought of these two men gave rise to thoughts of other men who lurked perhaps in the woods, men out there hidden and awaiting her. And now, as she peered before her into the dark of the forest, she saw a man crouching in ambush in ever deeper blacker shadow of each tree, perhaps a man with a knife or an ax or an arrow and cold murder in his eye.
She stopped her running for a breath, but she had no choice, she took her courage up again and she ran on.
And as she ran each imagined man in passing revealed himself to be mere shadow again.
She had chosen to flee, and in so choosing, she had left behind her everything she had, her roof, her home, her country, her language, the only family she had ever known, the child Bess, who had been born into her care when she was herself a small child of four years or so, her innocence, her understanding of who she was, her dreams of who she might one day be if only she could survive this starving time.
Think not of it, girl, she told herself, think not of it, else you shall die of grief.
And she did not turn back to look upon the gleam of the fort's fires as they painted the night sky above in red. She was unlettered but was deep devout, a good and a pious girl, and she had listened when the ministers read from the holy book, she had tracked their words and taken them whole in long phrases into her knowledge. She had learned the
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Autoren-Porträt von Lauren Groff
Lauren Groff is a three-time National Book Award finalist and the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, Fates and Furies, Matrix, and The Vaster Wilds, and the short story collections Delicate Edible Birds and Florida. She has won the Story Prize and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and has been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Groff ’s work regularly appears in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and elsewhere.
Bibliographische Angaben
- Autor: Lauren Groff
- 2023, Internationale Ausgabe, 272 Seiten, Maße: 15,1 x 22,7 cm, Kartoniert (TB), Englisch
- Verlag: Riverhead Books
- ISBN-10: 0593715861
- ISBN-13: 9780593715864
- Erscheinungsdatum: 04.09.2023
Sprache:
Englisch
Pressezitat
Praise for The Vaster Wilds:I know of few other writers whose sentences are so beautiful and so propulsive. The girl embodies a furious onward motion, as does the prose. New York Times Book Review
[A] thrilling historical adventure. . .the existential themes at the heart of Lauren Groff s fifth novel the rawness of life, the precious inner-workings of nature, the drive to continue on in the face of challenges are as timely as they come. TIME, "Top 10 Books of 2023"
"Part historical, part horror, part breathless thriller, part wilderness survival tale, The Vaster Wilds is a story about the lengths to which we will go to stay alive." NPR
Holds tension and sows mystery on every page. Vulture
Groff s seventh novel begins with a high-octane escape. . . .Though the white-knuckled tale of this young woman. . .Groff enlivens the dark crevices of colonial history. But the ambitions of The Vaster Wilds are loftier than this in fact, they re downright cosmic. . . .The result is an ecstatic transformation one that s a haunting and holy experience to read and behold. Esquire, "The 20 Best Books of 2023"
Transcendent. Mesmerizing. Dazzling. Incandescent. Audacious .All of those descriptors are accurate and none of them are sufficient to describe just how spectacular [Groff s] new book is. Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lauren Groff just reinvented the adventure novel Groff s world is Darwinian, but she doesn t chronicle the survival of the fittest; she convinces us instead that even the unluckiest among us can find a way to the blessings of peace, quiet and freedom. Los Angeles Times, "13 Best Novels of 2023"
Glorious Groff imagines a natural world where humans adapt to its contours rather than conquer them We don t need a hero s tale of domination and plunder to fix the environment. We need more stories of how becoming part of the natural
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systems that surround us may help us survive. The Vaster Wilds is a terrific addition to a developing canon of our continued existence. The Boston Globe
Lilting, whispered poetic. Wall Street Journal
Groff s fiction is usually identified as ecological and feminist, which it certainly is, but it is theological too Nature is Groff s muse as well as her deity. Her prose, always alive and sensuous, is hit by an extra electrical charge Groff has written the gospel. The Atlantic
"A rollicking adventure story, quick-paced and snappy and frequently funny impossible to put down...This book is exquisitely attuned to the experience of being a human body within nature...Stark, vicious, and transcendent, The Vaster Wilds is the best book I ve read all year. It s a triumph. Vox
Magnificent a cosmic adventure story in which the state of the main character s soul is just as important as the fate of her body. Slate, "Top 10 Books of the Year"
Groff s depictions of the untrammeled natural world, in all its beauty and brutality, are gorgeously rendered, as is the psychological portrait of her indefatigable protagonist, whose light blazes and then dims as her fortunes change [I] found myself transfixed, and awestruck by the end. Literary Hub
Groff skillfully weaves the girl s past into her forward flight... As she travels farther and farther from the fort, Groff draws the reader ever closer to naming the reason for her flight. It s a stunning revelation, followed by an even more stunning ending. Full of wonder and heartbreak, The Vaster Wilds is a dazzling journey. Tampa Bay Times
Groff creates a thrilling journey. Minneapolis Star Tribune
Mesmerizing. . .a stupendous imagining of early colonial America, and about the resilience of one young girl to survive despite all odds. Town & Country
"Engrossing. . . The Vaster Wilds explores themes that are mainstays of Groff's work: faith, nature, what it means to be a woman in the world and the ingenuity it takes to survive there." San Francisco Chronicle
Breathtaking It is impossible to overstate how spellbindingly she renders the grim reality of wilderness survival It is not a story for the faint of heart, but it is also not without its softness, its triumphs, its aching moments of benediction and sheer beauty. Chapter 16
Suspenseful and sweeping. Southern Living
"Part-adventure, part-fable, classic Groff." The Millions
[A] page-turner with a built-in engine. . .once you slip into its rich rhythms, it s an engrossing and rewarding journey. Vogue, "Best Books of the Year"
Illustrate[s] a fluid, almost cyclical understanding of history, and faith s sticky place within it. Elle
"[An] absorbing, visceral study of survival." Vanity Fair
Groff s portrayal of the wilderness is not only raw and violent but also filled with moments of profound beauty and realization. As the girl navigates the forest, her journey becomes an allegory for the broader themes of environmental stewardship, the illusion of escaping the past, and female vulnerability in a male-dominated society. . .The contrast in these narratives showcases Groff s versatility as a writer, her skill in creating intense, emotionally charged stories that challenge readers, and her insight into the historical and cultural forces shaping women s lives. Scientific Inquirer
Extraordinary. . .Groff builds and maintains suspense on multiple levels, while offering an unflinching portrayal of her heroine s desperation and will to survive. This is a triumph. Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Groff's seventh book, a captivating survival story, starts off running. . . .this wholly enveloping book has. . . deep examinations of faith, dominion, and human nature; Groff's seemingly joyfully related, seamless period prose; and the time-collapsing sense of reading a text channeled directly from the mind of a long-ago-living, breathing woman facing extraordinary circumstances. Booklist, Starred Review & "Best of 2023"
Groff s imaginative journey into a distant time and place is powered by a thrumming engine. . . Immersion in the girl s experience provides a virtual vacation from civilization. . . The writing is inspired, the imaginative power near mystic. Kirkus Reviews
Combines visceral detail and magisterial sweep. . . Lauren Groff's fifth novel, set in Virginia in the early 17th century, is a classic study of solitude and survival that stars a teenage girl fleeing starvation and the scene of a crime. Shelf Awareness
Lilting, whispered poetic. Wall Street Journal
Groff s fiction is usually identified as ecological and feminist, which it certainly is, but it is theological too Nature is Groff s muse as well as her deity. Her prose, always alive and sensuous, is hit by an extra electrical charge Groff has written the gospel. The Atlantic
"A rollicking adventure story, quick-paced and snappy and frequently funny impossible to put down...This book is exquisitely attuned to the experience of being a human body within nature...Stark, vicious, and transcendent, The Vaster Wilds is the best book I ve read all year. It s a triumph. Vox
Magnificent a cosmic adventure story in which the state of the main character s soul is just as important as the fate of her body. Slate, "Top 10 Books of the Year"
Groff s depictions of the untrammeled natural world, in all its beauty and brutality, are gorgeously rendered, as is the psychological portrait of her indefatigable protagonist, whose light blazes and then dims as her fortunes change [I] found myself transfixed, and awestruck by the end. Literary Hub
Groff skillfully weaves the girl s past into her forward flight... As she travels farther and farther from the fort, Groff draws the reader ever closer to naming the reason for her flight. It s a stunning revelation, followed by an even more stunning ending. Full of wonder and heartbreak, The Vaster Wilds is a dazzling journey. Tampa Bay Times
Groff creates a thrilling journey. Minneapolis Star Tribune
Mesmerizing. . .a stupendous imagining of early colonial America, and about the resilience of one young girl to survive despite all odds. Town & Country
"Engrossing. . . The Vaster Wilds explores themes that are mainstays of Groff's work: faith, nature, what it means to be a woman in the world and the ingenuity it takes to survive there." San Francisco Chronicle
Breathtaking It is impossible to overstate how spellbindingly she renders the grim reality of wilderness survival It is not a story for the faint of heart, but it is also not without its softness, its triumphs, its aching moments of benediction and sheer beauty. Chapter 16
Suspenseful and sweeping. Southern Living
"Part-adventure, part-fable, classic Groff." The Millions
[A] page-turner with a built-in engine. . .once you slip into its rich rhythms, it s an engrossing and rewarding journey. Vogue, "Best Books of the Year"
Illustrate[s] a fluid, almost cyclical understanding of history, and faith s sticky place within it. Elle
"[An] absorbing, visceral study of survival." Vanity Fair
Groff s portrayal of the wilderness is not only raw and violent but also filled with moments of profound beauty and realization. As the girl navigates the forest, her journey becomes an allegory for the broader themes of environmental stewardship, the illusion of escaping the past, and female vulnerability in a male-dominated society. . .The contrast in these narratives showcases Groff s versatility as a writer, her skill in creating intense, emotionally charged stories that challenge readers, and her insight into the historical and cultural forces shaping women s lives. Scientific Inquirer
Extraordinary. . .Groff builds and maintains suspense on multiple levels, while offering an unflinching portrayal of her heroine s desperation and will to survive. This is a triumph. Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Groff's seventh book, a captivating survival story, starts off running. . . .this wholly enveloping book has. . . deep examinations of faith, dominion, and human nature; Groff's seemingly joyfully related, seamless period prose; and the time-collapsing sense of reading a text channeled directly from the mind of a long-ago-living, breathing woman facing extraordinary circumstances. Booklist, Starred Review & "Best of 2023"
Groff s imaginative journey into a distant time and place is powered by a thrumming engine. . . Immersion in the girl s experience provides a virtual vacation from civilization. . . The writing is inspired, the imaginative power near mystic. Kirkus Reviews
Combines visceral detail and magisterial sweep. . . Lauren Groff's fifth novel, set in Virginia in the early 17th century, is a classic study of solitude and survival that stars a teenage girl fleeing starvation and the scene of a crime. Shelf Awareness
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