Stegner states in the forward to the book that it was the first of my books to acheieve wide recognition, the big rock candy mountain, was an attempt to capture in the experiences of a single family the social and psychological consequences of the ending of the f rontier and the pinching out of the american dream. The big rock candy mountain is a reminder of what fiction was immediately before postmodernism. Bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. This is when the debut story in this series first was printed and it is titled big rock candy mountain.
There is no onesentence way to summarize stegners somewhat autobiographical brcm. The title of this novel is symbolic the search for the promise over the mountain frustrated dreams of power and wealth and happiness. Wallace stegner shows the beauty of the world and people and the hardness of both. Wallace stegner bibliography department of history and. Wallace stegner audio books, best sellers, author bio. Jan 27, 2017 the big rock candy mountain, stegners fifth book, was this months book club selection. May 18, 2008 wallace stegner, the big rock candy mountain wallace stegners life could be described as a continual search for the angle of repose. Its a tough start, but repays effort after the first couple of chapters. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner isbn. Wallace stegner is the writer and creator of the bruce mason fictional series of novels. Long considered by most critics as stegners fiction masterwork, angle of repose is a book quite as ambitious in its own way as the big rock candy mountain. Most of the gals in the club had read and liked crossing to safety and thought it was time we try another of his books.
I cant say theres much action but there is so much heart and soul. The big rock candy mountain book by wallace stegner thriftbooks. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner is said to be the closest to an autobiographical account of his own childhood. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. We opted away from the angle of repose because several of us had already read it. It seems like theres almost no discussion on this sub of this book or stegners other works, even though he is considered one of the great american authors of the 20th century. Big rock candy mountain first edition wallace stegner. Big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner abebooks.
Wallace stegner dean and mentor of western american writers. Among the novels are, the big rock candy mountain, 1943. 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, eventually, in illegal rumrunning through the treacherous back roads of the american northwest. Crying for the lost chance this couple had to love and respect each other and how happy i am that my marriage is nothing like this. Wallace initially opposed the creation of a hiking path near his home but mary stegner confided that her husband later came to enjoy walking on it, and the path was eventually named for him posthumously, in 2008. Fictional retelling of stegners childhood and youth. Wallace stegners latest book shows great advance in power and grasp over the shorter novels for which he is chiefly known, and is a much more satisfying. The big rock candy mountain book by wallace stegner.
Drifting from town to town and from state to state, the violent, ruthless bo seeks out his. 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. While reading the big rock candy mountain in my bedroom i came down and was talking to my husband about the book and crying. 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. Wallace stegner 19091993 was the author of, among other novels, remembering laughter, 1937. 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.
The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner goodreads. In 1943, wallace stegner published an autobiographical novel titled the big rock candy mountain. This series was released for readers to enjoy for the first time in 1943. Stegners big rock candy mountain is, like most of his work, a bit dense, prosewise. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are. In this affecting narrative, wallace stegner portrays more than. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner, 97801409396, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner librarything. In this moving sequel to big rock candy mountain, bruce mason returns to salt lake city, not for his aunts funeral but to encounter after 45 years the place he fled in bitterness.
The term regional is a belittling characterization typical of new york critics. Nov 28, 2017 the big rock candy mountain ebook written by wallace stegner. The spectator bird, 1976 national book award, 1977. 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. Minor spotting on page ends otherwise book is in near fine condiiton. Free download or read online the big rock candy mountain pdf epub book. The big rock candy mountain is a 1943 semiautobiographical novel by american writer wallace stegner.
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. The big rock candy mountain contemporary american fiction kindle edition by stegner, wallace. Sequel to big rock candy mountain, set in salt lake city. This semiautobiographical novel is a wonderful look at life in the midwest and west from 1900 to. Wallace stegner books list of books by author wallace stegner. Stegner s big rock candy mountain is, like most of his work, a bit dense, prosewise. Buy a cheap copy of the big rock candy mountain book by wallace stegner. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner, paperback.
Among the other novels of wallace stegner 19091993 are the big rock candy mountain 1943, joe hill 1950, all the little live things 1967, the spectator bird 1976. Collected stories of wallace stegner random house, inc. Father bo mason reaches for the big scorethe candy mountainin north dakota, saskatchewan, montana, and utah, including running a bootlegging operation during prohibition. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner i want to recommend this book i read recently one the most beautiful books in my experience. His pulitzer prize winner, angle of repose 1971 is my favorite novel, and the earlier big rock candy mountain 1943 hereafter brcm is an equally moving book. Analysis big rock candy mountain 1943 wallace stegner 1909. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big rock candy mountain contemporary american fiction. Wallace stegners great, obsessive theme, evidenced in all of his novels, from the first. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the big rock candy mountain.
The big rock candy mountain is the book that should have won stegner the pulitzer prize long before he wrote angle of repose. The big rock candy mountain audiobook by wallace stegner. Drifting from town to town and from state to state, the violent, ruthless bo seeks out his fortune in the hotel business, in new farmland and eventually, in illegal rumrunning through the treacherous back roads of the american northwest. The big rock candy mountain by wallace earle stegner alibris. Buy the big rock candy mountain by wallace earle stegner online at alibris. It seems like theres almost no discussion on this sub of this book or stegners other works, even though he is considered. From 1945 to 1971 stegner taught at stanford university, where the writing program is named after him. 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. See more ideas about wallace stegner, angle of repose and books. Bo mason, his wife, elsa, and their two boys live a transient life of poverty and. The big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner books on.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 563 pages and is available in paperback format. There is no onesentence way to summarize stegner s somewhat autobiographical brcm. The big rock candy mountain contemporary american fiction. Listen to big rock candy mountain by wallace stegner at. Stegner states in the forward to the book that it was the first of my books to acheieve wide recognition, the big rock candy mountain, was an attempt to capture in the experiences of a single family the social and psychological consequences of the ending of the f. Wallace stegner, the big rock candy mountain wallace stegners life could be described as a continual search for the angle of repose. 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. The big rock candy mountain bison book by stegner, wallace and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The big rock candy mountain by stegner, wallace ebook. It was the authors big book, it was a big source book for the authors ongoing writing. Reading fiction does not get better than reading wallace stegner 19091993. Wallace stegner books list of books by author wallace.
This book is what all writers should aspire to be like. Wallace stegner 19091993 published more than two dozen books throughout his life, including the novels angle of repose, which won the pulitzer prize. The big rock candy mountain, stegners fifth book, was this months book club selection. See all books authored by wallace stegner, including crossing to safety, and angle of repose, and more on. Wallace stegner, signed abebooks shop for books, art. A successful statesman and diplomat, mason had buried his awkward and lonely childhood and sealed himself off from the thrills and torments of adolescence to become. A successful statesman and diplomat, mason had buried his awkward and lonely childhood and sealed himself off from the thrills and torments of adolescence to become a figure who commanded international respect.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The first edition of the novel was published in 1943, and was written by wallace stegner. Listen to big rock candy mountain audiobook by wallace stegner. I have now read three of his books, angle of repose, the big rock candy mountain and crossing to safety.
It is the saga of one family, the masons, told in straightforward narrative, the events of which hew to an overarching authorial theme. The type of story steinbeck told in the grapes of wrath and east of eden. Pdf the big rock candy mountain book by wallace stegner. He is very insightful about a particular type of american character, which he depicts at some length in the novels protagonist, bo mason. It follows the life of the mason family during the early. All the little live things, 1967 commonwealth club gold medal. Full leather edition published in 1978 by the franklin library. 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. The big rock candy mountain is stegners fictional telling of his troubled familys search for wealth and happiness in the farflung canadian and american west. Stegner portrays more than thirty years in the life of the. Jan 05, 2010 listen to big rock candy mountain audiobook by wallace stegner. It is big in the sweep of its canvas through the developing west from.