A World Elsewhere returns to the richly imagined world associated with Wayne Johnston, weaving a sweeping historical narrative of ambition, remorse and fragile hope. Set at the close of the nineteenth century, the story moves from the streets of St. John’s to the rarefied atmosphere of Princeton and a grand, unsettling estate in North Carolina.
At its heart is Landish Druken, an unforgettable figure whose size and sharp tongue make him both conspicuous and compelling. As a young man at Princeton, Landish is taken under the wing of George Vanderluyden, heir to one of America’s great fortunes. Years later, when Landish and his adopted son are in desperate need, they turn to Vanderluyden for help—and are drawn into a world built on lies, privilege and manipulation.
The suspected murder of a child lies at the centre of the mystery, testing the limits of loyalty between friends and family and probing how far people will go to protect the ones they love. Themes of belonging, class, power and moral compromise run through the novel, as characters struggle with the consequences of their choices.
This literary historical novel will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven stories, atmospheric settings and slow-building tension that explores the darker side of wealth and influence.
