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Flesh and Blood: Selected Short Fiction
From the author of the best-selling, Giller-nominated River Thieves comes a heartbreaking and masterful collection of short fiction.
With uncommon elegance and compassion, Michael Crummey has created a community of exiles, characters estranged from their home, from their families or, just as often, from themselves. Set largely in the small Newfoundland mining town of Black Rock, but straying as far west as Vancouver and as far east as China, these stories are subtle, stark portrayals of people alternately looking for or trying desperately to escape their place in the world.
A young boy confuses love and allegiance, then stumbles into the complexities of adulthood; a brother and sister fall in love with the same woman; a frustrated wife protests her husband’s neglect by going on strike with the miners’ union; a lover’s drug habit reunites a woman with the sister she has lost.
Anchor Books is proud to publish an expanded edition of Michael Crummey’s brilliant collection Flesh and Blood , which includes three original stories written just for this edition. Graceful, affecting, and generous of spirit, these stories are unforgettable.
With uncommon elegance and compassion, Michael Crummey has created a community of exiles, characters estranged from their home, from their families or, just as often, from themselves. Set largely in the small Newfoundland mining town of Black Rock, but straying as far west as Vancouver and as far east as China, these stories are subtle, stark portrayals of people alternately looking for or trying desperately to escape their place in the world.
A young boy confuses love and allegiance, then stumbles into the complexities of adulthood; a brother and sister fall in love with the same woman; a frustrated wife protests her husband’s neglect by going on strike with the miners’ union; a lover’s drug habit reunites a woman with the sister she has lost.
Anchor Books is proud to publish an expanded edition of Michael Crummey’s brilliant collection Flesh and Blood , which includes three original stories written just for this edition. Graceful, affecting, and generous of spirit, these stories are unforgettable.
279 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Michael Crummey
31 books1,037 followersBorn in Buchans, Newfoundland, Crummey grew up there and in Wabush, Labrador, where he moved with his family in the late 1970s. He went to university with no idea what to do with his life and, to make matters worse, started writing poems in his first year. Just before graduating with a BA in English he won the Gregory Power Poetry Award. First prize was three hundred dollars (big bucks back in 1987) and it gave him the mistaken impression there was money to be made in poetry.
He published a slender collection of poems called Arguments with Gravity in 1996, followed two years later by Hard Light. 1998 also saw the publication of a collection of short stories, Flesh and Blood, and Crummey's nomination for the Journey Prize.
Crummey's debut novel, River Thieves (2001) was a Canadian bestseller, winning the Thomas Head Raddall Award and the Winterset Award for Excellence in Newfoundland Writing. It was also shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the Books in Canada First Novel Award, and the IMPAC Award. His second novel, The Wreckage (2005), was nominated for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and longlisted for the 2007 IMPAC Award.
Galore was published in Canada in 2009. A national bestseller, it was the winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (Canada & Caribbean), the Canadian Authors' Association Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the Governor-General's Award for fiction.
He lives in St. John's, Newfoundland with his wife and three step-kids.
He published a slender collection of poems called Arguments with Gravity in 1996, followed two years later by Hard Light. 1998 also saw the publication of a collection of short stories, Flesh and Blood, and Crummey's nomination for the Journey Prize.
Crummey's debut novel, River Thieves (2001) was a Canadian bestseller, winning the Thomas Head Raddall Award and the Winterset Award for Excellence in Newfoundland Writing. It was also shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize, the Books in Canada First Novel Award, and the IMPAC Award. His second novel, The Wreckage (2005), was nominated for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and longlisted for the 2007 IMPAC Award.
Galore was published in Canada in 2009. A national bestseller, it was the winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (Canada & Caribbean), the Canadian Authors' Association Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the Governor-General's Award for fiction.
He lives in St. John's, Newfoundland with his wife and three step-kids.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 19, 2017
4.5 Crummey is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and although this doesn't quite hit the heights of his 'Sweetland', it is still a terrific collection of his short stories, a format I don't usually much enjoy. These stories have a few interconnections (kind of like Strout's new 'Anything is Possible', which it reminded me of), and all but one take place in the tiny mining town of Black Rock, Newfoundland (the one exception concerns an ex-pat from there, living in China). Crummey started his literary output as a poet, and that certainly shows in the lyrical quality of his prose, which is often astonishing beautiful. There are a few clunkers, hence the 4.5 rating instead of a full five.
Be aware that there are TWO different editions: the one with the illustration of the house contains three additional stories, that are amongst the best in the collection (but has a more mundane cover than the gorgeous Lutz Dille photograph gracing the truncated one). I wound up buying copies of both in order to get the additional stories (both editions are OOP and carry a hefty price tag on the secondary market), but the first one is a signed edition - so I'm satisfied!
Be aware that there are TWO different editions: the one with the illustration of the house contains three additional stories, that are amongst the best in the collection (but has a more mundane cover than the gorgeous Lutz Dille photograph gracing the truncated one). I wound up buying copies of both in order to get the additional stories (both editions are OOP and carry a hefty price tag on the secondary market), but the first one is a signed edition - so I'm satisfied!
August 21, 2013
I continue my fascination with the genre of short stories.
I have not had a lot of luck with these collections in the past. I struggle with the format, and approach each volume with trepidation, determined to enjoy or at least appreciate this popular type of literature. Sometimes I don't get them, or I'm just not able to figure out the meaning of them, or I can't bear that they are over and there are so many places the story could still go. They don't always seem to resolve themselves in a way that I feel is satisfying. I am getting better at this, but usually the satisfaction eludes me. I am like a masochist, submitting myself again and again to the game. But I am pleased to say I am gaining some ground and I am beginning to appreciate them. And this volume of stories by Michael Crummey, acclaimed author of The Wreckage" and "The River Thieves", has helped me along my path.
This short book includes over a dozen stories, most of which are centered on the small fictional mining town of Black Rock in central Newfoundland. The mine serves as the center of the community and most of the inhabitants depend on it for their livelihood. The slow death of the mine seems to mirror the slow decay of the town as the stories are laid out and some characters even reappear in subsequent tales. The "Flesh and Blood" of the title refers to family. We do hear a great deal about family in Newfoundland literature, but the "fish and sea" which we usually associate with the island are replaced this time by the all pervading ore dust from the mines.
Crummy is a master of language. Some phrases or sentences in his stories make you smile, such as his description of fate "as simply chance in a joker's hat", or they stop you cold, such as when he describes the trip driving from Twillingate to Black Rock, when, "Out of the window I could see a rusty orange petticoat of abandoned scrap metal poking through the white shawl of snow at the foot of the rail bed".
I found these stories both emotionally and psychologically satisfying. My favorites were "Serendipity", a story of a boy who dislikes his father for all his good luck until one day he unexpectedly discovers his father isn't so lucky after all. Another one I liked was "An Act of God", when once again Crummey's language shines through, as Ian's father sits in church and collapses halfway through the sermon, while the "the minister's words have begun to string out in languorous folding arcs, like strands of pulled taffy".
"Flesh", "The Night Watchman", "The Measure", "Celestials and "Diaspora" were equally satisfying.
So I am gradually being won over. This is one of the few volumes of short stories I would recommend.
I have not had a lot of luck with these collections in the past. I struggle with the format, and approach each volume with trepidation, determined to enjoy or at least appreciate this popular type of literature. Sometimes I don't get them, or I'm just not able to figure out the meaning of them, or I can't bear that they are over and there are so many places the story could still go. They don't always seem to resolve themselves in a way that I feel is satisfying. I am getting better at this, but usually the satisfaction eludes me. I am like a masochist, submitting myself again and again to the game. But I am pleased to say I am gaining some ground and I am beginning to appreciate them. And this volume of stories by Michael Crummey, acclaimed author of The Wreckage" and "The River Thieves", has helped me along my path.
This short book includes over a dozen stories, most of which are centered on the small fictional mining town of Black Rock in central Newfoundland. The mine serves as the center of the community and most of the inhabitants depend on it for their livelihood. The slow death of the mine seems to mirror the slow decay of the town as the stories are laid out and some characters even reappear in subsequent tales. The "Flesh and Blood" of the title refers to family. We do hear a great deal about family in Newfoundland literature, but the "fish and sea" which we usually associate with the island are replaced this time by the all pervading ore dust from the mines.
Crummy is a master of language. Some phrases or sentences in his stories make you smile, such as his description of fate "as simply chance in a joker's hat", or they stop you cold, such as when he describes the trip driving from Twillingate to Black Rock, when, "Out of the window I could see a rusty orange petticoat of abandoned scrap metal poking through the white shawl of snow at the foot of the rail bed".
I found these stories both emotionally and psychologically satisfying. My favorites were "Serendipity", a story of a boy who dislikes his father for all his good luck until one day he unexpectedly discovers his father isn't so lucky after all. Another one I liked was "An Act of God", when once again Crummey's language shines through, as Ian's father sits in church and collapses halfway through the sermon, while the "the minister's words have begun to string out in languorous folding arcs, like strands of pulled taffy".
"Flesh", "The Night Watchman", "The Measure", "Celestials and "Diaspora" were equally satisfying.
So I am gradually being won over. This is one of the few volumes of short stories I would recommend.
April 20, 2016
right off the top i feel the need to confess: short stories are something i really struggle with as a reader. i tend to come away from reading them feeling as though something is not complete ("wait! that's it??") or, alternately, i spend a lot of time going "what the what just happened?!" so i totally realize i have a shortcoming in this department - but i am working on it.
i approached crummey's collection optimistically. i love him. (seriously!!) and i held hope that his beautiful use of language and evocation of place when writing would draw me in completely. while there were many stories i liked a lot in flesh and blood i am left wishing i loved it more. (my fault, i know!) i give the book 4-stars for the writing. my own overall enjoyment of the collection is more around 3-stars (which PAINS me to my core to say about crummey's work).
i loved the settings and the glimpses at mining life during the industry's decline. crummey is terrific at the nuances of family and community - both of which are important in these stories. i also liked how the location of black rock recurred, along with a character or two cropping up in different stories -- i definitely appreciated the continuity in these instances.
i do suspect i will be thinking about a few of the stories for quite some time... in particular, 'the measure', featuring nurse maggie dawe.
i approached crummey's collection optimistically. i love him. (seriously!!) and i held hope that his beautiful use of language and evocation of place when writing would draw me in completely. while there were many stories i liked a lot in flesh and blood i am left wishing i loved it more. (my fault, i know!) i give the book 4-stars for the writing. my own overall enjoyment of the collection is more around 3-stars (which PAINS me to my core to say about crummey's work).
i loved the settings and the glimpses at mining life during the industry's decline. crummey is terrific at the nuances of family and community - both of which are important in these stories. i also liked how the location of black rock recurred, along with a character or two cropping up in different stories -- i definitely appreciated the continuity in these instances.
i do suspect i will be thinking about a few of the stories for quite some time... in particular, 'the measure', featuring nurse maggie dawe.
April 20, 2016
An excellent collection of stories! Will be writing more here when able...
July 4, 2017
A series of short series about the people of Black Rock, NL, a mining town, and the often disfunctional lives they lived. Michael Crummey was born in Buchans, an actual mining town and has probably drawn on happenings from his boyhood there and in Wabush on the Labrador coast, which still has active mining.
My goodness, he sure knows how to draw the reader into his characters. At times I felt as though I knew them personally.
Another good read and more to come.
My goodness, he sure knows how to draw the reader into his characters. At times I felt as though I knew them personally.
Another good read and more to come.
September 21, 2025
I loved these short stories. Some of them I loved so much that I wish they were full length novels. I didn’t love only about 3 of them which is great considering how many there were. The characters and their relationships were very strong, Crummey knows how to make them come to life. All the stories were connected to Newfoundland but none were repetitive. They all had their own characters, and meaning.
The writing, I absolutely adore Crummey’s writing style, he has an incredible way with words and he’s so descriptive.
The writing, I absolutely adore Crummey’s writing style, he has an incredible way with words and he’s so descriptive.
May 10, 2026
An exploration of a small mining town in Central Newfoundland. It's a gritty retelling of the fictitious town's history and people. While the book is a collection of short stories, it still reads like a connected body of work. Another masterclass in creating a sense of place.
February 11, 2020
I don't know why I ploughed through this to the end. Short stories are not a favourite genre of mine, but I have enjoyed others of Michael Crummey's books, and am interested in the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador. But like other authors' short stories, these seemed to go nowhere, after skipping around chronologically and confusedly. Only the last one, "That Fall", seemed to have a beginning and an end and characters that I could relate to. Other readers have enjoyed and will enjoy these stories, but not I.
January 23, 2021
I'm a huge Michael Crummey fan, his novels are fantastic. This collection was a must read for me.
This collection of stories is worth your time. The collection has 16 stories, none that are overly long or boring. The stories aren't the kind of short story that "pop" at the end and blow you away, they are the slow burn type. The stories After Image, Miracles and That Fall were a few of my favorites.
If you like Michael Crummey novels, you would enjoy this collection.
Enjoy!
BJ
This collection of stories is worth your time. The collection has 16 stories, none that are overly long or boring. The stories aren't the kind of short story that "pop" at the end and blow you away, they are the slow burn type. The stories After Image, Miracles and That Fall were a few of my favorites.
If you like Michael Crummey novels, you would enjoy this collection.
Enjoy!
BJ
January 29, 2021
I heard of the Author Michael Crummey through word of mouth. This is a book of short stories, usually a good introduction to an author's writing style. I enjoyed the first story, but not so much the subsequent three stories. It was more the characters and the subject matter that didn't entice me. I eventually abandoned the book and returned it to the library unfinished. I believe Crummey is a good writer, but his subject matters were not really for me.
October 10, 2012
Interesting collection of short stories- all tied to the Newfoundland mining town of Black Rock. Considering that the author is male, it's interesting that so many of the characters are female, and the stories told from their perspectives.
April 16, 2023
I'm not a short story person. I enjoyed being there (or maybe not being there especially trapped underground.). I enjoyed staring at the sketches. The plots were often quiet. That was okay too, but could I say less dramatic than some.
November 20, 2010
perfect read for a glimpse of Newfoundland culture and history
May 9, 2017
3.6/5.0
August 10, 2017
A homesick Newfie writes of home from Toronto
September 15, 2017
An extraordinary collection of stories, all beautifully interlinked. Crummey's spot on descriptions of life's most poignant but mundane moments truly stirs the soul.
April 21, 2018
Beautiful.
February 10, 2020
His short stories are as stark and desolate as the Newfoundland mining town in which they are set. Despite that, I found the book to be moving and full of humanity.
January 22, 2022
I have loved every MC book I have read. This one is separate shorts that all have connections of place and people between them and every story had me thinking about how it continued.
August 24, 2022
Could not get into this.
March 26, 2023
Thoughtful stories of family that presage but do ot entirely display the greateness of later books like River Thieves and The Innocents.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews