In this lovingly detailed book, Robert Finch allows us multi-faceted views of Newfoundland's maritime culture, which is now without a fishing industry. The flavor of the language and music come from the English, Scots and Irish immigrants and the harsh life has bred a very quirky yet resilient population. The original Paleo-Eskimo inhabitants called Beothuks left barely a trace. This collection of stories and essays is particularly fascinating when it focuses on the linguistic changes that have become the local dialect.

For nearly a decade, Robert Finch traveled around the “edge of North America” — the stunning yet seriously inhospitable island of Newfoundland. Here, he chronicles the people, geography, and wildlife of this remote and lovely place. In beautifully written essays, sketches, and stories, Finch roams from verdant valleys to the rocky cliffs of Cape Spear, from Sandy Cove to Squid Tickle, from the steep streets of historic St. John’s to the moss-covered tundra of the southern coast. As he describes the land, he brings to life the island’s diverse array of characters — newcomers and old-timers, fisherman, hunters, hitchhikers, and children. Most of all, The Iambics of Newfoundland shows readers the island itself — an ancient place tucked between provinces, languages, and cultures — struggling to find a footing in the modern world.

Imprint: Counterpoint
Distributor: Perseus Distribution
Publication Date: 05-01-2008
Pages: 288
Measurements: 9.25in X 6.13in