White River Crossing

‘Like The North Water, with which it shares much DNA, White River Crossing moves at a propulsive lick, its bloody meat marbled with cruelty and violence. McGuire does not let us look away: the clumsy amputation of a gangrenous arm is described in almost voluptuous detail, while the desolate beauty of the vast landscape is summoned with a sharp precision’ Guardian

‘In one sense this feels like an old-fashioned adventure story. The land is huge, the men are small and McGuire brings a close, grim eye to their travails. But the sensibilities and perspectives are more modern, and we see how baffling the Englishmen must be to the Native American and Esquimaux characters as the gold acts on them, “it’s deep, silent calling like a thrill in his blood”. This book acts on the reader in much the same irresistibly dark way.’ The Times

‘McGuire can construct an enthralling narrative, while sensitively handling the upheavals caused by colonial arrogance and overreach. His characterization can also be masterly. [..] An expertly told thriller that’s also a classic colonial adventure story’ Telegraph

‘Like Hilary Mantel in her Wolf Hall trilogy, McGuire achieves a cinematic intimacy’ Spectator

Ian McGuire grew up near Hull and studied at the University of Manchester and the University of Virginia, USA. In 2007 he co-founded the University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing. He is the author of Incredible Bodies, the 2016 Man Booker-longlisted novel The North Water for which he won the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, and The Abstainer. White River Crossing is his latest novel.

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