The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Author: David Wroblewski

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Publication Date: 01 June, 2008

ISBN: 9780061374227

Pages: 576

Subjects: General, Family life

Available as: Trade Paper, 978-0-06-137423-4 Trade Cloth, 978-0-06-176806-4 Trade Cloth, 978-0-06-137422-7 Trade Paper, 978-0-06-176808-8 Trade Paper, 978-0-06-169162-1 E-Book - , 978-0-06-179259-5 E-Book - netLibrary, 978-0-06-166293-5 E-Book - , 978-0-06-166295-9 E-Book - , 978-0-06-166296-6 E-Book - , 978-0-06-166297-3 E-Book - , 978-0-06-166294-2 E-Book - , 978-0-06-166298-0 E-Book - netLibrary, 978-1-4356-7534-6

Description:

Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgar's paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles' once peaceful home. When Edgar's father dies suddenly, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm-and into Edgar's mother's affections. Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar tries to prove Claude played a role in his father's death, but his plan backfires-spectacularly. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face his father's murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homeward. David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes-the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain-create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic.

PW Publishers Weekly

Review Source: Publishers Weekly

Review Date: 2008-09-29

This sprawling epic tale clocks in at 22 hours, but is well worth the time spent. Wroblewski captivates with a story of a young boy and his dogs cast into the wilderness after his father is murdered in rural Wisconsin. Richard Poe reads with a firm voice, both gripping and personal, fitting for this particular tale. Poe brings the story to life with such ease that listeners will forget they aren't actually reading the book. Steady pacing, realistic and imaginative characters and Poe's skilled performance make this a recording that (even at its length) listeners will want to hear again. This is an instant classic that will resonate for years to come. An Ecco hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 18). (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved