“Our Entire World Writ Small”: Frank MacDonald’s A Possible Madness
A Possible Madness is an unusual sort of historical fiction. None of the characters is real, and it doesn’t take place in the distant past. As Wilf Cude writes in his review of the book, published in The Antigonish Review, “the tiny community of Shean [the fictional town in which A Possible Madness is set] is in truth very real — and is in truth everywhere.”
Cude writes in-depth about the historical context of Frank MacDonald’s newest novel. It’s also hard not to come away from reading the review (or the novel) without realizing the story’s frightening relevance for today.
And on top of that, it’s an enjoyable read. Cude writes:
“Follow the fascinating intricacies of the narrative’s plotline…. And enjoy, simultaneously, the shrewd rendition of the novel’s many and varied characters.” He calls one of them “a near-Dickensian triumph of a Cape Breton original.”
“It is … an anticipatory sketch of our entire world writ small.”
Read the full review in The Antigonish Review here.