Song of the Crow
Chatwin is pleased to issue a new edition of Layne Maheu’s classic novel, with a new afterword by the author.
The narrator of this ancient story, a crow, learns of this creature called Noah just as the woods come crashing down around him, to become building materials for the ark. The stone ax of this gray-headed beastman blasts not only the trees of the "songscape," but also the very order of things to come.
At a time when our own human landscape seems increasingly challenged, Song of the Crow asks us to linger in an ancient world of elemental wonders. Sensuous and cinematic, this retelling of the Flood Myth brings us to the intelligence of another creature, our relationship to the animals and the natural world, and the impact of free will as we struggle. Lyric, deeply imagined, charged with wisdom and wit, Layne Maheu's story asks the big questions as we understand our journey on the rising tides between the heavens and earth.
Reviews:
“This debut novel is an enchanting account of the natural history of a crow named "I AM" and his observations on a peculiar mammal called Keeyaw, especially one named Noah, who is intent on cutting down tall trees where the crows nest to build an ark…This engrossing story includes the unimaginable realities surrounding the living conditions on Noah's ark during the flood. After reading this remarkable book, you will marvel at every crow you see along the side of the road and maybe even begin to listen to their songs. Highly recommended for all collections.”—Library Journal, starred review
"Beautifully written and artfully imagined." — Robert Hicks, author of The Widow of the South
“Maheu’s canny and skillful marshaling of folklore, scripture, myth and literary reference provides scaffolding for events before, during, and after The Flood as experienced by a creature who, frequently airborne, enjoys excellent points of vantage.”—The Bloomsbury Review
“[A] gentle, powerful debut…Like a fable written by a poet, the story is a simple one, yet its profundity adds layers of complexity that shift, bringing in religion, nature, and morality….the author builds a tale both majestic and humble…”—ForeWord Magazine
"Layne Maheu weaves a rich mix of fiction, crow biology, and mythology blending Christian and Native American legends to tell the crow's story of humankind. The reader feasts on a fabulous crows' eye view of the birds' world and its connection to the human saga." —John Marzluff, co-author of In the Company of Crows and Ravens
“[R]etells ancient Deluge legends in a crow’s voice: raucous and Rabelaisian, yet lyrical, and at times sweetly tender.”—Seattle Times
“No need to spend a long time pondering which book is this summer's most inventive; hands-down champ is this knockout debut by a Seattle carpenter. Maheu has crafted a remarkable retelling of the Noah saga from the perspective of, believe it or not, a crow who witnesses the unfolding drama. This is far more than a lit gimmick; this richly imagined novel delivers an important parable for today from a startlingly fresh perspective.”—The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“It is a testament to Maheu’s gift and his ability to fully inhabit his narrator that the reader identifies more with I AM the crow than Noah the human. Song of the Crow is an enthralling tale that ignites the imagination and reminds us that even the most familiar story has two sides.”—BookPage
" 'Song of the Crow' is worth a good, long look."—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“Maheu’s prose is stark and lovely…a must read for lovers of literary fiction, natural history, mythology, and for anyone who loves a book that will permanently change their perspective.”—Historical Novels Review
“Highly-readable.”—PopMatters.com
“[F]ascinating….Maheu's novel breathes fresh life into a Biblical tale which has become so bland and sanitized that Noah and his ark are most commonly found these days as bedspreads and wallpaper designs in nurseries. Maheu saves Noah from a needlepoint-and-animal-cracker fate and forces us to see what is probably the world's most catastrophic event with a new understanding and appreciation…Nearly every anthropomorphic tale in the past 30 years owes more than a passing nod of debt to Richard Adams' Watership Down. Song of the Crow is no different; but Maheu's novel holds up to the comparison. The bird, who eventually becomes a stowaway on the ark, is as real and compelling to us as Adams' talking rabbits were to readers 30 years ago….Maheu brings global destruction down to a personal, tragic level with an admirable economy of words….crackle[s] with suspense….fresh and compelling.”—January Magazine