The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose thoughtful companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgars lifelong friend and ally. But with the unexpected return of Claude, Edgars paternal uncle, turmoil consumes the Sawtelles once peaceful home. When tragedy strikes, Claude insinuates himself into the life of the farm - and into Edgars mothers affections. Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who follow him. But his need to face the mysteries hes left behind and his devotion to the Sawtelle dogs turn Edgar ever homeward. David Wroblewski is a master storyteller, and his breathtaking scenes - the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered inthe falling rain - create a riveting family saga, a brilliant exploration of the limits of language, and a compulsively readable modern classic.