First blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of women

by Eric McCormack

First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women is the story of Andrew Halfnight, whose life-part dream, part nightmare-begins with a mother's tragic choice and ends with a lover's understanding. In between he experiences tempests at sea, relatives who kill for love and lovers who sacrifice their bodies, all the while unknowingly moving ever closer to the central mystery of his, and all existence.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Horror, Magical Realism

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2014

About the author

Eric McCormack was born in Scotland, later emigrated to Canada and, since 1970, has been teaching at St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, Ontario. He started out on his career writing short stories which appeared in literary journals including Prism International, West Coast Review, Malahat Review, and The New Quarterly. He has also written poetry over the years. In February 1987 his first book, Inspecting the Vaults was published. This is a collection of nineteen short stories, thirteen of which had been previously published in literary magazines. His first novel, The Paradise Motel, was published in February 1989. Eric McCormack became the focus of considerable media interest and his books were translated into many foreign languages. His next novel, The Mysterium, was released in 1992, and his most recent book, First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women was published in 1997. It was nominated for the Governor General's Award. Eric McCormack also frequently reviews for The Globe and Mail. His works to date have received much critical acclaim.

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric McCormack's work is often long on creepy description and short on considered structure. This work addresses the latter a little more than some of his other novels, but you'll still find his usual grab-bag of concerns here: mysterious locales, small villages, mining disasters, everyday hermeticism.

I don't want to give away much of the story, but suffice it to say this is probably as close as the guy will come to solid ending in his work. There's still stuff left undone, certainly, but there's much more of a feeling that the narrator has reached a goal. This is the high point of McCormack's work, and while it's not quite as eerie as some of his earlier work - weirdness that in some cases was diminished by repetition of particular elements - it's distinctly uncanny, and deeply satisfying.

Just watch out for the trip to the motel. That's some contortion.

[Jordaline Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive read this book many times, as a teenager it was my favorite. I still love it because everytime I read this book I read something different, i notice something i hadnt before, the characters seem new to me every time. If you like weird, graphic, (literally) crazy characters pick this up. Its riveting ane brilliant. And it teaches how nothing is quite as important as love and trust.

[Sergei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Считается, книга не заслуживает читателя, если в ней нет практических полезных сведений. Если это так, то роман Эрика Маккормака «Первая труба к бою против чудовищного строя женщин» полезен как ни одна книга на свете. Писатель даёт точные географические координаты Рая на Земле.
Но чтобы найти этот Рай главному герою Эндрю Поллаку придётся проделать долгий и извилистый путь, полный подлинного кошмара и испытаний. Рождение, гибель родителей, жизнь у странных родственников на далёком острове, и в не менее загадочном приюте, знакомство с чудаком моряком-библиофилом, странствия без цели и жизнь без видимого смысла, но с пропастью в беспокойном сердце. Эндрю придётся на себе испытать смысл слов, увиденных им в каюте моряка: «Разум – сам себе пространство, и в себе создает из Рая Ад и Рай из Ада». Согласно роману, все следы, которые оставляет человек за всю свою жизнь, складываются в некую важную весть. Такой вестью, полагаю, для Полмрака стали географические координаты Рая.

Маккормак по-хорошему традиционен, язык – одновременно – прост и выразителен, писатель не утомляет читателя сложными конструкциями. Но вот фантазия автора, его мастерство – беспредельны. Как и в ранее выпущенной книге «Летучий Голландец», здесь также Маккормак рассыпает по тексту бессчетное количество сюжетов, историй, эпизодов, каждая сама по себе – могла бы стать фундаментом для большого романа. В финале писатель достаточно внятно подводит итог. Предлагает свой вывод (там, правда, сложно представить какой либо иной финал, он таким и должен быть, ну хотя бы из милосердия), с которым трудно не согласиться и сделать кое-какие выводы в свой адрес.

Герою романа потребовалось полжизни, чтобы пройти свои круги Ада, разобраться в тончайших оттенках добра и зла, и найти Рай. А уж почему «Первая труба к бою против чудовищного строя женщин» называется именно так предлагаю читателю разобраться самому. Оно того стоит.

[Wendy Hearder-moan]

I really don't know how to rate this book. I think it is one that merits discussion at a book club or English lit class...there seems to be so much more in it than I am able to grasp on my own. Either that or it is just seriously bizarre! The writing is excellent and the story is compelling. I had trouble putting the book down; I just had to know what else could possibly happen to the main character, but at the same time I kept thinking how weird it was and asking myself how a person (the author) could dream it all up.

[Anton Shanaurin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Когда подводил итоги прошлого года, совершенно не мог вспомнить название этой книги, поэтому пропустил. Но вот я доехал до дачи, посмотрел на обложку и вспомнил. Эту книгу я читал прошлым летом, урывками между работой, прививками и валянием на солнце. Странный роман. Но интересный, я ведь его дочитал.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Canadian. Good writing, readable, different. But overly symbolic and ultimately nonsense. There was a big chapter on his hallucination of a reverse birth.

[Ivana Čedić-Rosbeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that I will never forget.

[Gord Higginson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun! Probably his best so far. The title is exactly the same (why?--I don't see the connection other than Andrew Halfnight does encounter Knox's book briefly) as John Knox's misogynist (sp?) 16th century diatribe (sp?) against Mary Queen of Scots and women as rulers in general. But this anti-misogynist (again sp?) novel is fascinating, especially when Andrew, the principal character, undergoes a re-enactment of his own birth along with other wacky stuff. Unput-downable! Why isn't there an Eric McCormack Society?

[Estott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very effective in places, but after reading several of his novels I find McCormack strong on atmosphere and incident, but weak on plot and structure. His books are like hearing someone extemporize after recalling a vivid dream.

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric McCormack may quite possibly be Canada's best kept secret. Well, that and the flying monkeys. This was a great book filled with memorable characters centered around a man that seems to have destruction follow him throughout his life.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was excellent, quite depressing and includes a bizarre dream sequence where the protagonist is consumed by his lover's hoo hoo feet first in some symbolic desire to be back in his mother's womb (?). It was delightfully weird and I recommend it.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling. McCormack overreaches in the final section, where he overexplains his themes and enters emotional terrain that he doesn't seem entirely comfortable with. Still, a very fine novel.

[Reche · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good read, if only to find out what else could possibly go wrong in the character's incredibly bizarre life.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was sad and strange

[Errin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what to say about this one. Nowhere near as shocking as it is made out to be. Not bad but verging on mediocre. Over all an entertaining read.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely one of the more strange books I have ever read. Was not expecting opium dens, prostitutes and a vore scene.