The O'Briens

by Peter Behrens

  “No, stay where you are.” Gripping the oars, he started rowing towards the sound of their voices. All his life he’d needed their voices — outside himself, bright and alive, to take a bearing on, to find his way. “Keep talking! I’m coming to you. I’ll see you in a moment.”

  { Author’s Note }

  This is a work of fiction. Characters inspired by real people (what fictional characters are not?) soon asserted themselves and began feeling, thinking, and acting in ways that had nothing to do with anyone’s family history or genealogy. My O’Briens live in the world of this novel, nowhere else.

  { About the Author }

  PETER BEHRENS is the author of the Governor General’s Award–winning novel The Law of Dreams, published around the world to wide acclaim, and a collection of short stories, Night Driving. His short stories and essays have appeared in Atlantic Monthly, Tin House, Saturday Night, and the National Post. He was born in Montreal and lives on the coast of Maine with his wife and son.

  { About the Publisher }

  House of Anansi Press was founded in 1967 with a mandate to publish Canadian-authored books, a mandate that continues to this day even as the list has branched out to include internationally acclaimed thinkers and writers. The press immediately gained attention for significant titles by notable writers such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, George Grant, and Northrop Frye. Since then, Anansi’s commitment to finding, publishing and promoting challenging, excellent writing has won it tremendous acclaim and solid staying power. Today Anansi is Canada’s pre-eminent independent press, and home to nationally and internationally bestselling and acclaimed authors such as Gil Adamson, Margaret Atwood, Ken Babstock, Peter Behrens, Rawi Hage, Misha Glenny, Jim Harrison, A. L. Kennedy, Pasha Malla, Lisa Moore, A. F. Moritz, Eric Siblin, Karen Solie, and Ronald Wright. Anansi is also proud to publish the award-winning nonfiction series The CBC Massey Lectures. In 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Anansi was honoured by the Canadian Booksellers Association as “Publisher of the Year.”

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Openers

  Ashling

  The Orphan

  The Contract

  Armistice

  On the Run

  Disorder

  Wild January Thaw

  Sea and Seawall

  Returning

  Gathering Soldiers

  Violence

  Hostage to Fortune

  Reprieve

  Displaced Person, Part I

  Prodigal

  Displaced Person, Part II

  Ritual, Part I

  Ritual, Part II

  Home

  Lost and Found

  Author's Note

  About the Author

  About the Publisher