Deception is fertile ground for fiction, and will ferguson has produced a fine novel from the west african variant. And in the seething heat of lagos city, a criminal cartel scours the internet, looking for victims. Will ferguson takes readers deep into the labyrinth of lies that is 419, the worlds most insidious internet scam. Apr 29, 20 we chatted with will ferguson about his novel 419, our first pick for the cityline book club. Theres a brilliant scene in humourist will ferguson s novel generica later republished as happiness in which the antihero, a beaten and. Readers follow winstons passage from successful free agent to reluctant cog in the. The main characters of this classics, non fiction story are. But, when his novel 419 was shortlisted for the giller prize, i was surprised that he had written a dramatic novel, let. Fergusons last few efforts have left me mildly disappointed, but this new novel encouragingly shows. Will ferguson books list of books by author will ferguson. In nigeria, that business model is known as 419 named after the section of the criminal code that makes the activity illegal. The reader is exposed to the skill and cruelty employed by the scam artist. Will ferguson is the author of four novels, including 419, which won the scotiabank giller prize. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
Although one may have villainous intent, one might not exactly be a villain despite how the story perceives them. The first edition of the novel was published in 1945, and was written by richard wright. Any kind of fraud really, an investigator explains to laura, the griefstricken daughter of henry curtis, a retired alberta schoolteacher who emptied bank accounts. And in the seething heat of lagos city, a criminal cartel scours the internet, looking. Bookpage niall fergusons the square and the tower brilliantly illuminates the great power struggle between networks and hierarchies that is raging around the world today. A startlingly original tale of heartbreak and suspensea car tumbles down a. A threetime winner of the stephen leacock medal for humour, he has been nominated for both a commonwealth prize and an impac dublin award.
From internationally bestselling travel writer will ferguson, author of happiness and spanish fly, comes a novel both epic in. Praise for the shoe on the roof ferguson is a skillful and original writer, and over all, the novel is full of life. A jubilant will ferguson wins giller prize, raises toast. He also served on the jury of the 2015 hilary weston prize for literary nonfiction. Im mentioning it here because it is a canadian novel that lale has probably heard of, but also because i thought it was excellent, entertaining, and very informative about conditions in nigeria. When the emergency services arrive, he is breathing. The shoe on the roof will ferguson 9781501173554 netgalley. The focus of fergusons 419 is a wellknown internet cash scam, known as the 419, named after the section of nigerias criminal code that makes the scam behavior illegal. But essentially, will ferguson is a travel writer and it seemed that he was unable to focus on a theme but was distracted by other facets of place and time. Will fergusons novel about the criminal underworld behind the notorious nigerian internet. Here is will ferguson on the story behind his new novel, followed by an excerpt. The novel went on to win the 20 libris award from the canadian booksellers association for fiction book of the year. The shoe on the roofs lasting strength is in such sly jabs at the alternative facts and deep divisions were now reckoning with, making it a tale for the times. Hopefully ferguson finds equally compelling material to work with in his next novel, be it comic or otherwise, and this time trusts his gut a little more.
Giller prize nominee will ferguson on his elizabethan swindle. A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in subsaharan africa. Fergusons superb, thoughtprovoking book brings these events vividly to life and will help readers view history from a unique perspective. Free download or read online black boy pdf epub book. Will ferguson is one of canadas most distinguished authors. Theres a brilliant scene in humourist will fergusons novel generica later republished as happiness in which the antihero, a beaten and. We chatted with will ferguson about his novel 419, our first pick for the cityline book club. He won the 2012 scotiabank giller prize for his thriller 419. Actually, and this is key to author will fergusons premise, the law simply opens up another opportunity for bribe payments while at the same time ensuring the profitable continuance of an underground industry. Will ferguson a car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine. Here are the top 10 hardcover fiction and nonfiction books in canada for the week ending jan. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in africa. His last novel, 419, won the scotiabank giller prize.
Will ferguson is an awardwinning travel writer and novelist. The globe and mailpraise for 419 a deeply ironic, thoroughly engaged politico. Hes written humour, travel books, fiction and more. It is not only a mystery but it is also a thriller and on top of that it gives the reader an inside of the 419 scams that happen in nigeria. Almost by accident they tried something called a bag sale and allowed customers to check out their backstock of overstocked used books. A car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine. Fergusons third novel performs a public service by providing an autopsy of a familiar nigerian email scam and its typical victim average loss in a 419 scam is somewhere to the tune of. Hes won several leacock medals and authored two wellreceived humorous novels, happiness tm and spanish fly. Will ferguson explores internet scam, human endurance in new. Spanish fly 2007, his picaresque novel of dust bowlera con men. We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. A globe and mail top 100 book 2012 ive been aware of will ferguson for many years but ive never read his work. Ferguson books needed a way to alleviate its full shelveseven shortly after moving to a store 3 times the size. Typically, scammers pose as a prince, heiress, or highranking executive, begging people to help them move money out of nigeria.
But in 419, ferguson presents a dark thriller that shifts from canada to africa in a fascinating. It is narrated by many different people whose lives somehow intertwine in the most fascinating way. Apr, 2012 fergusons third novel performs a public service by providing an autopsy of a familiar nigerian email scam and its typical victim average loss in a 419 scam is somewhere to the tune of. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford. Bookpage niall fergusons the square and the tower brilliantly illuminates the great power struggle between networks and hierarchies that is. Camilla gibb, author of sweetness in the belly and the beauty of humanity movement will fergusons 419 unveils the brilliant layers of a nigerian cyberspace sting that brings devastation to an entire family. His debut novel, happiness, sold into 23 languages around the world.
Oct 02, 20 419, by will ferguson, head of zeus, rrp. In will fergusons 419, laura curtis, daughter of the deceased henry curtis, goes to extreme lengths to discover the cause of her fathers unforeseen death. The story he weaves is heartwrenching, fascinating, and scary. Introduction 419 is an award winning novel about an old man who gets scammed on the internet. Author will ferguson hoists his prize at tuesday nights giller gala in toronto.
The shoe on the roof by will ferguson, paperback barnes. Mystery lovers will be intrigued by the suspense building through the novel. February 12, 2007 its winter, which may make you feel like you want to go on a journey. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 419 pages and is available in paperback format. Author takes giller prize for 419 open this photo in gallery. The shoe on the roof book by will ferguson official. Laura is told that her father was a victim of a nigerian email scam and that he had willingly made his bank. Over the last decade, will ferguson has made the seemingly. Will ferguson peels back the covers on these types of scams in his new novel 419, cleverly looking at the wretched ruse from both sides victims and perpetrators. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outof. Fergusons description of the 419 scam is creatively and articulately described. In case you were curious, the novels title is borrowed from the section of the nigerian criminal code that deals specifically with fraud.
At least thats the meaning as far as nigerian slang is concerned of which this book has plenty on offer. Clean your shower and tub in less than 6 minutes duration. Business proposition novelist, writes about his travels written 14 books works translated into more than 20 languages graduate of the york university film school studied screen writing and film production threetime. In will fergusons 419, four one nine refers to the section in the nigerian criminal code that deals with obtaining money or goods under false pretences. It was so popular, fergusons did the event regularly throughout the year. The original ending was much milder, ferguson said. But in 419, ferguson presents a dark thriller that shifts from canada to africa in a fascinating exploration of the criminal underworld behind the notorious nigerian internet scams.
It is a fascinating book which rests on a simple premise what if one believed one of those nigerian emails that flood our inboxes or spam folders on a daily basis. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. A 419 scam is something along the line of one of those classic emails from the prince of nigeria saying you won the lottery, etc. In canada, henry curtis, an elderly man, drives, very fast, off the edge of a road. Jan 07, 2015 fergusons gillerprize winning novel tells the story of a daughter, laura, dealing with the death of her father after he falls for a 419 scam. Apr 14, 2012 will ferguson peels back the covers on these types of scams in his new novel 419, cleverly looking at the wretched ruse from both sides victims and perpetrators. Ferguson championed sarah binks by paul hiebert in canada reads 2003. It was so popular, ferguson s did the event regularly throughout the year. The two most important phrases in the human language are if only and maybe someday. Serving the upper red river valley for all your book and entertainment needs. Pdf black boy book by richard wright free download 419.
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