Description
Born mute and speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle lives an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. The Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog known for their thoughtful companionship, epitomized by Edgar’s lifelong friend and ally, Almondine. However, the return of Claude, Edgar’s paternal uncle, brings turmoil to their peaceful home. When Edgar’s father dies suddenly, Claude ingratiates himself into the farm’s life and into Edgar’s mother’s affections. Grief-stricken and bewildered, Edgar attempts to prove Claude’s involvement in his father’s death, but his plan fails spectacularly.
Forced to flee into the vast wilderness beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for survival alongside three yearling dogs. Yet, his need to confront his father’s murderer and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs draw him back homeward. David Wroblewski’s masterful storytelling, with its breathtaking scenes of the north woods, changing seasons, an iconic American barn, and a fateful vision in the falling rain, creates a riveting family saga. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a brilliant exploration of the limits of language and a compulsively readable modern classic.
