Synopsis
Farfarers: A New History of North America by Farley Mowat is an imaginative and provocative exploration of the pre-Columbian history of North America, in which Mowat proposes that European exploration of the continent predates the Norse settlements of Greenland and Vinland by several centuries. Drawing on a blend of historical evidence, folklore, and his own interpretations, Mowat introduces readers to the Albans, a seafaring people of Celtic origin who he theorizes traveled to North America long before the Norse, driven by the pursuit of walrus ivory and other resources.
Mowat paints a vivid picture of the Albans' life and voyages, suggesting that these displaced Europeans fled the expanding influence of the Romans and other invaders in their homeland, finding refuge in remote northern regions such as the Shetlands, Faroes, and Iceland. From these northern outposts, he speculates that they ventured further west to the coasts of Newfoundland, Labrador, and beyond. According to Mowat, these Albans established seasonal settlements, forming a thriving but largely unrecorded maritime culture that predated Norse incursions and left behind subtle traces in oral traditions and archaeological clues.
While the book is not a conventional historical treatise, it is rich in conjecture and storytelling. Mowat combines archaeological findings, such as unusual stone structures and burial sites, with literary references and Norse sagas to craft his case. He argues that the Albans may have played a foundational role in shaping the early human history of North America, challenging the dominant narratives centered on Norse and later European exploration.
Mowat's writing is passionate and engaging, though often controversial due to his reliance on speculation where evidence is sparse. His book is as much a critique of traditional historical scholarship as it is an alternative history. It invites readers to rethink established ideas about exploration and migration, embracing the possibility of forgotten or overlooked chapters in the human story. By weaving together history, myth, and imagination, Farfarers offers a compelling narrative that captivates and challenges its audience, leaving them to ponder the mysterious origins of early North American exploration.