The Blind Viper - Paperback

by J. a. Wainwright (Author)

A resonant new novel from the Guernica Prize-winning author of This Cleaving and This Burning. A symphony of memory, art, and resilience, The Blind Viper explores war, creativity, and survival. Set on a secluded Greek island and in the shadows of the Spanish Civil War, it follows Leo Dalca, a blind painter whose artistry transcends sight. Leo's past-- marked by a friendship forged and shattered in battle-- haunts his present, where his work captures both personal and collective loss. When a young poet arrives, a clash of ideals and memory sparks revelations about love, sacrifice, and artistic integrity. With echoes of Michael Ondaatje and Kazuo Ishiguro, The Blind Viper is a meditation on history's scars and the power of art, cementing J.A. Wainwright's place among Canada's foremost literary voices.

Author Biography

J.A. WAINWRIGHT, McCulloch Emeritus Professor in English, has lived in Nova Scotia for over 50 years after growing up in Toronto. A specialist in Canadian and contemporary literature, his work is shaped by a diverse range of influences, including Patrick White, Lawrence Durrell, and Bob Dylan. He is a prolific author and has published 16 books, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, a play, and an opera libretto. He now divides his time between Nova Scotia and Toronto.