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The Arbutus/Madrone Files

By Laurie Ricou 2002. 6 3/4 x 9 inches. 272 pages. Color and b&w illustrations. Bibliography. Index. ISBN 0-87071-543-7. Paperback, $21.95. Table of Contents

A lively and perceptive new look at twentieth-century Pacific Northwest writing, The Arbutus/Madrone Files explores the dynamics of this cross-border region using resonant quotations, poetry, song lyrics, and art to demonstrate and enhance author Laurie Ricou's critical readings and ideas.

The Arbutus/Madrone Files is a wide-ranging, deeply felt meditation on the land, people, and literature of the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Northwest, gathered into twelve thematic essays or "files," including the Island File, Salmon File, Woodswords File, Sasquatch File, and, of course, the Rain File.

A longtime student of literary regions, Ricou moves in this book from a scholarly perspective toward more personal and lyrical reflections about what constitutes "home" and "region." He explores the work of such Northwest authors as Emily Carr, H.L. Davis, David Guterson, Jack Hodgins, John Keeble, Ken Kesey, Joy Kogawa, Ursula Le Guin, John Okada, Kim Stafford, and David Wagoner, among others.

This unique, stylishly written book will appeal to Pacific Northwest book-lovers interested in exploring the region's rich homegrown literature and art, and will be of great interest to scholars and students of regional literature, eco-criticism, and Pacific Northwest culture.

"A fresh and timely regional approach . . . There is no book quite like this. . . . It is brilliantly written and very readable."

--Glen Love, Professor Emeritus of English,
University of Oregon, and editor of
The World Begins Here: An Anthology of Oregon Short Fiction

"Ricou is equally at home discussing writing and art by Canadians, Americans, and First Peoples. The book is a delight to read . . . a seldom-used combination of creative nonfiction and literary scholarship."

--Mark Allister, Associate Professor of English, American Studies,
and Environmental Studies, St. Olaf College

About the Author

Laurie Ricou is a Professor of English at the University of British Columbia and former president of the Western Literature Association. He is the author of several books, including Vertical Man/Horizontal World: Man and Landscape in Canadian Prairie Fiction and A Field Guide to "A Guide to Dungeness Spit."

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