A Far Country

Daniel Mason’s novel, A Far Country, is a moving story of human migration – from the impoverished rural ‘backlands’ to the cities – told through the innocent eyes (and mind) of a 14-year-old girl, Isabel. But the story is much more than that. It’s about human endurance and, specifically, about the coming of age of an adolescent girl.

As always, the reasons for moving to the city are economic, but Mason goes deeper into human emotions to bring out the painful aspects of such relocation: leaving the simple natural ways of rural living to face and accept the modern almost-cruel ways of the city. He brings forth the psychological effects of such relocation and enmeshes the reader in its emotions.

A Far Country is the story of young Isabel growing up in a small village in the ‘backlands’ with her parents and her older brother Isaias. Drought and poverty surround her, but there is a rhythm of life and a sense of belonging. It is through Isaias that Isabel’s sense of belonging is reinforced – as it is Isaias who, being close to her age, experiences and understands what she is feeling.

When Isaias leaves for the city, Isabel awaits for his calls and letters. When Isaias does not return, she is forlorn. As she reaches puberty and her family is no longer able to feed her, Isabel is sent to the city to fend for herself. She accepts this responsibility, motivated by need to find her brother Isaias there; and when she does, she knows she will find herself again.

Isabel leaves for the city on a pick-up truck and travels for days with many others like her who are going to the city to escape the hardships of rural life. She finds lodging with her cousin Manuela, looking after her cousin’s baby during the week while Manuela works as a maid for a rich family in the better part of the city.

So begins Isabel’s acquaintance with the city and its different and difficult ways. She finds herself inadequate – unable to speak the city language, or use the skills she had learnt in the village, or understand the behaviour of the city people. Even the geographical references – the landmarks – are unfamiliar to her. Her cousin Manuela’s words are full of warning and Isabel is not always adept at following them, taking risks which repeatedly land her in trouble.

Still there is no sign of her brother Isaias. With money from a part-time job on the weekends, Isabel goes in search of her brother – only to be left clueless and helpless in the end. Painfully, she learns that people come to the city only to disappear. Not only because some harm comes to them, but also because they want to disappear.

Daniel Mason’s A Far Country is a story about change – and acceptance of it. That’s why, perhaps, choosing an adolescent girl as its main character was ideal. Because, during adolescence, we experience profound changes – biological, social, psychological and even spiritual – much of which we are uncomfortable with. And yet, we are unable stop this change, or the confusion arising from it, from engulfing our lives. Mason handles this theme expertly, almost poetically.

Interestingly, Mason does not name the country, nor the city, in his book. The story is most likely set in Latin America – a Catholic Third World country struggling with poverty, economic development, the rural-urban divide, and human migration. However, as it says on the back cover of the book, it could well be any (Third World) country where we see similar internal migration. Certainly, as an Indian, I can see Isabel’s story unfolding before me, almost everyday, in my own country.

Therein lies A Far Country’s universal appeal. It’s a book definitely worth reading.