Tales from the Edge of the Woods [Paperback]

Willem Lange (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1998

"If you live here by choice," Willem Lange writes of the northern New England he's called home for half a century, "you pay your dues, take what you can get, and endure what you have to. It's well worth it." These reminiscences, character sketches, and sometimes heart-rending accounts of life among the ubiquitous pines and unyielding granite shows a deep reverence and an abiding respect for this unique corner of the world.

We meet, for example, Baddy, the crusty timber camp cook whose love of hunting ends the day he witnesses the needless death of a fawn. We experience rites of passage: an old man determined to spend one last night alone in the deep woods; a young man discovering for the first time the indelible beauty of a northern September morning; and Lange's own realization that, "for the first time, I'll be the oldest man in camp, and my son will be carrying most of my pack."

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

5 x 8 1/2 trim. LC 97-35028

About the Author

WILLEM LANGE is a carpenter, former teacher, newspaper columnist, and Vermont Public Radio commentator living on a farm in tiny Etna, New Hampshire.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: UPNE; 1st edition (January 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874518598
• ISBN-13: 978-0874518597
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,490,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Biographical Information -- Willem Lange

Willem Lange was born in 1935. A child of deaf parents, he grew up speaking sign language and first came to New England to prep school in 1950 as an alternative to reform school in his native New York State.

During a few absences from New England, Will earned a degree in only nine years at the College of Wooster in Ohio. In between those scattered semesters, he worked as a ranch hand, Adirondack guide, preacher, construction laborer, bobsled run announcer, assembly line worker, cab driver, bookkeeper, and bartender. After graduating in 1962, he taught high school English in northern New York, filling in summers as an Outward Bound instructor.

From 1968 to 1972 Will directed the Dartmouth Outward Bound Center. During the ensuing thirty-five years he was a building and remodeling contractor in Hanover. He's an adopted member of the Dartmouth Class of 1957.

In 1981 he began writing a weekly column, "A Yankee Notebook," which appears in several New England newspapers. He's a commentator for Vermont Public Radio and the host of New Hampshire Public Television's weekly show Windows to the Wild. His annual readings of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol began in 1975 and continue unabated. He's published seven books and received an Emmy nomination for one of his pieces on Vermont Public Television.

In 1973 Will founded the Geriatric Adventure Society, a group of outdoor enthusiasts whose members have skied the 200-mile Alaska Marathon, climbed in Alaska, the Andes, and Himalayas, bushwhacked on skis through northern New England, and paddled rivers north of the Arctic Circle.

He and his wife, Ida, have been married since 1959. Three years ago they moved to Vermont, and now live in East Montpelier. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear as the New England sky; Crisp as a fall day, October 11, 2001

By 

Tom Bruce (East Moriches, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales from the Edge of the Woods (Paperback)

I first became acquainted with the work of essayist Willem Lange through his appearances on the Vermont Public Television program "RFD," which normally ends its weekly broadcast with a piece by this wordsmith. The essays in this charming little book are culled from other writings and are perfect examples of Mr. Lange's style. With a minimum of very well chosen words, Mr. Lange paints a detailed picture of people, places, and events and wraps us in his love for all. There are some very heart-felt expressions here: A Letter to a newborn grandchild; A sudden understanding of his wife's life-long torment; An appreciation of past leadership provided by a mentor. In all, there are 18 tiny gems here, none longer than four pages, but the scope of their sentiment is unending. This is a book to treasure and read over and over again. If only it were longer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Lange writes stories from the heart., August 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tales from the Edge of the Woods (Paperback)

Mr. Lange's stories of life in New England awake memories of the reader's own experiences that transcend any geographical boundaries. In this collection of essays, Willem Lange celebrates the experiences of everyday life in New England with humor and honesty that connects with readers in every corner of the land.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Lange portrays the atmosphere of New England, April 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tales from the Edge of the Woods (Paperback)

This thin book delivers powerful images of how New England was and strives to remain. Short essays cover typical events and personalities, most often humorous, always interesting. A great way to discover why we think there's no other place to live.