“Truly marvellous.”— Voir

“A highly inspired novel, incredibly humane.” — Elle Québec

July 29, 1916. In the woods of Northern Ontario, the flames are rising. Soon, this will be known as the Great Fire of Matheson, one of many forest fires that ravaged the province in the beginning of the 20th century. On that day, the young Boychuck will narrowly escape death, forever scarred by the sight of his homeland in ashes.

Many decades later, a photographer takes interest in the survivors of those Great Fires. She will come to know some of them, venerable old hermits living deep in the woods, still prizing their freedom.

Other tormented souls will come into this story of survival and dignity, a shining demonstration that love, hope and the desire to be free do not wither with age.