The Forest

by Georges Bugnet, David Carpenter (Translator)

This poignant novel, originally published in French in 1935, is a lyrical evocation of the beauty, the harshness, and the tragedy of pioneering life. Based on the author's own experience of homesteading in northern Alberta at the beginning of the twentieth century, the novel tells the story of a young couple from France, who come to the West filled with naïve optimism and romantic hope. Like Adam and Eve they end up being driven from their garden of paradise into a world of death and defeat. Georges Bugnet is a writer for whom nature is a mystical wonder filled with immense grandeur and equally immense destruction. He is conscious of humanity's need for humility in the face of that power. The translation by David Carpenter captures the richness of Bugnet's descriptive power of nature and its endearing quality.

Genres: Fiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1935

Reviews

[Ronald Kelland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because the government department I work for has designated the author’s homestead as a protected historic resource. The designation is due to Bugnet’s significance as a noted horticulturalist, not as a writer of fiction - with good reason. The Forest is a disappointing book. It it extremely predictable, it comes across as almost amateurish in it earnestness and it is cloyingly, insufferably melodramatic. I do wonder if the problems are the result of the translation more than the original text, but as I cannot read French, this translation is all I have to go with.

[Elecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was it predictable? Maybe a little bit, yes. But did I absolutely love the ending? Yes.

It was a really cool read. Most of the book was slow but the ending made up for it. I read the translated English version but I would love to read the original French version. Such a cool story written so long ago about the colonialist view on settling in Canada. Even though the settlers were the foreigners on Indigenous land, you were still engaged in their story, but I am glad about the ending and the strength the forest showed.

[Kaela · Rating 1 out of 5]

2/6 books I read for Canadian literature against my will

The prairies!! Interesting enough look at settlers and I did write a good essay on it. However, it was still part of my miserable Canadian lit class so I 1.5 stars I guess

[Sheena Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me of a university read. Descent story. How the wilderness won in the battle waged by an early couple trying to settle the land.