47 pages • 1 hour read
Wallace StegnerAngle of Repose
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose, wheelchair-bound historian Lyman Ward delves into the lives of his frontier-era grandparents, especially his grandmother Susan Burling Ward, to find parallels and solace for his own troubled existence. The narrative intricately weaves Susan’s artistic journey and turbulent marriage with Oliver amidst persistent relocations due to his work as a mining engineer. The novel contains depictions of infidelity, drowning, and suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose masterfully intertwines history and fiction, offering a poignant narrative with rich character development, especially of the protagonist. Critics praise its exploration of personal and cultural identity. However, some find its pacing slow. An evocative tale, it resonates deeply despite its occasional verbosity.
Who Should Read Angle of Repose?
A reader who would enjoy Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner likely appreciates deeply character-driven historical novels. Comparable to fans of Willa Cather's My Ántonia or John Steinbeck's East of Eden, these readers relish intricate narratives exploring personal and cultural histories in the American West.