The Last Whaler - by Cynthia Reeves (Paperback)

About the Book

"THE LAST WHALER is an elegiac meditation on the will to survive under extreme conditions. Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife, Astrid, a botanist specializing in Arctic flora, are stranded during the dark season of 1937-38 at his remote whaling station when they misjudge ice conditions and fail to rendezvous with the ship meant to carry them back to their home in southern Norway. Beyond enduring the Arctic winter's twenty-four-hour night, the couple must cope with the dangers of polar bears, violent storms, and bitter cold as well as Astrid's unexpected pregnancy. THE LAST WHALER concerns the impact of humans on pristine environments, the isolation of mental illness, the sustenance of religious faith, and the solace of storytelling"--

Book Synopsis

THE LAST WHALER is an elegiac meditation on the will to survive under extreme conditions. Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife, Astrid, a botanist specializing in Arctic flora, are stranded during the dark season of 1937-38 at his remote whaling station when they misjudge ice conditions and fail to rendezvous with the ship meant to carry them back to their home in southern Norway. Beyond enduring the Arctic winter's twenty-four-hour night, the couple must cope with the dangers of polar bears, violent storms, and bitter cold as well as Astrid's unexpected pregnancy. THE LAST WHALER concerns the impact of humans on pristine environments, the isolation of mental illness, the sustenance of religious faith, and the solace of storytelling.

Review Quotes

"A dramatic tale of survival at a frigid whaling station in 1937 Norway....This emotionally rich historical will keep readers turning the pages" -- Publishers Weekly Review

"Cynthia Reeves's The Last Whaler is an accomplished and magnificent debut. Meticulously researched and fully imagined, it is the story of a couple's sojourn at an Artic whaling station in the late nineteen thirties. Told in two distinct and vibrant voices through letters that dramatize daily threats and accomplishments, it is a gripping tale about a marriage under extreme stress as a man and woman, already grieving for a lost child, separately find their peace in inhospitable conditions." --Megan Staffel, author of The Causative Factor, The Exit Coach, and Lessons in Another Language

​". . . a clear and poignant picture of a married couple working together to survive, and two individuals suffering from the kind of crushing private guilt that prevents them from being there for each other. . . . Indeed, what do we all wish we had done differently? What happens when we realize there are outcomes we cannot change? How do we live with regret? In The Last Whaler, Cynthia Reeves suggests an answer: perhaps the best humans can do is to keep on living." --MER

"[The] interplay between the concrete and abstract aspects of life adds depth to the story, inviting readers to ponder the delicate harmony between physical experiences and spiritual ponderings during times of hardship and perseverance. Raw, poignant, and taut; a stunner." --BookView Review, Recommended Read

". . . a deeply moving novel . . . . Although there is tragedy and sadness at the heart of the story, this is not a depressing read. There is great joy and happiness and adventure throughout. Part of the pleasure of reading The Last Whaler is seeing this remote land-one that I had never before heard of-portrayed with such richness. Through her deep research . . . and luminous prose, Reeves meticulously recreates life in a distinctive moment and place, and she offers a richly drawn portrait of resilience in the face of stunning hardship." --Small Press Picks

"Eloquent and narrative driven, the storytelling skills of author Cynthia Reeves raises her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence...a deftly crafted and compelling historical novel..." --Midwest Book Review

About the Author

A writer and poet for almost thirty years, Cynthia Reeves was honored with Miami University Press's novella prize, residencies at Hawthornden Castle, Vermont Studio Center, Galleri Svalbard, and the 2017 Arctic Circle Summer Solstice Expedition. She is the author of BADLANDS (2007).