The rest of the book details the story of the first few years of their marriage as they faced the rigors of frontier life in the northern reaches of western Canada. She survives ferocious fire, virulent epidemics, mammoth mosquitoes, brutal winters, and tensions between whites and natives, along with personal tragedy and triumph.
This book is written in first person, in the style of a memoir, but the authors of record are Nancy and Benedict Freedman. The Freedmans met Kathy Flannagan in California where she moved shortly after Mike’s death in 1933. They were so touched and inspired by the tales she told that they immediately began to turn her story into this fictionalized account of the “true” story. The first printing hit the shelves in 1947.
I discovered the book while sorting through a pile of discards set aside for donation to the annual library booksale. It looked perfect for reading while recovering from a nasty cold. I enjoy reading novels from the early 1900s because of their generally quaint and simplistic plots and language.
To my delight, it quickly became apparent that this book is an exception. The plot is anything but simplistic, filled with spectacular scenes. The writing is masterful, with crisply defined characters, dynamic dialogue and richly sensual description. It sounds as fresh and current as if it had been written in 2002, the most recent year it was republished. No wonder it has sold millions of copies and been continuously in print all these years.
Perhaps the greatest lesson from this enduring tale is that great writing is timeless. Whether you aspire to international prominence as a writer, or merely want to increase the chances that your family will keep copies of your life story around for a few generations, honing your structure, scene writing, character development, description, dialogue and wordcrafting skills is a great investment of effort.
By the way, if you want to read more about the history of this novel, its power to change lives, and the people who wrote it, check out this article in O, the Oprah Magazine.
Write now: read a novel or memoir that’s at least 60 years old and compare writing styles from then to now. What has changed? What sounds the same? How might you improve the book?
6 comments :
Sounds like a book I would LOVE to read. I will look it up. Thanks!
Pat, it's probably in the nearest library. It's sold a couple of million or more over the years and most libraries should have a copy. You can also pick it up used on Amazon. I plan to read it more than once!
Very interesting! When I married a Mike, a close friend told me about this book, but I never knew it was a true story. The details sound intriguing.
New vs. aged books: So much is different! Technique and language, flow. Because of this, I have a hard time reading older titles.
I found you through my Blogger followers, for my blog Something She Wrote. I'd love to get your insights sometime!
I read this book as a teen and I frequently remember some of the scenes in the book. It's one that sticks with you for a long time. In fact I recently thought about finding a copy to re-read. This seems to be a message to follow through on that thought.
This book will mean different things at different ages, so it's well worth a reread. Plus, writers will do well to pay special attention to the craft aspect of the book. Examine the descriptions and dialogue. Look for the tension points and how the scenes flow. Read it like a writer and learn!
"Whether you aspire to international prominence as a writer, or merely want to increase the chances that your family will keep copies of your life story around for a few generations." Bingo. Shortly before my Dad died, he took the time to record a few precious stories from his life in vignette form. He was a great story teller and they are fun to listen to. My hope is indeed to leave something for my posterity that is a joy to read and listen to, as well as informative. Wouldn't mind selling a few million copies either :)
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