Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Hancock House Pub Ltd (January 1981)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0888391005
ISBN-13: 978-0888391001
Product Dimensions: 1 x 5.8 x 8.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #207 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Historical > Canadian #235 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional Canada #943 in Books > History > Americas > Canada
Ralph Edwards of lonesome lake is a book about carving out a life for ones family in a remote wilderness. This book is such a contrast to our technical world with cell phones, internet, e mail "Big Box shopping" malls. Our lives are so full but really so empty. I felt an extreme feeling of sadness after having read this book. Ralph Edwards and his wife are now dead after having lived a hard but full life. We all struggle through life with different goals and yet we all have to face death. I felt the sadness of Ralph Edwards when he realised that he was too old to be independant and look after himself. This book has to make us all stop and concider what we are doing and what is the purpose of life. What could possibly be more important than these questions?
This book is a sequel to "Crusoe of Lonesome Lake" by Leland Stowe, a quite successful book published in the late 1950s where the fascinating life of Ralph Edwards is biographed. Edwards, who can only be described as a 20th century pioneer, single-handedly carved out a homestead in the Canadian wilderness, nearly a hundred miles from his nearest neighbor.Although this book was interesting, the above-mentioned prequel by Leland Stowe was far better. In fact, in many ways I wish I had not read this one because Edwards' exploits ended on a high note in "Crusoe" whereas this book seemed to tarnish my image of the bigger-than-life Edwards portrayed in the earlier book. But, I realize that most people who read the prequel will want to know what eventually became of Edwards in his latter years, and this book answers many of those questions. I would simply admonish anyone who reads this book to absolutely get the prequel. If you read this book alone, you are getting far less than half the story of a remarkable man's life. "Crusoe" is much better written and considerably more moving.
I have read both books about the Edwards family & each has it's own merit. The main thing is that they tell the story of an extraordinary individual that wanted to carve out his own place on earth without the help of hardly anyone & certainly not the help of any government. He also saved a specie from almost curtain extinction, the Trumpeter Swan, and that alone should make him a hero to anyone who has ever seen one of these magnificent birds. After reading this book & " Grass Beyond the Mountain" I went to this Area of B.C. & came away with renewed respect for these people.
I was first introduced to Ralph Edwards way back in 1965 or '66! My 6th grade teacher read us that book during that school year! Leland Stowe authored that book and it is a much better read than this one....but this is a very nice addition if you have read the first one. What an interesting life!!! and man!!!
The book took awhile to get to me,it was in reasonable condition as it was used,enjoyed the story and had a hard time setting it down. WOW! what a spirit of adventure to carve a home and living from the earth using what was there and being miles and miles out in the wilderness, this is a book worth reading! Loved it.
Fascinating view into a determined and innovative homesteader, 1912 and forward. This man is largely credited with saving Trumpeter Swans from extinction.
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