Barkskins

From Annie Proulx, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Shipping News" and "Brokeback Mountain", comes an epic, dazzling, violent, dramatic novel about the taming of the wilderness and destroying the forest, set over three centuries, 10 years in the writing. Beginning in 17th century France, this follows the descendants of two illiterate woodsmen as they travel to New France, back to Europe, to China and New England, always in their quest of a livelihood or fortune, or fleeing brutal conditions - accidents, pestilence, Indian attacks and the revenge of rivals.