Annie Proulx

"The Shipping News"

"The Shipping News" is a novel written by Annie Proulx and published in 1993. It received critical acclaim and achieved the rare feat of winning both the American Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in the same year. The book is highly regarded for its unique humor and well-developed characters. It explores themes such as long-held family secrets and the healing power of small-town life.



Each chapter in the novel begins with a quote from "The Ashley Book of Knots," which is an encyclopedia of knots and knot patterns published in 1944. This adds an interesting element to the storytelling.



The story is narrated in the third person omniscient point of view and starts with an introduction to the protagonist, Quoyle. Quoyle, whose name is pronounced "QU-yle," is a 36-year-old man who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in various unremarkable small towns in upstate New York. He has experienced little success in both love and career. His wife only loved him for a short period of time, and he has worked as a cashier in a 24/7 bodega and as a mediocre newspaperman.



Feeling that his life is spiraling out of control, Quoyle decides to follow the suggestion of his Aunt Agnis Hamm, whom he affectionately refers to as "the aunt." She advises him to return to Newfoundland, Canada, the homeland of their ancestors. Quoyle sees this as an opportunity for a fresh start, hoping to find some stability and purpose in his life.

And so, with the encouragement and support of his aunt, Quoyle embarks on a journey to Newfoundland, leaving behind his troubled past and seeking a new beginning. This sets the stage for the unfolding of Quoyle's story and his encounters with the intriguing characters and events that shape his life in the small Canadian town.



Overall, "The Shipping News" by Annie Proulx is a highly acclaimed novel that delves into the complexities of family dynamics, personal struggles, and the transformative power of finding one's roots in a close-knit community.



Quoyle's emotional turmoil is deeply rooted in his difficult past. His parents, who never showed much affection towards him, recently committed suicide together. Adding to his pain, his wife, Petal Bear, died in a car accident while being accompanied by another man. Quoyle continues to struggle emotionally due to Petal's cruel taunts and her attempt to sell their young daughters to a pimp.



Seeking a fresh start,Quoyle arrives in Newfoundland accompanied by his aunt and their two daughters, Bunny(aged 6) and Sunshine(aged 4.5). They locate their old family home situated on Quoyle Point, which is in dire need of repair. Quoyle and his skilled aunt are determined to fix up the house, believing that the isolation of the location will be beneficial for them. The house is located miles away from the town, and the dirt road leading to it is barely passable by cars. With the help of a friend, Quoyle secures a job at The Gammy Bird, the local newspaper in a fictional town called Killick-Claw. Killick-Claw is based on the real harbor town of Old Bonaventure.



At The Gammy Bird, Quoyle joins a team of older sailors who make up most of the staff. The editor, Jack Buggit, is both charming and irritable.

Ted Card serves as the copyeditor, often allowing nonsensical typos and errors in the paper, much to the amusement of Buggit. Another staff member, Nutbeem, is responsible for transcribing world news from the radio.



In this small town, The Gammy Bird is a widely read newspaper, and Quoyle becomes a part of its operations. He immerses himself in his new role, getting acquainted with the unique dynamics of the town and its inhabitants. As his journey unfolds, Quoyle encounters various challenges and experiences that contribute to his personal growth and the exploration of his own identity in this tight-knit community.



Quoyle's assignment at The Gammy Bird newspaper is to cover the shipping news, reporting on the arrival and departure times of ships in the harbor. This information is crucial for sailors and holds a glimmer of economic hope in a town plagued by chronic underemployment. The newspaper itself is known for its sensational content. The editor, Buggit, has a peculiar requirement of featuring at least one picture of a car accident every week, even when there haven't been any accidents in the surrounding areas. Strangely, Buggit also assigns Quoyle the task of covering these car wreck stories, in addition to his shipping news duties. These assignments unsettle Quoyle, as each photograph of a car accident reminds him of the tragic fate of his late wife.



Life goes on, and the aunt's beloved dog, Warren, passes away. The dog held special significance to her as it was named after her lover, Irene Warren. Dennis Buggit, the editor's son, puts his carpentry skills to good useand helps Quoyle and the aunt repair the old house. Bunny, one of Quoyle's daughters, starts experiencing anxiety around a white dog that no one else can see. Over time, Quoyle conquers his fear of sailing and purchases a less-than-ideal boat.

Meanwhile, the aunt starts an upholstery business in town. Her first major assignment is working on a dubious project: the restoration of an expensive Dutch vessel called Tough Baby, which is rumored to have been originally built for Hitler. The vessel carries a certain myth around town, with stories circulating that it caused extensive damage during a massive hurricane, colliding with houses and other boats. Quoyle conducts interviews with the townspeople about this infamous vessel for The Gammy Bird. His profile piece becomes a success, leading Buggit to offer him the position of the newspaper's brand new "ship-columnist." However, the couple who owns the vessel built for Hitler abruptly leaves town without paying the aunt for her upholstery work.



One day, Billy Pretty, another reporter at The Gammy Bird, takes Quoyle to Gaze Island, where Billy was born and where Quoyle's ancestors are buried. Pretty shares with Quoyle that their family has a less-than-ideal reputation around town, often considered unintelligent and capable of theft or even murder. Quoyle silently acknowledges this information, seemingly in agreement with the perceptions of his family's troubled past.



After their visit to Gaze Island, Quoyle and Billy Pretty make their way back to town when they stumble upon a peculiar discovery. They come across a suitcase sitting on a rock in the middle of the water. Curiosity gets the better of them, and they decide to open it, only to find the severed head of Bayonet Melville, one of the owners of the Dutch yacht.



As time passes, Quoyle finds himself developing feelings for a woman named Wavey Prowse. She is slender and soft-spoken, often seen around town. Wavey is accompanied by her young son, Herry, who has Down Syndrome. Quoyle and Wavey's connection deepens, and there comes a moment where they almost give in to their desires and make love. However, Wavey's lingering grief over the loss of her late husband, who drowned, causes her to abruptly halt their romantic encounter.

Amidst Quoyle's personal affairs, a distant cousin named Nolan asserts his claim on the family house. This dispute over ownership adds to the ongoing events in the town. Modern technology begins to impact the community, with factoryships replacing smaller, locally-owned vessels. Additionally, the presence of oil tankers and nearby drilling operations occasionally leads to the contamination of recent fish catches, adversely affecting the livelihood of the townspeople.



One fateful day, Quoyle spots a floating body near Quoyle Point and attempts to rescue it. Unfortunately, his rescue mission ends in disaster as he accidentally capsizes the boat. Realizing that the headless body belongs to Bayonet Melville, Quoyle finds himself in a life-threatening situation. Fortunately, he is found and rescued by Jake Buggit.



Quoyle's troubles continue when he discovers his cousin, Nolan, sleeping in the hallway near his daughters' room. Faced with the decision of confronting Nolan or recognizing his mental instability, Quoyle opts to take him to a mental institution shortly after Christmas. A few days later, when Quoyle visits Nolan at the institution, his cousin reveals a distressing secret: Quoyle's own father had once raped the aunt, who is Nolan's sister.



In the early spring, the aunt returns, coinciding with a major storm. Tragically, the family house falls off a rock and into the sea, succumbing to the forces of nature. During this time, Wavey Prowse brings a white dog as a gift for Bunny, Quoyle's daughter. Bunny grows fond of the dog, and as Quoyle and Wavey spend more time together, their bond deepens.



Weeks later, tragedy strikes the town when Jake Buggit fails to return home from lobster fishing. A search party discovers him seemingly

lifeless, with his foot caught on a resilient piece of rope known as the slingstone hitch. However, miraculously, during his funeral wake, Jake suddenly begins coughing and comes back to life. He shares his incredible survival story with the townspeople.



Having gone through a transformative journey and healed from his troubled past, Quoyle is prepared to move forward in life. He proposes to Wavey, and she happily accepts his proposal, signaling a new chapter in their lives as they prepare for marriage.