Customer Reviews

Mary Swann

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"Mary Swann" was my introduction to the wonderful writing of Carol Shields. Back in the 80s, my knowledge of Canadian writers was limited to Margaret Atwood. In my opinion Shields is every bit as good. This intriguing story is about the mysterious rural poet, Swann, whose very identity seems to fade as others try to find out about her life and work, and how she came to write such haunting poetry within a harsh rural environment and a repressive marriage. The characters seeking to solve Mary Swann's enigma all project their own versions of her life upon their quest, but she eludes them all. The novel is a fine mystery, which explores just how difficult it is to truly know another person, and also touches on the often self-serving nature of literary scholarship.