The Blind Viper A Novel

A resonant new novel from the Guernica Prize-winning author of This Cleaving and This Burning. A symphony of memory, art, and resilience, The Blind Viper explores war, creativity, and survival. Set on a secluded Greek island and in the shadows of the Spanish Civil War, it follows Leo Dalca, a blind painter whose artistry transcends sight. Leo’ s past— marked by a friendship forged and shattered in battle— haunts his present, where his work captures both personal and collective loss. When a young poet arrives, a clash of ideals and memory sparks revelations about love, sacrifice, and artistic integrity. With echoes of Michael Ondaatje and Kazuo Ishiguro, The Blind Viper is a meditation on history’ s scars and the power of art, cementing J.A. Wainwright’ s place among Canada’ s foremost literary voices.

J.A. WAINWRIGHT, McCulloch Emeritus Professor in English, has lived in Nova Scotia for over 50 years after growing up in Toronto. A specialist in Canadian and contemporary literature, his work is shaped by a diverse range of influences, including Patrick White, Lawrence Durrell, and Bob Dylan. He is a prolific author and has published 16 books, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, a play, and an opera libretto. He now divides his time between Nova Scotia and Toronto.