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In the aftermath of World War I, even the victors are rocked by social upheaval, as returning soldiers expect a reward for their war-time sacrifices, and women grieve for their lost husbands and sons. General strikes rock Paris, Lyon, Brussels, Glasgow, San Francisco, and even quiet Winnipeg on the Canadian prairies. <i>The Magpie</i> is set during the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, as Captain Craig Forrester returns home from war, to a city and a country in the throes of civil unrest. Both a social commentary and a novel about post-war disillusionment, author Douglas Durkin (1884-1967) examines the greed, hypocrisy, and narrow-mindedness of the “decent” classes seeking to restore the pre-war <i>status quo ante</i>. Secondary themes include the redemptive power of art and the role of women in post-war society. - Summary by ASharma