The New Yorker Summer Fiction Issue: “Rough Deeds” by Annie Proulx

“Rough Deeds” by Annie Proulx

In New France (Canada) in the mid 18th Century, Duquet does business with an Englishman to expand his trade. He acquires vast timber holdings in Maine and then has to defend the timber against poachers, including a man named McBogle. Duquet encounters some poachers and kills one, apparently McBogle’s son. Much later, Duquet is captured by McBogle and is brought to a sawmill. The end of the story hints at a gruesome demise for Duquet.

This didn’t seem like a short story to me, but there’s nothing in the magazine that suggests otherwise. It covers a long period of time, although the interesting bits are the encounters between Duquet and McBogle. Was it really necessary to give so much of Duquet’s backstory? Maybe. Especially if this is part of something longer. But in a true short story, probably not.