Bunyan and Henry; Or, the Beautiful Destiny

A Novel

By: Mark Cecil

Narrated by: Tanis Parenteau, Ari Fliakos, JD Jackson

A large-hearted reimagining of beloved all-American legends, this epic debut novel brings men of myth Paul Bunyan and John Henry alive like never before, teaming up for an adventure quest with deeper interrogations of race, class, and industrialization.

Paul Bunyan—legendary larger-than-life American lumberjack—is a man down on his luck. With a load of family debts on his broad back, he ekes out a miserable miner’s life in Lump Town, a bleak hamlet controlled by famed industrialist El Boffo. When Bunyan's wife Lucette falls ill with a disease caused by the toxic mineral Lump, he embarks on a quest to save her. His only guide: the Chilali—a mysterious creature who speaks only in questions.

Bunyan’s path leads to The Windy City—and to John Henry. Henry is not yet the “steel-drivin’” man known to folklore, but a fugitive on the run from a rigged, racist prison system. As Bunyan and Henry strive to reunite with the families they love, they must work together to solve riddles, forge weapons, brawl with a behemoth, and confront at every turn the relentless, duplicitous El Boffo.

A richly imaginative reinvention of myth, Bunyan and Henry is at once a timeless quest, a fresh origin story, and an urgent modern fable that wrestles with the two sides of the American dream—its wild idealism and cruel underbelly—to inspire the awakening of the folk hero in us all.

©2024 Mark Cecil (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“With the might of a hammer and the slice of an axe, Bunyan and Henry takes aim at a host of societal blights, from capitalism to climate change, and smashes them all to smithereens. Mark Cecil has crafted an unforgettable cast of characters who will make you shout with joy and rage in anger, and a plot so romping and rollicking you’ll feel like you’re there. This isn’t your typical bedtime fable; it’s packed with searing social commentary delivered in the most delectable way. Cecil’s debut is an undeniably bright light to behold in a world sometimes full of so much dark, inspiring all of us to follow our own beautiful destinies. What a marvel.”—Mateo Askaripour, New York Times bestselling author of Black Buck

“A hopeful Twainian nod to brotherhood that puts the fun in profundity, even as it remixes American myth to the most sobering beats of our modern times.”—Matthew Quick, New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook and We Are the Light

"Cecil has quilted American folklore into a patchwork of courage, tenderness, and generosity of spirit. This is a book unafraid to stare the cruelties of this nation in the eye—and yet remains ever stitched-through with hope."—GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot

A story I don’t forget with incredible performance!

This book was recommended to me by a friend. It’s not something I would have picked up, but I’m so glad I did. It is such a creative telling an old folktale, but with impeccable writing and delivery. The narrator of this book is honestly my favorite of any book I’ve ever read. It makes such a big difference. The story is heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking but reminds us all that there is a beautiful destiny ahead! I will remember this read for a long time.

Beautifully written and narrated

I generally only listen to books when I go on walks, but I couldn’t wait to get back to this one. It was so thoughtful and well written. The character development and story flowed seamlessly. It never dragged and always left me curious and often feeling inspired. I also truly enjoyed the narrators. Their voices were perfect match in my mind.
Running errands will be a lot less enjoyable now that I finished.

Good Triumphs over Evil, The Better Fairytale

Mark Cecil retells our favorite long ago fairytails, weaving them together in a wonderous journey. Almost impossible to believe this is his debut novel, Mark is an amazing storyteller and a heartwarming soul. Please keep writing.

Great Author & Narrator!

Mark Cecil has written a truly imaginative & timely story. The narrator does a fantastic job also-always holding your interest. This is a book that you will want to share & discuss with all of your family & friends. Hoping Cecil will continue to develop his thoughts with more books.