Parrot and Olivier in America

About “Parrot and Olivier in America”

A 2009 novel by Peter Carey follows the lives of Olivier and Parrot, two men from different backgrounds in early nineteenth-century America. Olivier, inspired by Alexis de Tocqueville, is the traumatized child of French aristocrats who survived the Revolution. Parrot is the son of an English printer. They are connected by an enigmatic one-armed marquis. Olivier travels to the United States to study the penal system but also to escape political danger. Parrot is there as a spy for the marquis and as a complex presence in Olivier’s life. The story alternates between their perspectives, showing their adventures in love, politics, prisons, and finance. Their unlikely friendship develops as they navigate new lands and old conflicts. Carey uses their experiences to explore American democracy with creativity and rich storytelling.