Time is not just chronology an interview with wallace stegner. Big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner abebooks. Wallace stegner, who lived from 19091993, was born in iowa. A sequel to the big rock candy mountain, this novel is more contemplative. But not a thereandbackagain book like bilbo baggins wrote. Wallace stegner biography childhood, life achievements. Wallace earle stegner february 18, 1909 april, 1993 was an american novelist, short story writer, environmentalist, and historian, often called the dean of western writers. Wallace stegner bibliography department of history and. Wallace stegners uniquely american classic centers on lyman ward, a noted historian who relates a fictionalized biography of his pioneer grandparents at a time when he.
Book overview bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. Besides his books, fiction and nonfiction, wallace steg ner nas b. Big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner, first edition. Complete summary of wallace stegner s the big rock candy mountain. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library.
Sep 11, 2009 the big rock candy mountain is a western book. The big rock candy mountain ebook written by wallace stegner. The big rock candy mountain contemporary american fiction by stegner, wallace. Pdf the big rock candy mountain book by wallace stegner. Bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. Aug 26, 2012 the big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner posted on august 26, 2012 by robert earle i dont know why it has taken me so long to read my way through wallace stegner s fiction, and it feels odd to be giving a novel published in 1943 such high marks as a compelling narrative that captures some of the rougher times in american history so. Wallace stegner and the conflicted soul of the west the. Big rock candy mountain is a family saga based partially on stegner s own family. Apr 30, 2015 the big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner librarything. It is the conflict between the hardscrabble existence and bos pursuit of the frontier myth and of the american dream that gives the book such resonance and power. It follows the life of the mason family during the early. Its a tough start, but repays effort after the first couple of chapters. When wallace stegner arrived in salt lake city as a twelveyearold in june 1921 with his father george, his mother hilda, and his brother cecil, he found himself to be, as he was to write in an essay three decades later, a gentile in the new jerusalem, a nonmormon boy in.
He is very insightful about a particular type of american character, which he depicts at some length in the novels protagonist, bo mason. Stegner eloquently expresses in many of his books and essay. Your purchase supports more than words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. In the novel, a sequel to big rock candy mountain, a diplomat in his. Some of his wellknown works include, the big rock candy mountain, angle of repose, all the little live things, the spectator bird, the american west as living space, discovery. In his two autobiographical novels, the huge the big rock candy mountain. The spectator bird, 1976 national book award, 1977. He is extremely insightful concerning a certain type of american character, which he depicts at some length in the book s lead character, bo mason. Free download or read online the big rock candy mountain pdf epub book. Jun 19, 2020 stegner s big rock candy mountain is, like most of his work, a little bit thick, prosewise. Drifting from town to town and from state to state, the violent, ruthless bo seeks out his fortunein the hotel business, in new farmland, and. The semiautobiographical, the big rock candy mountain, follows the life of the mason familybo and elsa with their sons chester and bruceduring the early 20th century in the united states and canada. The big rock candy mountain book by wallace stegner.
May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. He was the youngest son in the family and had the misfortune to be a sensitive, fearful child and the frequent target of his fathers anger. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner audiobook. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 563 pages and is available in paperback format. The big rock candy mountain is a 1943 semiautobiographical novel by american writer wallace stegner. Wallace stegner was born on february 18, 1909, in the rural community of. In this affecting narrative, a defining masterpiece by the dean of western writers the new york times, wallace stegner portrays more than. Wallace stegner and the conflicted soul of the west the new york. The stegner fellowship program is a twoyear creative writing fellowship at stanford universit. A defining masterpiece by the dean of western writers the new york times and the pulitzer prizewinning author of angle of repose and crossing to safety bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. He pulls his family around with him as he searches for the big opportunity that will make him. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner signed first edition, first printing in unclipped dust jacket new york.
Stegners books abide in an undervisited stretch of the american canon, like. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner robert earle. All the little live things, 1967 commonwealth club gold medal. Among the novels are, the big rock candy mountain, 1943. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner signed first. Wallace stegner portrays over three decades in the life of the mason family as they struggle to survive during the lean years of the early twentieth century. Stegner was the founder and a distinguished creative writing professor at stanford university in california. Big rock candy mountain first edition wallace stegner. In 1987, his tenth novel, crossing to safety, was published, 50 years after. I suppose the big rock candy mountain was the first one that. Based largely on his own childhood, stegner has created a masterful, harrowing saga of a family trying to survive during the lean years of the early 20th century. Wallace stegner the big rock candy mountain audiobook. Jan 27, 2017 the big rock candy mountain is described as a semiautobiographical book. The big rock candy mountain contemporary american fiction by wallace stegner and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
It follows the life of the mason family bo and elsa with their sons chester and bruce during the early 20th century in the united states and canada. At 68, wallace stegner has fublished nearly two dozen books. The main characters of the big rock candy mountain novel are john, emma. He is bruce, a young boy sharing with his mother his thoughts about growing up. Father bo mason reaches for the big scorethe candy mountain in north dakota, saskatchewan, montana, and utah, including running a bootlegging operation during prohibition. None of the books achieved the success of his first novel until the publication of the big rock candy mountain in 1943. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. Bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a life of poverty and desperation that is transien. Each of the three principal characters is searching for his or her own eden.
The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner crossing to. Oct 05, 2011 the big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner. Published in 1943 the book become immediate popular and critical acclaim in fiction, historical books. The big rock candy mountain is stegner s fictional telling of his troubled familys search for wealth and happiness in the farflung canadian and american west. Nov 28, 2017 wallace stegner 19091993 was the author of, among other novels, remembering laughter, 1937. Email us to request a printed copy of our catalog of wallace stegner rare books. Wallace stegner 19091993 was the author of, among other novels, remembering laughter, 1937. Wallace stegner s great, obsessive theme, evidenced in all of his novels, from the first, remembering laughter 1938, to the latest, recapitulation 1979, is the hard, painful. The big rock candy mountain bison book by wallace stegner. Drifing from town to town and from state to state, the violent, ruthless bo seeks outhis fortunein the hotel business, on new farmland, and, eventually, in illegal rumrunning through the threacherous back roads of the american northwest. Wallace stegner, bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. Long considered by most critics as stegner s fiction masterwork, angle of repose is a book quite as ambitious in its own way as the big rock candy mountain. This long book, written in 1943, is an extraordinary account of the postpioneering generations of the midwest, where we follow bo mason and his young wife elsa. Its a tough beginning, but pays back initiative after the first number of chapters.
The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner is said to be the closest to an autobiographical account of his own childhood. The big rock candy mountain is described as a semiautobiographical book. Like the 1943 novel, angle of repose seeks to characterize a major part of the western experience by showing it through the eyes,actions, and feelings of individual human beings. He came to recognize that his own family experience, especially the clash between his parents comes to represent the. Described by howard mumford jones as a vast, living, untidy book, the big rock candy mountainnot unlike the novels of thomas wolfe though stegners is much better crafted and controlled than anything wolfe ever wrotehas a raw power that almost certainly comes straight out of stegners pain and love, and it contains some of the most beautifully written narrative passages in american literature. Most of his childhood was spent moving from place to place as his father, george stegner, a restless schemer, searched for a way to get rich quick. The big rock candy mountain by stegner, wallace ebook. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner goodreads. Drifing from town to town and from state to state, the. The big rock candy mountain is the story of a spiritual quest. Praised for its manyfaceted and intensely human characters and full of languid echoes, big rock candy mountain was one of stegners most famous works, reflecting a childhood in which his family was forever shuttled across the west by a father pursuing the dream of an.
The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner, paperback. The first edition of the novel was published in 1943, and was written by wallace stegner. The big rock candy mountain is the story of wallace stegners childhood, during which he bounced around various western spots including seattle, salt lake city and montana as well as eastend. The big rock candy mountain oregon digital library. Listen free to big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner with a. Search for library items search for lists search for.
Wallace earle stegner february 18, 1909 april, 1993 was an. Stegners most autobiographical work, the big rock candy mountain, yields insights. The big rock candy mountain pdf book by wallace stegner read online or free download in epub, pdf or mobi ebooks. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner books on.
Wallace earle stegner was born in lake mills, iowa, in 1909. Warmly inscribed to former owner on front endpaper, signed wallace stegner. The big rock candy mountain wallace stegner bo mason and his wife and two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner signed. Bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a tr. Only an elite novelist could succeed in what wallace stegner accomplishes with. Very slightly cocked with tiny spots on the front board else near fine. Its a go and go again kind of journey, searching ever further afield for that one thing that will make you happy, always finding that it just slipped out of your fingers. Wallace stegner was born on february 18, 1909 in lake mills, iowa. This is the most important book wallace stegner has done, and he has been marked as a comer ever since his memorable novelette, remembering laughter.
Wallace stegner was born on february 18, 1909, in the rural community of lake mills, iowa. Notes from the editors limited editions from the franklin library the big rock candy mountain this is the booklet that was included with the original edition by editors of the franklin library wallace stegner and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This is the emotionally gripping tale of fictional bo and elsa mason and their two sons, chester and bruce, with striking similarities to the childhood of stegner. Wallace stegner wrote this book in the early 1940s about his life growing up in a variety of western settings. The kindle book format for this title is not supported on. Stegners big rock candy mountain is, like most of his work, a bit dense, prosewise.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the big rock candy mountain. The underground railroad pulitzer prize winner national book award winner. The quarantine has been a blessing in that i am reading from my tbr bookcase, and this is another gem. Bo seeks the freedom of wideopen spaces with few social constraints. One of an unspecified number of copies with a special message, signed by the author. He published a further autobiographical work in 1992 entitled where the bluebird sings to the lemonade springs, a reference to a line in the song. Wallace stegner and the conflicted soul of the west the new.
Stegner s big rock candy mountain is, like most of his work, a bit dense, prosewise. In 1943, wallace stegner published an autobiographical novel titled the big rock candy mountain. Dec 12, 2003 stegners most autobiographical work, the big rock candy mountain, yields insights into the origins of the most important themes of his life and writingshow man relates to his family and to his surrounding environment. A defining masterpiece by the dean of western writers the new york times and the pulitzer prize. The novel is largely autobiographical, telling the story of a familys travels over the american and canadian west as the father, bo, relentlessly searches. After his death, the creative writing fellowship, stegner fellowship was created in his honour and memory. The big rock candy mountain is the story of wallace stegners.
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