The Angel's Jig

This novel from acclaimed author Poliquin (A Secret Between Us) is based on a forgotten practice in New Brunswick of local authorities auctioning off orphaned children and the elderly poor at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The life of the unnamed main character, an elderly man who has been an elective mute for his whole life, is charted through his multiple appearances at auction and the families he subsequently lives with. From the first family, where he becomes the overworked hireling while another auctioned boy becomes the pet of the household's daughters, to the last family, which he must leave because they are facing financial ruin and the loss of their house, the quirks of human relationships and family dynamics dictate much of the course of his life. The practice of auctioning might seem inhumane, but in his preface, Poliquin notes that it was a way for people to avoid orphanages and other institutions. He carefully ensures that his central character is not a victim of tragedy but someone resilient in the face of adversity. Long periods of existing without dignity are interspersed with moments of freedom, love, and pride. This novel is a warm and whimsical meditation on one man's life and the web that connects him, even isolated by his self-imposed silence, to the lives of those around him. (Apr.)