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Angle of Repose
- Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
- Length: 22 hrs and 9 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize when it was first published in 1971, Angle of Repose has also been selected by the editorial board of the Modern Library as one of the hundred best novels of the 20th century.
Wallace Stegner's uniquely American classic centers on Lyman Ward, a noted historian who relates a fictionalized biography of his pioneer grandparents at a time when he has become estranged from his own family. Through a combination of research, memory, and exaggeration, Ward voices ideas concerning the relationship between history and the present, art and life, parents and children, and husbands and wives. Like other great quests in literature, Lyman Ward's investigation leads him deep into the dark shadows of his own life. The result is a deeply moving novel that, through the prism of one family, illuminates the American present against the fascinating background of its past.
Set in many parts of the West, Angle of Repose is a story of discovery - personal, historical, and geographical - that endures as Wallace Stegner's masterwork: an illumination of yesterday's reality that speaks to today's.
Critic Reviews
"Masterful...Reading it is an experience to be treasured." ( Boston Globe)
What listeners say about Angle of Repose
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Barry
- 08-18-12
Not too many novels written about marriage
as opposed to courtship. This is a fairly profound extended meditation on marriage, civilized behavior, temptation, forgiveness, and redemption. The controversy over the usage of Mary Hallock Foote's letters gets even more blurred in the audio version since it's impossible to know where or when anything is in quotation marks. It's an amazing evocation of American life in the 1870s and 1880s, and a reminder of what is universal in all our lives and relationships. It's fascinating to be reminded that so many of the things in this book actually happened. It's also a time-capsule of what life was like circa 1970; a reminder of how things were different and how much hasn't really changed at all. So much so-called historical fiction depends upon trying to invent a narrative and half-baked characters over a framework of historical events. This book is different. Every character rings true. Every reaction and feeling rings true. And Stegner is smart enough not to try to explain things that cannot be explained. Therein lies the work of the reader.
47 people found this helpful
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- Katherine
- 01-16-13
The most marvelous book
The Angle of Repose is a book I saw my mother read years ago. I was too young then to share it with her but knew it was on my must read list just by quietly watching her experience this remarkable book during one hot summer vacation. This book is a masterpiece - I think it is the best american novel I have yet read. Stegner opens a door to us into a world so different from our own,and yet so familiar and heartrending and human. I can not remember ever being so moved by the characters in a novel. Stegner's prose is gorgeous - there is a rapture that takes over while listening to it. His description of the western landscape inspires true reverence. The empathy and care he takes in creating characters and relationships is awe inspiring. I read the book about a year ago, and decided to buy the audio version because I wanted to experience it again and because I knew Mark Bramhall would do a fine thing with the reading of such a book. I envy those about the listen for the first time!
39 people found this helpful
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- Mel
- 01-24-13
The Quest for Balance
Ten years ago I picked up this novel, read through the first couple of chapters, uttered an, "ugh" and moved on--with serious doubts regarding the tastes of the friend that recommended the read. (In hindsight and looking at some of my own choices, I understand whose taste was questionable.) Forward ten years--I find myself wondering if this novel I've been glued to the last 3 days is the same book I plodded through years ago.
I recently saw a documentary on Wallace Stegner, produced in 2009 at the request of then Utah Governor, Jon Huntsman, whom declared Feb. 18th, '09, Wallace Stegner Day in Utah (Stegner lived in Utah and graduated from the University of Utah). It was out of curiosity, not native pride (I'm a transplant) that I purchased this Stegner novel. Same book--very different eyes and ears. Awarded the Pulitzer in '72, on the *Top 100* and *Most Important* books of the century, by an author referred to as the "conscience of the conservation movement," nonetheless considered overlooked, underrated, controversial, and (piously) snubbed.
For retired historian Lyman Ward, a window to the past becomes ominously reflective as he looks into the history of his grandparents and sees his own possible future. The text resourcefully splices together the actual letters of 19th century author and illustrator Mary Hallock Foote with a fictional story-in-a-story of marriage, expectations, exploration, art, and the conquest of the wild unforgiving west. The letters--the blasted wonderful letters that caused such controversy--are the framework for the story, and add an authentic Victorian flourish, so polar to the rough ungentrified country west of the Mississippi. Hallock's missives are an incredible record of the times, a timeline entwining Geronimo terrorizing the west with Emily Dickinson writing her poetry, Twain publishing Huckleberry Finn, Winslow Homer painting, Wyatt Earp keeping law and order in Tombstone. They also reflect the contrasts of the changing times: the elite artists and writers of the eastern states--the rugged west and the toughened adventurers; the dreams of an aspiring artist/genteel lady--the harsh realities of life in the west; the exploitation of the land--the uncommon insight of conservation. But, it took Stegner's beautiful writing to create this unforgettable depiction of the raw frontier and the colorful characters that fought for every inch of conquest; it is his words, not the regrettful ponderings of Hallock, that create this generational quest to find balance and grace. The controversy and snub that resulted from Stegner using the letters seem a moot point to me when presented with such a beautiful novel. Stegner acknowledged using the letters, and openly stated he had the permission of the descendant that turned the letters over to him to do so. (I doubt Leonardo's critic's thought him less an artist because Mona was uncannily mysterious and beautiful).
The novel hasn't changed in 10 years, but my appreciation of it has; it is now a favorite. Sometimes it is better to be told a story than it is to read a story. The audio version was perfection for this book; the characters came alive, the West was vivid and enticing, and I was captivated.
117 people found this helpful
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- Laurene
- 04-13-12
A magnificent novel, beautifully read
The story is told by Lyman Ward, a grumpy historian pushing 60 who has been disabled by a serious joint problem during the 1970s. To occupy his hours, he is researching the story of his grandparents' marriage, mostly from the perspective of his grandmother, Susan, a "lady" from good Massachusetts stock, shoulder-rubber with writers and artists like Louisa May Alcott and Emerson. Her husband, Oliver Ward, is a mining engineer, and his (very rocky) career takes them all over the West in mid-1800s. This is alternately exhilarating and devastating for her, as their fortunes and hopes go up and down and she feels she's in "exile" from almost anyone who could understand her.
Meanwhile, Lyman hires the caretaker's daughter, a free-spirited counterculture type, and they talk about the differences between the new ways of seeing life and love and his grandmother's. (He mostly gets the best of these discussions.)
The novel won a bunch of prizes when it came out years ago -- well deserved. It's one of the greatest American novel's I've ever read. There were times when, listening to it on my headset, I just had to stop whatever I was doing and just allow the story to happen because I could not do or think of anything else.
Some other notes: This also has to be one of the best novels written by a man from a (mostly) woman's perspective that I've ever read as well, and the narrator, Mark Bramhall, handles this SO well. He has to go from taciturn Western men, to cranky gruff Lyman, to genteel Susan and not make any of them sound like caricatures: Bravo!
Also, finally, what a moving, sad, joyful, compassionate, wise depiction this is of a long marriage, one of the most commonplace and yet mysterious of human experiences.
Just cannot recommend this more highly.
56 people found this helpful
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- amblingtumble
- 04-03-13
One of the Great American Novels
The Story:
A wheelchair bound grandson assembles the notes & letters of his grandmother to piece together her family's travels into the west in the 1800's.
If you thought Steinbeck held a monopoly on classic California historical fiction, you haven't listend (read) to this masterpiece. Without exception, Stegner's writing in this novel is taut & unquestionably beautiful, what this man can do in a line will fill your imagination. His weaving of the early West and this family's struggles, successes, and failures creates the most realized version of the period to date. His characters, flawed, opinionated, frustrating, forgiving, & funny leap out of the earbuds (off the page) becoming people you've known, people you care deeply about. His phrasing drives this tale with a truly human bend to every action, line of dialogue and motivation. This isn't my normal go to book and was extremely happy for the recommendation. This is a book that earned every bit of the Pulitzer that it won.
The Narrator:
Mark Bramhall tackles this book with the dedication of someone who deeply understands the beauty, depth, and life within this book. Leading with the story's narrator, there was little doubt that he could handle this character with the tone, timber and age in his voice. It's with the female voices that he lends the passion and sympathy that really surprised me. A narrator can make or break a book, consider me a huge fan.
The Sum:
I was recommended this book and accepted it without knowing a single thing about it. The breadth of this story, characters, time & place left me with a renewed hope in what this format is capable of. I was excited to move back into this world with each listen, as each chapter unfolded. Give this book a chance, it will surprise you.
15 people found this helpful
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- B.J.
- 06-26-15
A wonderful reading of one of the best books.
Let's just say this up front: I love this book. It is on my top 10 list of all time. I have read it in print a number of times. These characters are so real to me and the writing is pure Stegner - gorgeous, sparse, western, insightful. I believe, as do many others, it was one of the finest books written in the 20th century. I know I'm gushing. I can't help it. No other book makes me feel quite the same way.
I have avoided downloading this because I just knew no one could ever get those voices like I heard them in my mind's ear. I was wrong. Mark Bramhall's narration is beautifully nuanced. He hits every note just right. He's a perfect Susan and a gruff old miner, too. Few narrators could nail the breadth of characters without resorting to caricatures. He does it brilliantly. I loved listening to every word and sometimes had to go back just so I could hear it again.
Bunches of people have written about this book and the topics Stegner addresses. Though he says at one point it's a book about a marriage, I'm not so sure. I think it's about hope, forgiveness, grief, and soldiering on. Perhaps you'll find it's about something else entirely. I just know this: if you've never read this book, you are in for a treat. You can experience the awe that comes from discovering Stegner for the first time.
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- Rancher
- 05-06-12
Interesting Slice of US History
Since the story teller is somewhat of an invalid with a dour attitude, most of the story is inflicted with his depressing state of mind. However, I did find the historical perspective to be informative. If you prefer or insist upon happy endings, you should pass.
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- Bonny
- 12-06-12
Beautiful reading of a terrific book
This is one of my all-time favorite books; I re-read it every few years. This is the first time I've listened to it, Mark Bramhall does a marvelous job with the reading. The characters and their emotions are beautifully rendered without overdoing it. The connection between Lyman Ward (the narrator) and his grandparents, about whom he is writing, is palpable and deeply moving.
Having listened to this and to Lev Grossman's The Magicians and The Magician King, Mark Bramhall vaults onto my Top Readers List. A beautiful job.
21 people found this helpful
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- HDJ
- 10-24-12
Epic!
Angle of Repose presents an authentic picture of the western frontier told with the tenderness and visual poetry that I'm learning are Stegner's hallmarks. He can make you live history. You can smell it, taste it and feel it. At the end of this novel, I was left feeling I actually knew the people and places and can remember them. The icing on the cake was the perfect narration by Mark Bramhall.
9 people found this helpful
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- Butler
- 05-07-12
A rich story, beautifully read
A rich and beautiful book about a marriage, motherhood, and friendship. While the story takes place years ago, there is still so much to relate to today. Not a happy story, but a realistic one. I still am surprised this was written by a man.. his perspective is amazing.The reader was fantastic.
9 people found this helpful
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- sarahmoose2000
- 04-21-14
Pioneer Priorities
This was a sad, wee tale of a man and wife in the 1870s. The wife always feels she has married beneath herself and no matter what the husband does, it always seems to be the wrong thing. As a result, they are often left with large absences in their marriage as the husband lives far off to earn a decent wage.
It was difficult who to feel sympathy for as the wife was often openly ashamed of her husband's lower status and the husband always seemed to be getting involved in schemes that lost money. Personally, I felt sorry for the husband, he knew how the wife felt and could do not right, despite working terribly hard. Sad, but a good listen.
1 person found this helpful
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- Deborah
- 01-14-19
Depressing
The narrator and main character is a miserable old git, so hard to sympathise with. It carries along in a kind of drone and I had to stop reading as it was quite depressing.
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- Mark
- 11-29-16
Masterpiece!
What a masterpiece. Excellent narration. This is now on my list of top 10 favourite books.
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- Sharan Ann B.
- 06-18-22
Fictional history at it's best
Loved every moment of it. Such a story of love and life and the pioneer spirit without murder and mayhem. The voice of the reader is so right to the ear. My first understanding of the reasoning behind the awarding of The Pulitzer Prize.