History of Wolves: A Novel - Couverture souple

“So delicately calibrated and precisely beautiful that one might not immediately sense the sledgehammer of pain building inside this book. And I mean that in the best way. What powerful tension and depth this provides!” (Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake)

“[A] stellar debut. . . . A sense of foreboding subtly permeates the story . . . [the] wordsmithing is fantastic. . . . Fridlund has elegantly crafted a striking protagonist whose dark leanings cap off the tragedy at the heart of this book, which is moving and disturbing.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review))

“Fridlund is an assured writer. . . . the sharp consequences for [the novel’s] characters make it singe and sing—a literary tour de force.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“The writing is beautiful . . . a triumph of tone and attitude. Lovers of character-driven literary fiction will embrace this.” (Booklist (starred review))

“As exquisite a first novel as I’ve ever encountered. Poetic, complex and utterly, heartbreakingly beautiful.” (T.C. Boyle, author of The Harder They Come)

“Emily Fridlund’s language is generous and precise, her story grief-tempered and forcefully moving. History of Wolves is the loneliest thing I’ve read in years, and it’s gorgeous. These are haunted pages.” (Leif Enger, author of Peace Like A River)

“Lyrical and beautiful. Its otherworldly winter escapism is just right for mid-season stir crazy. . . . Supple fiction formed in able hands, History of Wolves delivers Emily Fridlund to the doorstep of literature’s beau monde; I think she’ll find a good home there.” (National Post)

“History of Wolves is as beautiful and as icy as the Minnesota woods where it’s set, and with her first book, Fridlund has already proven herself to be a singular talent.” (NPR)

“A novel of ideas that reads like smart pulp, a page-turner of craft and calibration.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Mysteries multiply, and prose and plot braid together into an indelible story of fascination and dread.” (Vulture)