Literary · Family saga
The Shipping News
Quoyle, a clumsy, unlucky newspaperman, moves with his young daughters to his family's ancestral home in Newfoundland after a personal disaster, and takes a job writing about the shipping news.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1993
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 337
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like atmospheric stories with unusual prose and a damaged hero finding his feet.
Skip this if you want conventional sentences and a fast-moving plot.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Shipping News
- What is The Shipping News about?
- Quoyle, a clumsy, unlucky newspaperman, moves with his young daughters to his family's ancestral home in Newfoundland after a personal disaster, and takes a job writing about the shipping news.
- Who should read The Shipping News?
- Read it if you like atmospheric stories with unusual prose and a damaged hero finding his feet. Skip it if you want conventional sentences and a fast-moving plot.
- How long and how fast is The Shipping News?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 337 pages, first published in 1993.
- Does The Shipping News have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Abuse, Death.
- Can I borrow The Shipping News for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Shipping News; the borrow button above searches it for you.
Your shelf
Saved in this browser only. Open my shelf
Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
Prices appear here as retailer feeds are connected. Where none is shown, check the store. Links open the store in a new tab.
Some store links, including Kobo, are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Library links are never affiliate links. How this works
Share this pick
Literary
