The Swing in the Garden
Encyclopedia
The Swing in the Garden, first published in 1975 by Oberon
, is the fifth novel by Canadian
author Hugh Hood
and the first in his ambitious 12-novel cycle, The New Age.
and Jackson's Point, Ontario in the 1930s. The family lives in the idyllic Summerville
neighborhood until his father Andrew, a confirmed socialist, loses his job as a university professor for political reasons. Andrew Goderich then purchases the Lazy Bay Grill in Jackson's Point and the family runs this business for some time, eventually running out of money because they are overstaffed and are too kind to let anyone go. Later they manage a ramshackle hotel, the Lakeview, on the Toronto Islands
.
in the midst of dramatic social change. Canada is slowly growing away from the United Kingdom
and developing ever-closer ties with the United States
. In Toronto, strongly felt class structures divide neighborhoods hard-hit by the Depression, while in the surrounding area, pristine forest is turned into cottage country for the increasingly wealthy Toronto elites. As the clouds of World War II
loom on the horizon, the narrator and Canada itself both struggle through growing pains in their search for an identity.
Oberon
Oberon is a legendary king of the fairies.Oberon may also refer to:-People:* Merle Oberon , British actress* Oberon Zell-Ravenheart , Neopagan activist-Media and entertainment:* Oberon...
, is the fifth novel by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author Hugh Hood
Hugh Hood
Hugh John Blagdon Hood, OC was a Canadian novelist, short story writer, essayist and university professor....
and the first in his ambitious 12-novel cycle, The New Age.
Plot and setting
This first book in the New Age series deals with narrator Matt Goderich's childhood and formative years growing up in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Jackson's Point, Ontario in the 1930s. The family lives in the idyllic Summerville
Summerville
Summerville may refer to:*Summerville, former name of Somersville, California*Summerville, Georgia*Summerville, Oregon*Summerville, Pennsylvania*Summerville, South Carolina*Summerville, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
neighborhood until his father Andrew, a confirmed socialist, loses his job as a university professor for political reasons. Andrew Goderich then purchases the Lazy Bay Grill in Jackson's Point and the family runs this business for some time, eventually running out of money because they are overstaffed and are too kind to let anyone go. Later they manage a ramshackle hotel, the Lakeview, on the Toronto Islands
Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour...
.
Themes
Hood's observational style and attention to detail bring to life a 1930's OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in the midst of dramatic social change. Canada is slowly growing away from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and developing ever-closer ties with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In Toronto, strongly felt class structures divide neighborhoods hard-hit by the Depression, while in the surrounding area, pristine forest is turned into cottage country for the increasingly wealthy Toronto elites. As the clouds of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
loom on the horizon, the narrator and Canada itself both struggle through growing pains in their search for an identity.