The Bunchgrass Edge of the World (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: E. Annie Proulx
- First Published: 1999
- Type of Plot: Domestic realism, regional
- Time of Work: The 1980's
- Setting: Rural Wyoming
- Principal Characters: Ottaline Touhey, Old Red, Aladdin, Wauneta, Flyby Amendinger
- Genres: Short fiction
- Subjects: Family or family life, Husbands, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Wives, Parents and children, Cattle, Love or romance, Twentieth century, Marriage, Rural or country life, 1980’s, West, U.S., Loneliness, Ranches, ranchers, or ranching, Wyoming, Tractors
- Locales: Wyoming
The Story
The story opens by establishing the heritage of the Touhey family. Old Red, the ninety-six-year-old patriarch, along with his Vietnam War veteran son Aladdin and family, raise sheep and cattle in the arid bunchgrass region of northwestern prairie land in Wyoming. Grandson Tyler and granddaughter Shan, siblings of Ottaline, leave their home, proving themselves to be unreliable ranch workers. In contrast, Ottaline has little choice but to stay home and join her father as the primary workforce on the ranch. The narration suggests her numerous skills for working the...
[The entire page is 1356 words long]
