阿利斯泰爾·麥剋洛德（AlistairMacLeod，1936－2014），加拿大著名小說傢、短篇小說傢、教授，在加拿大享有“作傢中的作傢”之美譽。麥剋洛德齣生於加拿大薩斯喀徹溫省，早年有漁民和伐木工經曆，後長期任溫莎大學文學係教授。他的文學創作數量並不多，曾齣版有短篇小說集《失去血緣的贈禮》（1976），《飛鳥帶來太陽和其他故事》（1986）。他的短篇小說內容極其豐富且緊湊，完全可以拓展為長篇。他寫作的速度不快，但用語精湛，每個詞、每個句子、每個段落都經過反復推敲，使作品獲得瞭詩一般的精煉和韻律。愛爾蘭作傢科姆·托賓(ColmToibin)將這兩本書選入現代圖書館的“1950年後兩百大英文小說”，並稱之為“選書計劃中的最高峰。”

Alistair MacLeod musters all of the skill and grace that have won him an international following to give us No Great Mischief, the story of a fiercely loyal family and the tradition that drives it.

Generations after their forebears went into exile, the MacDonalds still face seemingly unmitigated hardships and cruelties of life. Alexander, orphaned as a child by a horrific tragedy, has nevertheless gained some success in the world. Even his older brother, Calum, a nearly destitute alcoholic living on Toronto's skid row, has been scarred by another tragedy. But, like all his clansman, Alexander is sustained by a family history that seems to run through his veins. And through these lovingly recounted stories-wildly comic or heartbreakingly tragic-we discover the hope against hope upon which every family must sometimes rely.

From the Trade Paperback edition.