The Republic of Nothing: Reader’s Guide Edition [Paperback]

Lesley Choyce (Author), Neil Peart (Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007

A small Canadian island declares its independence to the world and benign anarchy reigns. A god-like ocean deposits many a thing, yet it also takes away. The 1960s blaze off shore and draw the island’s inhabitants into politics, the Vietnam War, and the peace movement. Sound impossible? Not on Whalebone Island, AKA the Republic of Nothing. Where else can a dead circus elephant, a long-dead Viking, the discovery of uranium, a raven-haired castaway who may be psychic, an anarchist turned politician, and refugees fleeing from the United States all be part of everyday life? Where else is eccentricity embraced with such open arms? In this new readers’ guide edition, complete with an afterword by Neil Peart, Lesley Choyce’s novel about resilience, independence, and anarchy comes alive, leading readers to discover once again that everything is nothing and nothing is everything.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A small island off the coast of Nova Scotia declares its independence to the world. In this Utopian world, the ocean delivers many a curiosity, including a dead circus elephant and a raven-haired woman. When the turbulence of the 1960s draws the island’s inhabitants into politics, the Vietnam War, and the peace movement, and when civilization lays siege, an unexpected character comes to the rescue. Sound impossible? Not on Whalebone Island, a.k.a. the Republic of Nothing. Where else could a psychic castaway, an anarchist-turned-politician, and American refugees cultivate their eccentricities? This new edition of Lesley Choyce’s celebrated novel features an afterword by Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, leading readers to discover once again that nothing is everything.

About the Author

No one has a clearer view of Atlantic Canada’s literary endeavours over the past twenty years than Lesley Choyce. He is the founder of the literary journal Pottersfield Portfolio, and the publisher of Pottersfield Press. He has edited several fiction anthologies and has been the in-house editor of many books from Pottersfield Press including Making Waves, a collection of stories by emerging authors from Atlantic Canada. He is the author of more than fifty books in genres ranging from poetry and essays to autobiography, history and fiction for adults, young adults, and children. Among his recent books are the novels The Republic of Nothing, World Enough, and Cold Clear Morning, and the story collection Dance the Rocks Ashore. Choyce is the writer, host, and co-producer of the popular literary show television program, Off the Page with Lesley Choyce, which is broadcast across the country on Vision TV. He also teaches in the English department of Dalhousie University in Halifax and is leader of the rock band The Surf Poets.

Neil Peart is the drummer for the Canadian band Rush.

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Goose Lane Editions; Reader's Guide Edition edition (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0864924933
• ISBN-13: 978-0864924933
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,704,688 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best novel none of my reader friends has read, August 2, 2010

By 

Mary Keil "PS writer reader" (Marin County, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Republic of Nothing: Reader’s Guide Edition (Paperback)

The tears are still drying on my face. Forget the make-up! Why haven't more of us in the USofA found this wonderful writer? I, too, would have remained ignorant if I hadn't had one of those serendipitous conversations with a customer service rep who happened to be located in Halifax. All I know about Halifax I learned from Robert MacNeil's engaging BURDEN OF DESIRE. So I mentioned that book to the young woman on the other end of the line, and she returned the favor by telling me that THE REPUBLIC OF NOTHING was her favorite book. I ordered it from Amazon that very day. I loved this novel from start to finish - the well drawn and appealing characters, the distinctive setting, the plot! A++++++. And, for those of us born around the time Choyce was born, the novels themes have to resonate deeply. Yet they are timeless and timely for today.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Republic of Nothing is a quirky yet compelling drama where anything and everything can happen, October 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Republic of Nothing: Reader’s Guide Edition (Paperback)

Winner of the Dartmouth Book Award, The Republic of Nothing is a novel set in the 1960's on Whalebone Island, a.k.a. "The Republic of Nothing", a small dot of land off the coast of Nova Scotia that dares to declare its independence to the world. As the island's inhabitants become increasingly drawn into the turbulent politics of the day including the Vietnam War and the peace movement, an unexpected individual steps forward to society's rescue. Originally published in 1994, now in a new "Reader's Guide" edition featuring an afterword by Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, The Republic of Nothing is a quirky yet compelling drama where anything and everything can happen, even as anarchy becomes increasingly prevalent.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely brilliant!, January 27, 2005

By 

that kid (Alberta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Republic of Nothing (Paperback)

This book is, without a doubt, the best book I have read to date. Lesley Choyce does fantastic work with this story. This novel evokes every emotion - humor, excitement, anger, resentment, love, worry, jealousy - and does so in a natural, comfortable way. I can't give this book enough praise. Everyone should read it and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did.
Oh, and Alberta English 30-1 students, it's on your reading list and is probably the most fun choice [Choyce!]on the list.