“The Big Sky” – A.B. Guthrie Jr.

Short Summary:

The Big Sky is one of the most-read Western/Americana novels of all time. The first book of a trilogy ( Followed by The Way West & Fair Land, Fair Land), it is considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of western expansion in American Literature and is deeply seeded with nostalgia, themes of identity and historical events. The book, which was written in 1947, displays a determined Guthrie and his ability to research both the celebrated and the disheartening events of our pastime.

Taking place in the 1830’s, the story revolves around a stubborn young Kentuckian named Boone Caudill. Boone leaves his home in hopes of becoming a “Mountain Man,” trapping beaver fur in the Wyoming and Montana Territories. Trouble seems to follow Boone and he ends up escaping law by joining a crew of misfits that are traveling up the Missouri River on a French keelboat. Also aboard the ship is a Native American woman named Teal Eye, the daughter of a Blackfoot Chief who the crew is returning to Montana.

As the story continues through the harsh and dangerous lands of the west in the 1830’s, Boone finds himself in disagreement with his original soul-searching narrative and sets out on a new path, driven by love and a desire to re-identify himself. Guthrie provides a fast-paced and invigorating third person narrative of the men and women that are looking west toward new land and new adventures. It is as much a romance as it is a historical text, and Guthrie pushes the boundaries by driving the narrative with an infamous story of interracial love.

[Note: This book contains explicit language and graphic images. Guthrie uses racial and sexist language to, unfortunately, portray some of the darkest sides of humanity. If this is difficult for any reader, let this note provide a warning to you.]

Genres: Western, Americana, Historical Fiction

My Review:

This book was one of the longer books that I have read during my graduate program, yet it seemed to read the fastest. Guthrie’s storytelling ability is dazzling and the characters seem to jump off the page, placing you in their world almost immediately. Though, this book is difficult to read at times (which I will discuss), Guthrie captivates you with his mastery of dialect and imagery. Each character is described to the vesting and each landscape is painted with colorful brushstrokes.

This is one of the most fascinating examples of American Western Mythology where the protagonist constantly struggles with historical forces. This makes the reader contemplate both the harshness of the land (Oregon Trail and Territorial lawlessness) and the inhumane cruelty of colonial Americans. This is what makes this book so difficult to read. Oftentimes, historical fiction novels (and/or their authors) can bring the reader to a place of discomfort. This is true of this novel, yet one can appreciate the research and technique used to complete a trilogy of such magnitude and detail.

Boone is sometimes a very likable character, but Guthrie often places him in situations that make him seem like an anti-hero. He is the perfect representation of manifest destiny and the horrors that came from the early movement westward. The land had not been surveyed yet and the colonials that had started their wagons west were clueless to the vastness of their future country.

One of the more impressive aspects of Guthrie’s writing comes in his dialogue. The several dialects used (especially on the keelboat) are all impressive and displays the diverse community of people that had begun to settle in the west. French, Southern, New England, English, Irish and Native American dialects (to just name a few). Back in the 1830’s, trappers came from all sorts of backgrounds, most of which coming south from the Canadian Territories. As you read, and the list of characters grows, you become more and more aware of each voice and soon you could pick each individual out in a crowd.

Behind the scenes is a story chocked full of romance and identity. Boone is a character that undergoes several changes, some for the better and some for worse. This paired with a rare (for the 1940’s) story of interracial intimacy makes it a novel that will stand the tests of time. Guthrie does not allow himself to fall into historical cliche, but instead uses his romantics to push his story into a new era of western literature, escaping the non-progressive tropes placed there by generations of prejudice.

RAAW (Reading as a Writer): 

For this novel I chose to discuss the idea of “Self-Illusion“. This may come as a spoiler for some, but believe me, the book is so much more than Boone’s motives. Self Illusion is found in a lot of western literature; the city of gold, the fountain of youth, Frankenstein’s monster, Don Quixote, etc. It is the goals and ideas that drive characters. These often conflict with reality later in the plot.The character believes there is a city of gold out there… then reality hits. When my mentor and I discussed this, he told me that our illusions can be the source of our foolishness and our heroism. But it is just that, an idea, an invention, something we’ve imagined of ourselves and the nature of the world.

Ex: Quixote’s belief that he is a knight… Joseph Conrad and his place of darkness…

For Boone, it is his illusion of love and family. He wishes to wed the daughter of a Blackfoot Chief, despite having never talked with the young woman. Boone begins to make every decision because of this uncontrollable romantic obsession.

“Beaver, Boone said he was after, but Jim knew better. It was little Teal Eye, held secret in Boone’s head all this time, and all the time growing and taking hold of him, until finally his mind was made up and God himself couldn’t change him.” (Guthrie 217)

Guthrie uses this technique to further character development. Despite his ultimate success in being with Teal Eye, Boone’s reasons for coming west had changed. She was the driving force that caused him to go further than he ever imagined. This Illusion of marriage and romance was eventually met with reality, and there the story continues…

Overall, this is a long, yet quick, read that will leave you wanting more and more… luckily this is one of three in the trilogy and one of six that Guthrie wrote on the Oregon trail/western expansion. The imagery is amazing and the characters force emotions (good and bad) from the reader on every page. Guthrie’s own fascination with the American West is evident and the historical context of this novel exceeded my expectations. Though sometimes the content is difficult to read, it is powerful and will be remembered for generations!

More by A.B. Guthrie Jr.:

• “The Way West” (1949)
• “Fair Land, Fair Land” (1982)
• “These Thousand Hills” (1956)