Burden of Desire
Encyclopedia
Burden of Desire is a large mass-market book based on the Halifax Explosion
of 1917 written by Canadian-born journalist Robert MacNeil
. MacNeil, who hosted the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, has also published other fiction and non-fiction books including Breaking News
(1999) and Wordstruck: A Memoir (1989).
Burden of Desire centres around the love triangle of bohemian belle Julia Montgomery Robertson, Freudian professor Stewart MacPherson, and Anglican minister Peter Wentworth. Julia pens a diary detailing her sexual fantasies, which falls into the hands of both Peter and Stewart after the Halifax Explosion
. Writing into the diary at the moment of the blast, Julia hides the book into a coat, which is later donated to Peter who is collecting on behalf of suddenly homeless Haligonians from the north end of the city.
The novel explores the repression and expression of sexual desire during the 1910s, as well as contemporary issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder, postnatal depression, heroism, Freudian Psychoanalysis
, and Modern art
. Not only does the novel look at how Haligonians are affected by the disaster, Burden of Desire provides an intimate look into society at the time - although it focuses mostly on the middle to upper classes of the south end of the Halifax
peninsula, which was not affected as traumatically by the explosion as was the north end of the city.
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
of 1917 written by Canadian-born journalist Robert MacNeil
Robert MacNeil
Robert Breckenridge Ware MacNeil, OC, known sometimes as Robin MacNeil, , is currently a novelist and formerly was a television news anchor and journalist who had paired with Jim Lehrer to create The MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1975.-Early life:MacNeil was born in Montreal, the son of Margaret...
. MacNeil, who hosted the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, has also published other fiction and non-fiction books including Breaking News
Breaking news
Breaking news, also known as a special report or news bulletin, is a current event that broadcasters feel warrants the interruption of scheduled programming and/or current news in order to report its details. Many times, breaking news is used after the news network has already reported on this story...
(1999) and Wordstruck: A Memoir (1989).
Burden of Desire centres around the love triangle of bohemian belle Julia Montgomery Robertson, Freudian professor Stewart MacPherson, and Anglican minister Peter Wentworth. Julia pens a diary detailing her sexual fantasies, which falls into the hands of both Peter and Stewart after the Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
. Writing into the diary at the moment of the blast, Julia hides the book into a coat, which is later donated to Peter who is collecting on behalf of suddenly homeless Haligonians from the north end of the city.
The novel explores the repression and expression of sexual desire during the 1910s, as well as contemporary issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder, postnatal depression, heroism, Freudian Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
, and Modern art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
. Not only does the novel look at how Haligonians are affected by the disaster, Burden of Desire provides an intimate look into society at the time - although it focuses mostly on the middle to upper classes of the south end of the Halifax
Halifax Peninsula
The Halifax Peninsula is a community and planning area located in the urban core of Halifax Regional Municipality in the province of Nova Scotia. Halifax Peninsula is home to Downtown Halifax, the financial and economic heart of the region, which was also the site of the original settlement and...
peninsula, which was not affected as traumatically by the explosion as was the north end of the city.