Amid the icy waters of the Yukon Delta and the vast landscapes of Alaska, Allegory unfolds as a haunting tale of legacy, survival, and transformation through the eyes of a proud elder, a struggling family, and a young dreamer. Jack Martin Haley weaves an allegorical masterpiece that reflects on the resilience of the human spirit.
When Fred, a decorated war hero turned weary elder, faces the erosion of his dignity and health, his journey intersects with the lives of Sophie, his steadfast wife and Jere, an idealistic youth seeking his own path to faith and meaning. At the heart of their stories is the epic metaphor of the salmon's migration--an enduring symbol of sacrifice, perseverance, and rebirth.
As Fred grapples with his past and the relentless pull of his ancestry as "Christian Grandson," Allegory explores themes of tradition, faith and the delicate balance between embracing change and preserving one's roots. Haley's vivid prose and deeply human characters invite readers into a world where every choice, every struggle, is imbued with profound meaning.
Discover a story of epiphanies great and small, of humanity in its most vulnerable and triumphant moments.
Autorentext
Jack Martin Haley grew up in Alaska's interior and studied anthropology at the University of Alaska from 1960-1963 where he focused on the Gwich'in culture and dialects of the Yukon River flats. Mr. Haley continued his studies at Southern New Hampshire University in 1986. The tales featured in ALLEGORY were woven from Haley's own vivid memories of stories that he heard and witnessed when living within the indigenous Gwich'in community. His rich and profound memories of this time have lingered in his psyche for decades. In 2025, he released EPIPHANY, AN ALLEGORY. Then, the author had his own epiphany. The perfectionist that he is, Haley re-tooled the original manuscript, adding a Gwich'in glossary and masterfully drawn illustrations that bring this extraordinary story to life. In his 84th year, Mr. Haley has since re-imagined how he wants these stories told. ALLEGORY will be the first of the EPIPHANY SERIES that will feature more Alaskan folklore and mysticism. He is proud to bring you, ALLEGORY, a sacred return to elder voices and warm memories of being embraced by a cloistered community that made him who he is today.