The Big Rock Candy Mountain

By: Wallace Stegner

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 25 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Bo Mason, his wife, and his two boys live a transient life of poverty and despair. Drifting from town to town and from state to state, the violent, ruthless Bo seeks his fortune in the hotel business, in new farmland, and, eventually, in illegal rum-running throughout the treacherous back roads of the American Northwest.

Based largely on his own childhood, Stegner has created a masterful, harrowing saga of a family trying to survive during the lean years of the early 20th century. It is the conflict between the hardscrabble existence and Bo's pursuit of the frontier myth and of the American dream that gives the book such resonance and power.

©1938 1940, 1942, 1943 by Wallace Stegner (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Stegner has felt the spell of mountain and prairie, of drought, flood, and blizzard....a harrowing saga." - ( New York Times)
"Stands out beautifully and unforgettably." ( New Yorker)

Engrossing family saga unfolds like Greek tragedy

Thoroughly enjoyed this Stegner novel, informed by the author's family experience. Well drawn characters totter down their life path according to their competing weaknesses and talents. Gives a credible picture of pioneer life in communities of Scandinavian extraction, and of the eagerness to strike it rich that is so common.

Nobel worthy writer

To think that it was written in 1938 and to fast forward a decade or so to discover that Hemingway won the Nobel prize and this deep mind miner Wallace Stegner did not, is to remember that life is not always fair ( or honest ) .
In my book of greatest American literature masters, John Steinbeck is at top of the list. Stegner, who I only recently and accidentally discovered, is right near the top of that list.
Certainly much more deserving of Nobel than Hemingway.

Excellent narration

Enjoyed the story and Stegner’s bare writing style. Inspired to read more of his works.

Most compelling & fascinating autobiography

Yes, I KNOW "Big Rock..." is fiction. But it consists almost entirely of events in Stegner's life, even actual conversations (Jackson Benson's "Wallace Stegner, His Life and Work" is highly recommended as a companion piece). Heartbreaking. Riveting. THIS is the Stegner book that should have won Pulitzer. Narrator Bramhall deserves 5 stars, too. He uses a good variety of voices for the many characters in the story (he's especially good with foreign dialects).

Fantastic from beginning to end

Hard to put down, I grew so attached to the characters I hated to see the story end. Would highly recommend this one. Best i have read in years! Mark Bramhall also does a great job. I will read more by both this author and narrator.

Mark Bramhall is a MIRACLE!

I can't really add anything to the years of stellar reviews for this amazing, heartrending, thought-provoking work. I can reveal that it was like reliving my past life married to Harry Mason incarnate. My boys and I were dragged from house to house, changing schools and jobs, for years and years. He was petulant, wistful, violent, and unendingly selfish. The only thing that brought him any joy were the endless schemes. Unlike Elsa, when I left I stayed gone. I wish she had as well.

Mr. Bramhall is a major talent! He changed his voice so completely and consistently to match each character. It really brought alive the story for me, a hearing-impaired person who sometimes struggles to comprehend audible books.

Powerful Story

What did you love best about The Big Rock Candy Mountain?

Didn't know it was a autobiograpy until read. Makes it even more memorable when you know this is his own story. Enjoyed it immensely.

Mixed Emotions

I think this book is a great book, it provides you with a different perspective and perhaps a glimpse of life from someone else’s eyes. Just at any part in this book I found myself seeing Bo as my own father because they are so very similar. Though I don’t share the same feelings as Bruce perhaps I can understand as well because I too hated him for a long time. Though now as a 22 year old all I can do is understand him, his violence, lack of patience, strong will, hard working one track mind. I cannot hate him for these things as I have come to understand we are all human and deserving of love and family. I highly recommend this book maybe you will view Bo as Bruce does or maybe you’ll pity him as I do.

Stegner rocks

A story spanning a lifetime during the years of prohibition, the characters in this story come alive as Stegner writes about them. As one listens, you feel like you are living along with them. This novel makes one think about what makes a person good or bad, and whether certain characteristics of a person lean them in one direction or the other.

A long novel, but to me it didn't seem repetitive or longer than it needed to be to outline and fill in the story line.

An excellent listen, performed well by the narrator.

very sad!

I thought it would be a triumphant book but it was a sad story. a big part of our history and people who made this country. Could've been a true story