What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

This topic is about
Duke
SOLVED: Adult Fiction
>
SOLVED. Adult Historical Literary novel. Frontiersman struggles in inhospitable climates, travels with cousin. Written in poetic, experimental style. Based on letters by author's (great) grandfather. Read in 2019. Written after 2010? [s]
date
newest »

The book was about a man who had left his town and was traveling through the frontier, at least part of the way with his cousin. I believe they are primarily hunters? His cousin was much more experienced and carefree than he was. The man's sister back home had a crush on this cousin and wanted to marry him. At one point, the cousin takes the man to see his favorite prostitute in a town they travel through. Eventually the protagonist ends up in a relationship with a Native American woman he meets while setting up a temporary living space in an isolated area in the middle of winter.
EDIT: I just remembered that the book was based on letters by the author's grandfather or great-grandfather.