Published in 2006 by House of Anansi Press, it was the recipient of that year's Governor General's Award for English language fiction.

After escaping, he travels across the country, to Liverpool and Wales, joining a gang of thieves, working on the railways, and dreaming of the unknown land of America where he eventually emigrates.

The Law of Dreams was widely acclaimed by critics, who called it an "ambitious epic",[2] "impressive, swiftly paced saga",[3] "fearsome story,"[4] and "absorbing, unsparing and beautifully written account".

[5] Ron Charles, a senior editor of The Washington Post's Book World section, named it his favourite of 2006 and compared Behrens' style to "pure magic".

The jury praised the book as an "artfully-woven tale of mythic scope" and called Fergus a "complex and morally-heroic character".