Fruits of the Earth

by Frederick Philip Grove, Rudy Wiebe (Afterword)

First published in 1933, Fruits of the Earth has come to be regarded as a landmark in Canadian fiction, an unparalleled depiction of the ordeals endured by the early pioneers of the western prairies. In his portrait of Abe Spalding, Frederick Philip Grove captures the essence of the pioneering its single-minded strength, its nobility, and ultimately, its tragedy. A novel of broad scope and perception, Fruits of the Earth displays a dignity and stature rare in contemporary works of fiction.

Genres: Canada, Fiction, Canadian Literature, Classics

360 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1933

About the author

Frederick Philip Grove was a German-born Canadian novelist and translator.
He was a prolific translator in Germany, working under his original name Felix Paul Greve and posing as a dandy, before he left Berlin to start a new life in North America in late July 1909. Settling in Manitoba, Canada, in 1912, he became a well known Canadian fiction writer exploring Western prairie pioneer life in vibrant multi-cultural communities. A bigamist, married twice, Grove constructed his entire life as an intricate web of fact and fiction. He died in 1948 on his estate in Simcoe, Ontario, where he had resided since 1930.

Reviews

[Rosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel tells the story of Abe Spalding, a strong and determined man who opens up a district for farming in southern Manitoba. The author shows us the many hardships and the fewer rewards of being a farmer, especially during difficult times like flooding or drought, in a simple yet effective manner.
He also shows us the struggle Abe has to adjust to the world of the 1920's and the newer generation who don't have the same values or goals as himself.

[Larry Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while, one's gotta read about pioneers, right? Well I do. Perhaps it's because I discovered a few years ago, that my great grandparents would count as pioneers. Who knew? My great grandparents were pioneeers in the U.S., and here we're talking pioneers in Canada, but still pioneers on the prairies. Yes, they had prairies in Canada and they also had folks heading out west to homestead on the prairies.

In this case, we have Abe Spalding. He scouts out a part of Manitoba and eventually settles his claim on a spot of land that is vaguely higher than that around him. It seems that Manitoba has horrific floods in the spring, when the snow melts and the rivers flood. The slightly higher land drains more quickly and one can plow and plant more quickly. This is important in Manitoba, because the growing season is rather short.

Well anyway, Abe is a work-a-holic and is constantly working to improve things, to acquire more land and so forth. The less successful farmers hire themselves out to Abe so as to make enough to get by. As time goes on, the more families move in, schools are built, roads improved and so forth. So, basically, we have a story of the development of the Canadian prairies. We also have the story of Abe's success, and perhaps not-so-much success in his personal and family relationships. After all the hard work, Abe keeps coming back to the question, "what is this all for?"

A most fascinating book.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling novel I could not put down. Upon completion I knew I would reread it, if only to visit the Abe Spaulding again. Brilliant!

[Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fruits of the Earth is the chronicle of Abe Spalding, a farmer possessed by “land hunger.” He leaves his stony and untillable farm in Ontario to start a new farm in the prairies, leaving his wife behind until he has established himself in their new home. The story is as much of his land as it is of Abe, following the two through the years as they shape each other.

Grove masterfully captures his subject, even in his writing style. The novel is slow and plodding, as it watches the passage of years. If you need a faster pace and action, this is absolutely not the novel for you. Instead, Fruits of the Earth draws the reader in to the life of a Prairie farmer, with its struggles, tragedies, successes, and endless cycles. It’s a beautiful novel, and by the end I knew more about wheat growing than I ever thought I would.

It’s a Canadian classic that helps the reader experience – it only vicariously – a part of the country’s history. This isn’t the story of great wars or grand political gestures, but rather of the “little people” who shaped the country with their hands. As an immigrant to Canada, I feel that Fruits of the Earth helped me understand the country a little betters.

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting and readable story of a pioneer and his poor work/life balance. From the intro, I thought it would end much more tragically than it did. Sometimes too technical - I don't know how the country in Manitoba is carved up, Grove, and if it's that important for me to know, put a map in the book! Also maybe explain some of the farming equipment. I found the theme a bit underdeveloped. Presumably it's trying to say that the materalistic work ethic is all well and good but neglect of the family is forever? The book seems to end with the materialistic, hard working protagonist rededicating himself to public life instead of ignoring his supposed duties as a natural leader. I'm not sure how that's supposed to bring back his dead son or unimpregnate his teenage daughter, but whatever.

[Ibis3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the one hand, this is a chronicle (more on that below) about Abe Spalding who is a workaholic and has a tough time relating to anyone outside his solitary inner life which is subsumed in mindless ambition. On the other, it is the story of a Canadian settlement meeting the modern era while still locked in its primitive past--within a single person's adult lifetime. As Rudy Wiebe points out this is less a novel than it is a chronicle--a collection of related stories--that seems so especially a Canadian literary format. Included as a bonus in the Christmas dinner episode is a wonderful description of a snow storm in the way that only Grove can provide.

[Héctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I vaguely remember reading this book; it did not grip me as much as his first novel.