Fox, Margaret Sweatman's debut novel, is a phenomenal work of historical and postmodern fiction. When Fox burst onto the literary scene in 1991, it was clear a singular talent was at work. Decades later, Fox's deft examination of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike is a startling reminder of the dangers of xenophobia, bigotry, greed, and fear. In a novel of remarkably vivid, kinetic power, the collision of the wealthy and working classes after the First World War becomes a backdrop for the timeless conflict between desire and human idealism.
In addition, Alison Calder's new essay examines the impact of Fox and its contribution to the landscape of Canadian literature.