Mike Hanson is surprised to inherit his aunt's farmhouse in rural Abbey, Saskatchewan. Even more surprising are the terms of the will: To keep the house, Mike must live there for three years, pursuing his long-abandoned dream of becoming an artist. If he fails, various local charities will benefit.
Settling into his new life in Abbey, Mike strikes up friendships with the local doctor and with a young farm girl who belongs to a closed, fundamentalist community. As the newcomer navigates the undercurrents of small-town relationships, he learns that the peaceful prairie can be a wild and violent place.
Stan Rogal's compelling novel offers a new look at the traditional Canadian tale of a city boy in the "wilderness, " taking aim at our literary mythology with sharp, satirical darts.