Under the Ribs of Death

By John Marlyn

Book Overview

Set in the immigrant community of Winnipeg's North End , Under the Ribs of Death follows the progress of young Sandor Hunyadi as he struggles to cast off his Hungarian background and become a "real Canadian." Embittered by poverty and social humiliation, Sandor rejects his father's impractical idealism and devotes himself single-mindedly to becoming a successful businessman. Equipped with a new name and a hardened heart, he is close to realizing his ambition when fortune's wheel takes an unexpected - and possibly redemptive - turn. Combining social realism and moral parable, Under the Ribs of Death is John Marlyn's ironic portrayal of the immigrant experience in the years leading up to the Great Depression. As a commentary on the problems of cultural assimilation, this novel is as relevant today as it was when first published in 1957.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0771093918
• ISBN13: 9780771093913
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: New Canadian Library
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Recommended Read

I too had to read this book for school, but I caught onto a deeper underlying meaning in the novel. The main character is always struggling with what he knows is right, and with what is wrong. Yes, this book isn't pretty, but it's believable. It isn't meant to be a fairytale, but a true to life look at life for a newly landed immigrant family during the early part of the 20th century. The main character, Sandor Hunyadi, who later changes his name to Alex Hunter, to become more Canadian, and less distinct. This book was written to make us look at our own actions, and how we treat others who are different that ourselves. It's about how we, as people, treat each other in respect to our race, sex, religion, and mental and physical capabilities. John Marlyn uses his excellent gift of vivid desciption to draw us into the story, and help us to feel what the main character is feeling, and to sympathize with him. That is why I recommend this book to everyone to read.