Stillwater (ePub)

“Lyrical and humorous . . . Helget deftly weaves political and social history into . . . A rich and intricate novel full of compassion for these pioneers and the place they live.” —St. Paul Pioneer Press

“Told in a vigorous and warmly resonant prose that captures both the ridiculous and the sublime.” —Historical Novel Society

“In moments of barbarity and humility, violence and tenderness, greed and sacrifice, Helget leaves no saint without sin and no sinner without grace . . . What unfolds is a novel of portraiture — of characters, of industry, of an era and the cold realities that shaped it—that does not give up its moments of humanity lightly.” —Mankato Free Press

“In Stillwater, Helget’s latest novel, the twins grow up in a landscape filled with colorful characters: trappers, loggers, outlaws, nuns, Native Americans and runaway slaves. And the land itself is vibrant. You can see its significance from the very first words of the novel.” —NPR, Weekend Edition Saturday

“This one’s going to be a big deal. Helget’s new book, Stillwater, is so entertaining, inventive, outrageous and well-told that I’m imagining a thousand book clubs gathering over her words, filmmakers vying to make the movie, and a leap from mere critical acclaim to something more like celebrity for the Mankato writer.” —Minnpost

“Rousing fun.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Helget’s tale of frontier life in the territory of Minnesota gives stark meaning to the term ‘woebegone’ . . . This novel effectively dramatizes the seismic sociological shifts that shaped the American Midwest.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[Stillwater] often has a gothic feel, with madwomen, poisonings, and dead babies. But there is also an undercurrent of black humor, particularly in the portrayal of Beaver Jean, who is