Much of what I knew about Angle of Repose was that it was a quintessential story of settling the American West. But I found it kind of fascinating that it was written from the perspective of a woman. An educated, cultured woman at that. I feel like a lot of westerns are cowboy stories. Men fighting men, fighting for land, stealing from each other, and men then fighting men, full circle.
But not much about this novel falls into that bucket. Lyman Ward is a retired history professor and a divorced amputee who is writing the biography of his grandparents, Susan and Oliver Ward, and trying to find some semblance of self-recognition or identity in uncovering their stories. And boy, do they have some fascinating stories.
His grandmother Susan was an up-and-coming artist from a fairly well-connected family in New York. And while it was expected of her to marry and become part of society, the husband she chose is Oliver, a mining surveyor/engineer whose job takes him all over the newly developing American West. For the first few years, Susan is unable to join Oliver out in the field where he's working, and once she is finally able to, it couldn't be more of a culture shock for her. Barely passable roads, squalid living conditions, and almost no other women to be found. But with her determined nature, she carves out a world that satisfies her, including sketching the exquisite scenery and life around her and forming close relationships with the other mining engineers and neighbors. But she still is a snob at heart and passes judgement on those who are "less cultured" (with a hearty dose of racism) in spite of everyone working with the bare minimum available to survive. There isn't always harmony between Susan and Oliver, and at one point Susan moves back East while Oliver struggles to make ends meet.
The setting of Lyman who is pretty much a shut-in, writing her story while living in his grandparents' house, is a nice contrast to those who handle their isolation in very different ways. Lyman reluctantly accepts the assistance from his young neighbor who he develops a kindly, but stubborn friendship with.
I thought this was a gorgeous novel and I can very much see why it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1972. The descriptions and story-telling brought it all to life with such rich visuals, you knew exactly who each of these characters were. But they were all still so complex and rich. And the terrain felt real and dangerous and wild and unsettled, while at the same time beautiful and expansive and amazing. It felt how I imagined the first American settlers of the West felt when the saw it - awed but overwhelmed. If you're looking for a western that isn't your basic shoot-em-up cowboy western, I would highly recommend this one.
And on next to Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow. I know I read something by Saul Bell0w in high school, but looking at his list of works, I cannot for the life of me remember what I read. I'm pretty sure it's not Henderson the Rain King, but if I get partway through it and have a strong feeling of familiarity, then maybe I'll cut my losses early and move on.
187 to go!
