Barkskins

A Novel

By: Annie Proulx

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 25 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a television mini-series airing on National Geographic May 2020!

A Washington Post Best Book of the Year and a New York Times Notable Book from the Pulitzer Prize-­­winning author of The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain comes the New York Times best-selling epic about the demise of the world’s forests.

“Barkskins is grand entertainment in the tradition of Dickens and Tolstoy…the crowning achievement of Annie Proulx’s distinguished career, but also perhaps the greatest environmental novel ever written.” (San Francisco Chronicle).

In the late 17th century, two young Frenchmen, René Sel and Charles Duquet, arrive in New France. Bound to a feudal lord for three years in exchange for land, they become wood-cutters — barkskins. René suffers extraordinary hardship, oppressed by the forest he is charged with clearing. He is forced to marry a native woman and their descendants live trapped between two cultures. But Duquet runs away, becomes a fur trader, then sets up a timber business. Annie Proulx tells the stories of the descendants of Sel and Duquet over 300 years — their travels across North America, to Europe, China, and New Zealand — the revenge of rivals, accidents, pestilence, Indian attacks, and cultural annihilation. Over and over, they seize what they can of a presumed infinite resource, leaving the modern-day characters face to face with possible ecological collapse.

“A stunning, bracing, full-tilt ride through three hundred years of US and Canadian history…with the type of full-immersion plot that keeps you curled in your chair, reluctant to stop reading” (Elle), Barkskins showcases Proulx’s inimitable genius of creating characters who are so vivid that we follow them with fierce attention.

“This is Proulx at the height of her powers as an irreplaceable American voice” (Entertainment Weekly, Grade A), and Barkskins “is an awesome monument of a book” (The Washington Post) — “the masterpiece she was meant to write” (The Boston Globe).

As Anthony Doerr says, “This magnificent novel possesses the dark humor of The Shipping News and the social awareness of Brokeback Mountain."

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2016 Annie Proulx (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Robert] Petkoff's delivery is mesmerizing, with distinctive voices for generations of well-developed characters, and perfect pacing and incredible accents that give an air of authenticity. Immediately the listener is immersed in a place so colorfully depicted through both the written and spoken word that the time slips past and Proulx's wild forests settle in all around. The novel is indeed a sweeping saga, but Proulx and Petkoff are the duo to make the time seem too short. A transporting listen." ( AudioFile)

Man's arrogance and self-absorption

Man has a dramatic impact on the environment. It's a long-term issue that unfortunately needs a very long time to resolve. Barkskins takes its time to lay out the cruel destruction, where even the well intentioned can cause great harm. Decision by decision man is seen solely focusing on their own needs, desires, and aspiration all while failing to understand the interconnectedness of all matter that is this earth. This book brings you along man's journey to first master and then destroy all that is loved.

History

I enjoyed the story and performance too. Interesting account of the lives of these families.

Fascinating Saga

I thoroughly enjoyed this lengthy historical saga of two families, whose destinies were intertwined, yet hidden from each other. I learned a great deal about people, history and botany in this comprehensive story of lumber interests in Canada and the U.S.

Real Americana

terrific story if a bit long. I wish I could have a printed out the family tree to keep up with the characters. loved the details and each character and time period.

A long, long story

The first part was the best but even then I struggled to keep up with all the characters. then it got more complicated and shifted to other parts of the world and eventually to the present day. just too many twists and turns. I understand that the destruction of the world's great forests was the theme but to weave it all together in one story was too ambitious and confusing.

More than a novel

This story took me into the uncomfortable history of the timber industry. The treatment of forests as commodities was contrasted perfectly by the simultaneous perspective of the indigenous people.
I had a difficult time keeping up with all of the blood lines that were introduced as the tale unfolded, but I understood enough to appreciate the author's writing skills.
The bottom line is that it was an informative and highly worthwhile read. I've already recommended this book to many of my friends. Barkskins is a meaningful precursor to the earth changes we're now experiencing, especially in America.

Great book!

If you could sum up Barkskins in three words, what would they be?

Warm, concise, adventurous

What did you like best about this story?

The description of the Indians - they're lives - their culture , their mysteriousness

Have you listened to any of Robert Petkoff’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard other performances by him, but he is a phenomenal narrator - gifted with all the different accents!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both

A masterpiece.

Barkskins is a masterpiece. Beautifulli written. Deals with the possible survival of our planet depending on how we can save our trees.
Six stars to the excellenta reader. Hope to hear him again!

Thank you.

Birthe lundvik

Immense and breathtaking

The breadth of insight from the highest viewpoint imaginable, Annie Proulx brought into existence what was blackened by progress . A great body of history told with without prejudice or malice so the images are not her creation but are the stark grasp of her deep understanding of human culture. The writing is exquisite and penetrating. In the end the reader is not separate from the story.

Deep, darkly educational

Her writing style is stark, but masterful. So much true education on the rapacious reality of whites in the Americas and beyond set in history and with enough plot to keep you interested. The forest is always our teacher!