{"product_id":"the-lesser-blessed-9781771621137","title":"The Lesser Blessed","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePEOPLE\u003c\/i\u003e MAGAZINE'S TOP 10 'ESSENTIAL FICTION, NONFICTION, \u003cbr\u003eMEMOIR AND SHORT STORIES BY NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS AUTHORS TO ADD TO YOUR LIST' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe coming-of-age Indigenous cult classic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInternationally praised and the subject of a critically\u003cbr\u003eacclaimed film, Richard Van Camp's bestselling novel about coming of age in\u003cbr\u003eCanada's North has achieved the status of an Indigenous classic. This special\u003cbr\u003e20th anniversary edition features a new introduction from the author, as well\u003cbr\u003eas two short stories that follow the lives of the novel's main characters. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Lesser Blessed \u003c\/i\u003etracks the exploits of Larry Sole, a\u003cbr\u003eDogrib teenager living in the small Northern town of Fort Simmer. After losing\u003cbr\u003emuch of his memory in a violent accident, what he loves more than anything is\u003cbr\u003ereading, hearing and collecting stories. With no interest in booze or sports, \u003cbr\u003ehe floats on the edges of high school life, sustained by his love of Iron\u003cbr\u003eMaiden and a hopeless passion for school hottie Juliet Hope. When good-looking, \u003cbr\u003etrouble-seeking Johnny Beck moves into town, he shakes up Larry's dreamy\u003cbr\u003eexistence and leads him into a life of sex, drugs and violence, bringing him\u003cbr\u003eface to face with memories that he's done his best to lose. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Lesser Blessed\u003c\/i\u003e is an eye-opening depiction of what it is to be a young\u003cbr\u003eDogrib man in the age of AIDS, disillusionment with Catholicism, and a growing\u003cbr\u003eworld consciousness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author, \u003cb\u003eRichard Van Camp\u003c\/b\u003e was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and is a member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Dene Nation. He acted as a cultural consultant for CBC Television's \u003ci\u003eNorth of 60.\u003c\/i\u003e A graduate of the En'owkin School of Writing in Penticton, he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing at the University of Victoria and completed his Master's of Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. His new baby book \u003ci\u003eWelcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns\u003c\/i\u003e is the official selection of the Books for BC Babies program and was given to every newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008. Richard was awarded Storyteller of the Year for both Canada and the US by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Douglas \u0026 McIntyre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50645637497106,"sku":"9781771621137","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e245776e-a938-4489-99cb-5949ce0a4697.jpg?v=1733157584","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-lesser-blessed-9781771621137","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}