The Big Rock Candy Mountain (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Wallace Stegner
- First Published: 1943
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Historical fiction
- Subjects: Blizzards, Family or family life, United States or Americans, Parents and children, Twentieth century, 1910’s, 1920’s, 1930’s, West, U.S., Canada or Canadians, Baseball
- Locales: North Dakota, Salt Lake City, UT, Washington, Saskatchewan, Canada, Great Falls, MT, Nevada
The Big Rock Candy Mountain was Stegner's first critical and popular success. The title derives from a popular song of the early twentieth century which describes “The Big Rock Candy Mountain” as a utopia where riches grow on bushes.
The book's protagonist, Harry “Bo” Mason, is one of the many dreamers who came West in search of riches. He tries many different occupations but fails to strike it rich. His wife, Elsa, wants security, respectability, and peace of mind, but she is tied to Bo. They have two children. Chet, the elder, inherits his father's temperament;...
[The entire page is 660 words long]
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