The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
An Oprah's Book Club Pick
#1 New York Times Bestseller
"A mystery, a thriller, a ghost story, and a literary tour de force . . . an authentic epic, long and lush, full of back story and observed detail . . . the author exercises a certain magic that catches and holds our attention, a magic that is undeniably his own."--Los Angeles Times Book Review
Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life on his family's farm in remote northern Wisconsin, where they raise and train an extraordinary breed of dog. But when tragedy mysteriously strikes, Edgar is forced to flee into the vast neighboring wilderness, accompanied by three yearling dogs. He comes of age in the wild, struggling for survival, until the day Edgar is forced to choose between leaving forever and returning home to learn the truth behind what has happened.
Filled with breathtaking scenes--the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain--The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a meditation on the limits of language and what lies beyond, a brilliantly inventive retelling of an ancient story, and an epic tale of devotion, betrayal, and courage in the American heartland.
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Community Reviews
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski traces the life of a mute boy named Edgar and his journey to be a man; it could be labeled a bildugrsroman (coming of age novel) by literary standards.
Living a simple life with his parents on their farm in a remote part of the northern countryside, his family is well known for breeding dogs. They've branded their canine companions as "Sawtelle Dogs" and what a buyer receives in this is a well-trained, groomed, and completely shaped four-legged-friend - Sawtelle dogs are working dogs, loving dogs, intelligent dogs. Edgar is initially submersed happily in this life until tragedy strikes and his world is dismembered.
When he chooses to leave the comfort of the farm as an escape, Edgar really comes of age surviving the forest surrounding his homeland with a few faithful dogs along for the ride.
Trying to find out not only who he is, but also save his family from a legacy of lies, Edgar is facing choices of true courage and defeat.
Wroblewski's writing is timeless and flawless. This novel is quickly becoming a "classic" in the literary world rivaling other timeless pieces of text that keep those in the know "well-read." His prose and choice of language immerses a reader in the story in a way he or she will become a member of the Sawtelle family. He particularly uses shifting point of view with not only characters but true development of second and third person in moments of the novel that creates tension, grief, joy, devastation.
An obvious prominent feature of this novel is the Sawtelle dogs. The research involved must have been extensive because as a reader, I learned so much about the development, breeding, and care of these gorgeous animals. It made me change the way I view the training of my own dogs and reminded me of how actually lazy I am with regards to this process.
Another important focus in this novel is communication, or lack thereof. As a mute, Edgar's only repose is sign language, of which not everyone in the 1950s knew or wanted to know (in fact, numbers are shockingly low still today even among parents with deaf children - it's very sad). As result of this, he is often alone in his own family really emphasizing the theme of isolation.
And finally, this novel beautifully parallels the story of Hamlet with similar characters, motives, and journeys. While it does not run simultaneously to Hamlet , the quest of plot takes on some of the same major themes and ideas of Hamlet's coming of age development in the classic play. However, Wroblewski does expand on the plot leaving some of Shakespeare's complete and utter devastation at the end of a tragedy up to mystery for the reader.
Overall, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a favorite piece of literature for me. So much so, my seniors are reading it right now.
A must read.
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