Angle of Repose
Unknown
By: Wallace Stegner
An American masterpiece and iconic novel of the West by National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Wallace Stegner—a deeply moving narrative of one family and the traditions of our national past. Lyman Ward is a retired professor of history, recently confined to a wheelchair by a crippling bone disease and dependant on others for his every need. Amid the chaos of 1970s counterculture he retreats to his ancestral home of Grass Valley, California, to write the biography of his grandmother: an elegant and headstrong artist and pioneer who, together with her engineer husband, made her own journey through the hardscrabble West nearly a hundred years before. In discovering her story he excavates his own, probing the shadows of his experience and the America that has come of age around him.
AI Overview
Comprehensive Overview of "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner
Plot Summary: "Angle of Repose" is a historical fiction novel by Wallace Stegner, published in 1971. The story revolves around Lyman Ward, a wheelchair-bound retired history professor who decides to write a biography of his grandmother, Susan Burling Ward. Susan was a refined and sophisticated artist from the East Coast who married Oliver Ward, an idealistic engineer from the West Coast. The novel is structured as an epistolary, with Susan's story told through letters she wrote to her closest friend, Augusta Hudson.
The narrative follows Susan and Oliver's journey through the late 1800s, as they face various challenges including infidelity, jealousy, and long separations. After a long journey to California, Susan settles in a cottage on the outskirts of a mining town. Despite her initial loneliness, she becomes pregnant and finds solace in her art and writing, which helps the family financially. However, their marital and financial struggles continue, leading to separations and relocations to different states like Colorado, Mexico, Idaho, and California.
Susan's affair with Oliver's assistant, Frank, further complicates their marriage. The family faces numerous tragedies, including the drowning of their daughter Agnes and Frank's subsequent death. Eventually, Oliver and Susan separate for two years before reuniting and living near the Zodiac mine until their deaths.
Key Themes:
- Historical Context: The novel explores the personal costs of living through the explosive development of the West in the 1800s, highlighting the contrasts between East Coast and West Coast values.
- Marriage and Relationships: The novel delves into the complex and often tumultuous relationship between Susan and Oliver, as well as Susan's affair with Frank, showcasing the silent battles of wills and the consequences of these actions.
- Art and Identity: Susan's art and writing serve as a means of self-expression and financial stability, reflecting her identity as an artist and her struggle to find her place in the West.
- Forgiveness and Acceptance: Lyman's narrative arc is also about coming to terms with his own situation and finding a way to forgive the cumulative errors of the past, mirroring Susan's resolve to stick to her decisions despite the challenges.
Critical Reception: "Angle of Repose" has received widespread critical acclaim for its rich historical context, complex characters, and nuanced exploration of themes. Reviewers have praised Stegner's masterful storytelling and his ability to capture the essence of American history through personal narratives.
- Book Review: In a 2019 review, the book is described as "such an American story" that explores the personal costs of living through the development of the West.
- SuperSummary: The summary highlights the novel's historical fiction elements and its use of epistolary style to tell Susan's story, noting that it is a "remarkable story" of a couple's journey through the late 1800s.
- Goodreads: Reviewers on Goodreads praise the novel for its detailed historical setting and its exploration of themes such as marriage, identity, and forgiveness, with many noting that it is a "great pick for 2024".
Overall, "Angle of Repose" is a deeply nuanced and historically rich novel that explores the complexities of family relationships, artistic identity, and personal growth against the backdrop of America's westward expansion.