The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Part mystery, part family saga and part love story, The Story of Edgar Sawttelle is an unforgettable novel about the bond between a boy and his dogs.

Born mute, speaking in a sign language of his own invention, Edgar Sawtelle has led an idyllic childhood on his parents' remote farm, where, for generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dogs whose thoughtful presence is exemplified by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong companion. During the summer of his 14th year, Edgar seems poised to excel in his family's work. He has a way with the dogs, and he has just been given his first litter of pups to raise. But that summer brings two unexpected visitors: a stray dog who refuses to come in from the wild, and Claude, Edgar's uncle, who cannot seem to tame his own ferocious nature. In this masterful novel, Wroblewski brilliantly examines the limits of language and the elemental forces of love, loss and revenge. At once a riveting adventure and a multilayered family saga, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a bold, ambitious novel that will captivate readers from its mysterious opening to its breathtaking finale.