quietly_killing_thyme's review against another edition
3.0
How come men who want to marry the love of their life *and* pursue their dream career are never accused of wanting to "have it all"??? Especially when that dream includes abandoning your fiancee (who has a history of being abandoned by the men in her life for the fur trade) for the fur trade??? Forget being a mother while pursuing a career, this is the most ridiculous case of trying to have it all that I can think of.
jaclynday's review against another edition
4.0
Burke bothers little with initially fleshing out his main character, William Wyeth, but that’s because he doesn’t need to. The story, set in the West in the 1820s amidst the risky world of fur trapping, is enthralling and suspenseful from the start. I know little about fur trapping and even less about the political upheaval surrounding it at the time, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every page. Burke paints an extraordinarily vivid picture of the American West—I could see the hills, trees, snow. There’s a horse race partway through the book that was a fantastic bit of writing. As Wyeth’s character develops more, I became deeply attached to him. The story has fun moments (some romance) and lots of action, though it takes a bit for the plot to really get moving. Still, it’s a great adventure story and I loved it.
jennyshank's review against another edition
5.0
From High Country News, May 25, 2015
The classic Western frontier story is an archetype of the hero’s journey: A young man, off to seek his fortune in the West, enters the wilderness to prove himself and emerges both stronger and wiser. Into the Savage Country follows this pattern, but charismatic characters, good humor, lively language and nail-biting scenes make Shannon Burke’s novel feel as fresh and thrilling as the first time this kind of story was told.
In 1826, 22-year-old William Wyeth is a hunter selling furs in St. Louis. He and the eventual love of his life, Alene Chevalier, meet Western cute, when he hires her to brain-tan some hides. Wyeth isn’t the only one sweet on Alene — so is Henry Layton, a hot-headed braggart who “could buy you a drink and do a good deed, but he could not do it without others knowing he’d done it.”
William embarks on a fur-trapping expedition, because, he says, “I was fated to test my mettle in the West. If I’d not make a fortune … I’d live my life up to the hilt and satisfy that inner craving and have something to talk about in my dotage.”
He learns from seasoned trappers, including historical figures like legendary mountain men Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger. William observes of Bridger, “Though he was as ignorant of book learning as the day he was born, he possessed all the accomplishments needed west of the Mississippi.”
When William re-encounters Alene and Henry at a U.S. Army fort, Henry invites him to join a Smith-led expedition to Wyoming’s Wind River Range, where wild -animals still abound, offering “the last, best chance of a big take.”
Burke vividly conveys the complex interactions between French and American trappers, the Crow, the Blackfoot and British soldiers. Burke’s characters constantly evolve and surprise. Blackfoot warrior Red Elk, for example, at first appears despicable but emerges as a dignified man of canny intelligence. Even Henry reveals endearing qualities.
Into The Savage Country rings with the conviction that a Western story is supposed to be fun above all, and that it need not sacrifice historical accuracy and complexity in order to entertain the reader.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/47.9/a-trappers-tale
The classic Western frontier story is an archetype of the hero’s journey: A young man, off to seek his fortune in the West, enters the wilderness to prove himself and emerges both stronger and wiser. Into the Savage Country follows this pattern, but charismatic characters, good humor, lively language and nail-biting scenes make Shannon Burke’s novel feel as fresh and thrilling as the first time this kind of story was told.
In 1826, 22-year-old William Wyeth is a hunter selling furs in St. Louis. He and the eventual love of his life, Alene Chevalier, meet Western cute, when he hires her to brain-tan some hides. Wyeth isn’t the only one sweet on Alene — so is Henry Layton, a hot-headed braggart who “could buy you a drink and do a good deed, but he could not do it without others knowing he’d done it.”
William embarks on a fur-trapping expedition, because, he says, “I was fated to test my mettle in the West. If I’d not make a fortune … I’d live my life up to the hilt and satisfy that inner craving and have something to talk about in my dotage.”
He learns from seasoned trappers, including historical figures like legendary mountain men Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger. William observes of Bridger, “Though he was as ignorant of book learning as the day he was born, he possessed all the accomplishments needed west of the Mississippi.”
When William re-encounters Alene and Henry at a U.S. Army fort, Henry invites him to join a Smith-led expedition to Wyoming’s Wind River Range, where wild -animals still abound, offering “the last, best chance of a big take.”
Burke vividly conveys the complex interactions between French and American trappers, the Crow, the Blackfoot and British soldiers. Burke’s characters constantly evolve and surprise. Blackfoot warrior Red Elk, for example, at first appears despicable but emerges as a dignified man of canny intelligence. Even Henry reveals endearing qualities.
Into The Savage Country rings with the conviction that a Western story is supposed to be fun above all, and that it need not sacrifice historical accuracy and complexity in order to entertain the reader.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/47.9/a-trappers-tale
amysbrittain's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars. A serenely told story of a band of fur traders--some wild, some considered gentlemen, some one but striving to be the other--striking out into the West in the first half of the 1800s. The writing style involves a lot of telling, which seemingly intentionally slows the pacing--and which I usually don't like, but here it gives a fittingly old-fashioned quality to the writing that suits the time and the main protagonist and the tale itself.
So while the group encounters friendly and hostile Native Americans; copes with antagonized and antagonistic British trappers; is threatened with imprisonment; experiences cruel and potentially fatal betrayal by one of their own; faces the wild and its many dangers; suffers grave wounds; and saves each other's skin countless times--including after foolish and easily avoided situations such as literally waking a bear and baiting an injured bull--you aren't necessarily going to be on the edge of your seat while you read about all of it.
But there is a deeper, quiet, surprisingly affecting story beneath the Western adventure, which is about trust, loyalty, sometimes begrudging but deeply felt affection, discovery of self-worth, celebrating differences, and love. It's the pacing and tone of the story that allows for all of those elements to feel real.
I keep thinking about this one, and when I began the book I wouldn't have predicted how it's sticking with me now.
So while the group encounters friendly and hostile Native Americans; copes with antagonized and antagonistic British trappers; is threatened with imprisonment; experiences cruel and potentially fatal betrayal by one of their own; faces the wild and its many dangers; suffers grave wounds; and saves each other's skin countless times--including after foolish and easily avoided situations such as literally waking a bear and baiting an injured bull--you aren't necessarily going to be on the edge of your seat while you read about all of it.
But there is a deeper, quiet, surprisingly affecting story beneath the Western adventure, which is about trust, loyalty, sometimes begrudging but deeply felt affection, discovery of self-worth, celebrating differences, and love. It's the pacing and tone of the story that allows for all of those elements to feel real.
I keep thinking about this one, and when I began the book I wouldn't have predicted how it's sticking with me now.
leeball's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up at a second hand store purely based on the title and cover picture. I really enjoy reading 19th century books about the wilderness, natives, fur trade, and the daily struggle of survival. This book is certainly all those things. There is mention of a few notable frontiersman (in a fictional sense) which feeds the imagination. The adventures that unfold leave you cheering for them and their trapping brigade. The author is a talented writer and left me looking up several words after each Part, which was a welcomed bonus to this book.
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