The Colony of Unrequited Dreams

This is an ambitious book that attempts to redefine all we think we know of Joey Smallwood. To take this genuine and formidable NL character and use him in such a meaty work of historical fiction was brave of Wayne Johnson to say the least. To read his quirky earlier works and then dive into "Colony" is to dive with Johnson out of his comfort level and enter a new realm of possibility in the work of fiction.

Colony illustrates everything that is right about a good historical fiction. Take something and someone you believe you know and place it under the microscope of daily live where characters love and lose, win and fail.

Wayne Johnson's masterpiece.

Unless you wish to spend your valuable time reading a novel that is drier than the paper upon which it's written it's not worth it. A very depressing, long labour to read.

In 1949 the British colony of Newfoundland and Labrador entered Confederation to become the youngest province in the Dominion of Canada. The man responsible for the political move was Joey Smallwood. Smallwood was a curious figure from the start. A man convinced of his own history and somewhat of a Canadian with a Napoleon complex. Too bad for Smallwood that the island of Newfoundland had not the resources nor he the access to build an empire. However, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, is a sweeping fictional tale based on an actual person. Spanning 50 years in the life of a consuming ambition, this book seeks to explain the strange and odd policies that emerged from the very first premier of Newfoundland. Smallwood had desired to be Prime Minister of Great Britian but settled for his own inaugural leadership role. Today he is as much a part of the province as Churchill still is to Britain.

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams is about a man, a vision, a political hunger without a core compass, and a love that remains forever just a wish. The female Fielding character is an imaginative stresser for Joey through the years, but she embodies the heart of his dreams that are sabotaged by his own inner ghosts and frustrations.

I quite liked the book. The style of writing, the story, the diary and the history book was unusual in the beginning, but as you got into the story, it made it quite fascinating. You knew you would find out different information, depending what part you were reading. I didn't know a great deal about Joey Smallwood before I read the book and it taught me a lot.

The reviewer was a childhood resident of
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, and remembers
the great electoral battles of 1948 and 1949, though he was just ten years old at the time. He remembers numerous radio broadcasts by Joey; 'My fellow Newfoundlanders...' , the huge Valdmanis disappointment, etc., etc. So he found Johnston's story gripping as a novel and a compelling reminder of days
long gone. The reviewer's father, George Russell, trod the tracks in the
early 1940's as an itinerant salesman,
encountering many of the same conditions
Smallwood had some years earlier.

Johnston has created, quite apart from any personal involvement in the historical reality, a masterpiece which, together with such other works as Proulx's 'The Shipping News', bode well to create a defining literature for the province. Nevertheless, as always when real history and imaginative fiction are combined, the book leaves one more than a little confused and troubled. How many of these events were real? OK

Knowing the background of a person and the hardships they endured is the key to knowing what they're really about. This book is a fictional account of Joey Smallwood, focusing mostly on his life leading up to his greatest acheivement, bringing Newfoundland into Confederation. It provided a strong insight into the political person he was, and explored the possibilities of his deepest hearts desires. "Dreams" leaves one with a feeling of knowing Mr. Smallwood on a very personal level, at a time in his life when his destiny was unsure. It leaves one with the desire to further explore the accomplishments of this great man and his immortalized history.

A brilliant, powerful story of Newfoundland history that touches on the very isolation that was outport Newfoundland at the beginning of the 20th Century as we struggled to make our way as a country. Eloquently written, with a cast of characters as unique and intriguing as the province itself. A must read for anyone, especially those with ties to Newfoundland, or those wanting to understand the inexplicable tie all Newfoundlanders have for "the Rock" we call home. For remember, "thou art a Newfoundlander and unto Newfoundland thou shalt return."

This is a really good book.

Having said that, it must also be said that two of the major components of this novel are less than successful. The central "mystery" is ultimately of little consequence and one of the two main characters around whom this intricate, fascinating novel is wound is pretty shallow and ultimately uninteresting.

However, the story of Joey Smallwood and his times and his native Newfoundland is incredibly well told. Gripping, funny, pathetic and full of adventures, Smallwood's life as portrayed in this book may not be 100% historically accurate, but man, is it ever entertaining.

This novel; is so good, that despite a couple of major flaws, it is destined to be a classic of Canadian literature.

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston is a gripping read. He recounts a very believable story about one of the most famous characters in Newfoundland's history. He does this by highlighting Joey Smallwood's relationship with the ubiquitous Fielding while at the same time reminding us of Smallwood's family and his roots. It illustrates how closely all aspects of life are linked. Through Smallwood, we are shown how persistence and the desire to never disappear can be interesting ingredients for life and can result in longevity. It is a must read for anyone who likes to cheer for the underdog.

I don't remember the last time a book gripped me as Johnston's has. I fell into this book and could not get out... did not want to get out. Fielding's alternating chapters on "the history of Newfoundland" are a brilliant addition... I sometimes laughed out loud and wished this Fielding were a real person so I could get a hold of more of her witty writings. I warmly reccommend this book to anyone... and it is a MUST read for every Newfoundlander.

Johnston does an amazing job of telling a fictional story filled with a large amount of truth. This easy-to-read book is my all-time favourite, as it tells the story of Joey Smallwood, a young man with no chances in life, whose one dream is to be Prime Minister of Newfoundland. Terrific for anyone wanting a great story of dreams, love and life.

A great story for everyone, unless you are a Joey Smallwood fan! Johnston's fine tale creates a fictional story around the real character of the legendary Premier of Newfoundland who brought the province into Confederation in 1949. The story follows Smallwood's humble beginning and his journey to the top of Newfoundland politics via numerous branch detours, including a stint in New York City. The love story of Smallwood and the brilliant character Fielding provides a solid thread to this great story. I also enjoyed the description of the referendum battle to bring
Newfoundland into Confederation - somewhat reminiscent of a current
referendum battle!

Johnston manages to combine a fictional story, actual historical events and even a bit of romance in this entertaining look at how Joey Smallwood, Newfoundland's most famous premier, managed to fulfill his dream of fame and recognition. As the young Smallwood gets older, he leaves Newfoundland for New York, a place where he thinks he can make something of himself. After struggling there for several years, he returns home to fight his way into politics - and history. I really enjoyed this twist on the province's most controversial political story.