Barkskins (2016) By Annie Proulx

The novel Barkskins by Annie Proulx is epic by every definition of the term.  It checks in at 716 pages, not counting the family trees; it spans three centuries of history, and its geographic spread ranges from the Netherlands and France, to New France (Canada), New England (US), with side trips to London, Australia, New Zealand, China and the Amazon.  Topics include U.S. history, Canadian history (quite distinct from U.S. History), Native history, the timber industry, managed forestry, land ethos, and ecological disruption, the role of women in society and business, the friction between adopted children and biological children, and the place of non-Cabot & Lodges in New England society.  Oh, and the Great Chicago Fire.

Take a breath.  And let me point out, it is a great read.

A plot summary, grossly brief, is that Barkskins is the interlocking family histories of the Dutch-French Duquet “Duke” family, and the Sel family which is an intermarriage of a French indentured-immigrant Rene Sel and Mari, a Mi’kmaw Indian. The Dukes found a lumber dynasty that generations of the Sels are impacted by.   Barkskins – by the way – is a term applied to anyone in the timber/logging industry.

Proulx is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Shipping News, a book that I did not particularly like.  She is also an accomplished short story writer whose work includes the highly regarded Brokeback Mountain – which if my memory serves me runs about 60 pages.  What really clinches Proulx place as a versatile writer is that she has proven quite proficient writing about “male” topics – Barkskins is about the timber/logging industry, while Brokeback is set in the sheep ranching industry, both of which are wholly male.  The lead character of The Shipping News, Quoyle, is also a man.  This is not to say that Proulx cannot write about women – let me tell you that when Barkskins is made into a movie (when, not if) the competition in Hollywood for the role of Lavinia is going to be intense.

The environmental subtext of the book is all encompassing; it would be wrong to call it a “sub plot” because it is there, on every page.  The book begins in the late 1600’s with the unfettered harvesting of timber and clearing of land on the east coast of North America, because it seems unlimited; the consequences of that unregulated clearcutting of the forests impacts every generation thereafter.   Near the end, the owners of the Duke Company begin to convert to the concept of forest management, though they do so to protect their investment, not the environment.  

Recommendation:  Set aside some time, this is an important book and great read.