Frontier

This was an unexpectedly good read for me. I liked the mix of genres just as the subtitle says...."A History, a Story & a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier". It was best for me when Stegner describes the hard-scrabble life as a kid with his family trying to live the farming life in Saskatchewan in the early part of the 20th century. It wasn't easy. Stegner's father was abusive and tough-minded and ultimately failed to make it work but nonetheless young Wallace had some good memories growing up in the Cypress Hills. At least the memories were good enough to want to come back and revisit many years later though he specifically avoids the site of his old family homestead of which there was probably little left at the time.

I also learned that my ignorance of Canadian history is deep. The most depressingly tragic part of the history tale Stegner tells is that of the plains indians; the wars, the battles, the slow decline and eventual resettlement into reservations. The differences in how the various tribes were treated by the Canadians and the Americans was eye-opening but somewhat expected remembering what little I do of American history from middle school and high school. While not perfect or the best resolution by any means, the Canadians were just a whole lot better and more honest with the indigenous tribes of the plains.

The title is a specific memory but I will leave that to you to find out what it refers to by reading the book. Stegner, as usual, excels at writing vividly. There is something about the way he constructs a sentence that is different from other writers. I will have to read more of his fiction to figure out what that is. I have Crossing to Safety in my sights and hope to get to it soon. ( )

Beautifully written. ( )

No one writes better than Stegner. Masterful combination of fiction and nonfiction. The cattle drive novella is amazing. ( )

"Wolf Willow" is an excellent account of Stegner's personal history homesteading in Saskatchewan and the geographical and cultural history of the Cypress Hills in the southwest of the province. Considering the popularity of creative nonfiction this is well worth a read to see the wide range of form in the genre and the liberty of blending personal essay and some fiction. The chapter "Genesis" a long fictional account of the blizzard of 1906-1907 is the weakest part of the book. Stegner is at his best when he's recounting the escapes of his childhood and unpacking the cultural mythologies of the West. ( )