The Magpie


Read by Atul Sharma

In the aftermath of World War I, even the victors are rocked by social upheaval, as returning soldiers expect a reward for their war-time sacrifices, and women grieve for their lost husbands and sons. General strikes rock Paris, Lyon, Brussels, Glasgow, San Francisco, and even quiet Winnipeg on the Canadian prairies.

[i]The Magpie[\i] is set during the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, as Captain Craig Forrester returns home from war, to a city and a country in the throes of civil unrest. Both a social commentary and a novel about post-war disillusionment, author Douglas Durkin (1884-1967) examines the greed, hypocrisy, and narrow-mindedness of the “decent” classes seeking to restore the pre-war [i]status quo ante[\i]. Secondary themes include the redemptive power of art and the role of women in post-war society.
- Summary by ASharma (9 hr 8 min)

Chapters

Part 1: Chapter 1 5:57 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 1: Chapter 2 10:20 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 1: Chapter 3 19:46 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 1: Chapter 4 34:53 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 1: Chapter 5 33:28 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 1: Chapter 6 51:06 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 2: Chapter 1 34:44 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 2: Chapter 2 1:00:02 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 2: Chapter 3 38:52 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 2: Chapter 4 22:38 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 2: Chapter 5 45:36 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 2: Chapter 6 45:01 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 3: Chapter 1 33:38 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 3: Chapter 2 26:47 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 3: Chapter 3 48:27 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 3: Chapter 4 24:01 Read by Atul Sharma
Part 3: Chapter 5 12:44 Read by Atul Sharma