Big Timber A Story of the Northwest

by Bertrand William Sinclair

Big Timber is a novel by Bertrand W. Sinclair, set in the Pacific Northwest during the early 20th century. The story follows the life of a young man named Jim Thorne, who comes to the region to work in the logging industry. Thorne quickly learns the harsh realities of the logging business, including the dangers of working in the forest and the cutthroat competition between logging companies.As Thorne rises through the ranks of his company, he becomes embroiled in a bitter rivalry with a rival logging outfit. The conflict between the two companies escalates into violence, and Thorne finds himself caught in the middle of a dangerous feud.Throughout the novel, Sinclair vividly portrays the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the challenges faced by those who made their living in the timber industry. He also explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the struggle for power and control in a rapidly changing world.Overall, Big Timber is a gripping tale of adventure, romance, and intrigue set against the backdrop of one of America's most iconic landscapes.1916. With Frontispiece by Douglas Duer. From the best-selling Western author, Big Timber The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon. Ahead opened out a timbered valley, narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley, down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade. The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow. The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater. So the great river moved placidly-as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

328 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Robert Nolin]

Read this for research about logging. As a novel, it's very mechanical, pulpy. Unusual for 1917, the first person is a woman, though the author was a man. He seems to have never figured out who Stella, his protagonist, is. I DNF'd about 60% through.

[Maryana]

I came across this book completely by random selection, but I'm pleased I gave it a chance. I wish I could give it 4 stars, as it's awfully close to the mark, but there were a few niggles that dropped it down a couple of pegs.

The plot was solid enough - a posh, young woman, Stella Benton, moves after the death of her father from a cultured, city life to the uncouth world of logging in British Columbia, entirely dependent on the charity and goodwill of her brother, Charlie. Eventually, she decides to escape the drudgery of this new poor lifestyle for a loveless (on her side) marriage with the taciturn and slightly enigmatic Jack Fyfe.

Now this is what I'd been waiting for during the whole book. Jack is the best character of the entire novel! An intelligent, kind and resilient man, who works hard and deserves far better than he gets.

Stella, however, is the protagonist the whole way through, and sometimes it's quite hard to push through her sanctimonious attitude, especially where Jack is concerned. I myself couldn't see what Jack found in her, but hey ho, she certainly got lucky!

The setting of the novel was lovely though - a beautiful forest set on the banks of a large lake, and the descriptions were fairly evocative.

It's worth reading to the end and putting up with Stella's frequent woe-is-me sessions to see how it all ties up together, so all in all I'd recommend giving it a go.

[Naulayne Raiche Enders]

Excellent story! It is about the beginning of the logging industry in Britsh Coumba. Stella goes there from the East coast to hel her brother in his logging business. She ends up being a logging camp cook. She marries a neigboring timber owner who is more established and successful. Trials and difficulties finally unite the couple. I was a little discouraged in the middle that in typical fashion she would walk away with someone else. So glad that didn't happen!

[Ron]

Looking for a theme song to go with this novel by Canadian writer Bertrand Sinclair, you might pick Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” It’s a story set in the old growth woods of British Columbia, where a one-sided marriage of convenience leads to a good deal of heartbreak and disappointment.

Read my review at my blog.