Angle of Repose

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Angle of Repose

Wallace Stegner

Literature

Aug 7, 2018

Though not all of his more than thirty books are concerned with the American West, Wallace Stegner is often referred to as “the dean of Western writers,” and the best of his books illustrate how much he merits the title. Best of the best is the 1971 novel Angle of Repose. A human drama in which two stories span four generations, and in which then and now are inextricably bound, Angle of Repose is at once a family saga, a Western quest, and a meditation on history. It is a book which, in the author’s words, “reveals how even the most rebellious crusades of our time follow paths that our great-grandfathers’ feet beat dusty.” Stegner tells us that the past, like a vast landscape, must be settled into if it is to inform and enrich our lives.

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Cindy Hill Banks

Dec 4, 2020

The person who tells the story in this book, Lyman Ward, is actually telling the story of the American West. Wallace Stegner has always been one of the most compelling, yet unappreciated authors of American fiction. This story floats between the present, with a wheelchair-bound Lyman working on his grandparent's history and the challenges he faces, and the actual story of his grandparents out west. Emotional, heart-breaking and realistically-written only begin to describe this novel. I have read it more than once and always learn something new. If you love the west and love how it came to be, you will love this book. I am from the east Coast and have been captivated by this book for over 25 years.

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