Peter Behrens

Peter Behrens is a Canadian-American novelist and screenwriter born in Montreal in 1954. He has established himself as a significant voice in contemporary literature, particularly through his historical fiction and short stories. His breakthrough came with the novel "The Law of Dreams" (2006), which won the Governor General's Award for English fiction. The book, which follows a young man's exile during Ireland's Great Famine, was initially rejected by 25 publishers before finding success and garnering multiple award nominations. Behrens began his career publishing short fiction in the late 1970s, with work appearing in Best Canadian Stories collections and his debut collection "Night Driving" (1987). His academic background includes studies at Concordia University and McGill University, followed by fellowships at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and Stanford University. Between his early literary work and later novels, Behrens worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, continuing to publish short stories and essays in various North American magazines. His writing often explores themes of migration, identity, and historical upheaval through carefully researched narratives.

Readers frequently note Behrens' attention to historical detail and his ability to create immersive period settings. His prose style receives praise for its lyrical quality while maintaining narrative momentum. What readers liked: - Rich historical research in "The Law of Dreams" - Character development, particularly in "Carry Me" - Emotional depth in depicting family relationships - Vivid descriptions of landscapes and settings What readers disliked: - Some find the pacing slow, especially in "The O'Briens" - Multiple timeline shifts can be confusing - Occasional overuse of descriptive passages - Some readers report difficulty connecting with certain characters Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - The Law of Dreams: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) - Carry Me: 3.7/5 (450+ ratings) - The O'Briens: 3.6/5 (650+ ratings) Amazon: - The Law of Dreams: 4.1/5 - Carry Me: 4.0/5 - The O'Briens: 3.9/5 One reader noted: "His ability to transport you to another time is remarkable, but sometimes the plot gets lost in the details."

The Law of Dreams (2006) Following an Irish teenager's journey of survival and exile during the Great Famine of 1847, this novel traces his path from Ireland across Britain and ultimately to North America.

Night Driving (1987) A collection of short stories exploring various characters navigating personal challenges and transformations across North American landscapes.

Colum McCann Creates sweeping historical narratives that span continents and generations, with particular focus on Irish history and immigration experiences. His novel TransAtlantic connects multiple storylines across time periods similar to Behrens' approach to historical storytelling.

Sebastian Barry Writes about Irish history and family sagas with deep attention to individual characters caught in historical events. His work The Secret Scripture deals with similar themes of displacement and survival that appear in Behrens' novels.

Joseph O'Connor Focuses on Irish diaspora stories and historical narratives that trace family lines through major historical events. His novel Star of the Sea covers the Irish famine period and Atlantic crossings that parallel themes in The Law of Dreams.

Emma Donoghue Constructs detailed historical fiction based on real events and extensive research. Her work deals with migration, identity, and survival stories set against carefully documented historical backgrounds.

Michael Crummey Writes about Maritime Canadian history and family stories with focus on harsh landscapes and survival. His work explores themes of inheritance and historical memory in Canadian settings similar to Behrens' Montreal-based narratives.