Three Months Under The Snow. Transl

by Louis Lopraz

Three Months Under The Snow. Transl by Louis Lopraz. Louis Lopraz documents, in a vivid diary, the brutal winter ordeal of a boy and his grandfather trapped in a Jura chalet after a snowstorm. From November to March, they endure dwindling supplies, perilous attempts to keep warm, and the constant fear of wolves and fire. The boy learns to milk Blanchette the goat, improvise a chimney rescue through a removed damper, and construct a feasible escape sled. The narrative blends daily survival with spiritual reflection, citing prayers and passages from The Imitation of Jesus Christ, and portraying faith as a steadying force through hardship. After a violent storm and the grandfather’s death, the boy must confront burial rites and solitary grief, finally being rescued by his father and uncles with the goats and provisions in wintry relief. The work is a moral tale of resilience, devotion, and the consolations of family, faith, and practical ingenuity in the face of nature’s indifference.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1860

Reviews

[Lillian]

Written in 1855, this children's book, translated from French, tells the story of a young boy and his grandfather buried by snow in a mountain chalet for several months. It's a simple story, but a haunting survival tale. I won't forget how the grandfather gives the boy the immense gift of equipping him for what is to come.