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The Wayfinder

By Adam Johnson
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Brief Description
The Wayfinder is an epic, sweeping novel set in the Polynesian islands of the South Pacific during the height of the Tu'i Tonga Empire. At its heart is Korero, a young girl chosen to save her people from the brink of starvation. Her quest takes her... Read More
Format: Hardback
$7500

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Wayfinder is an epic, sweeping novel set in the Polynesian islands of the South Pacific during the height of the Tu'i Tonga Empire. At its heart is Korero, a young girl chosen to save her people from the brink of starvation. Her quest takes her from her remote island home on a daring seafaring journey across a vast ocean empire built on power, consumption, and bloodshed.

With the grandeur of Wolf Hall, Shogun, and War and Peace, The Wayfinder immerses readers in a world untouched by Western influence, evoking the lost art of oral storytelling. Far from a conventional swashbuckling adventure, it conjures a world of outrigger canoes and celestial navigation, weaving a narrative that is as much about survival and self-discovery as it is about the sweeping history of the Tongan people.

In this monumental literary work, Adam Johnson explores themes of indigeneity, ecological balance, and the resilience of humanity in the face of scarcity, marking the novel as a profound meditation on both individual and cultural legacy.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780374619572

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 14 October 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc

Illustration: 1 Map

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 233.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 736

Collections

Adam Johnson Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Adam Johnson is an American novelist and short-story writer. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2012 novel, The Orphan Master's Son, and the National Book Award for his 2015 story collection, Fortune Smiles. He is also a professor of English at Stanford University with a focus on creative writing.

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