Edge of the Wilderness

Growing Up in the North

Life on a farm at the edge of the wilderness was filled with hard work and danger, but there was also laughter, adventure, and the love of family and friends. In The Edge of the Wilderness, Lee Updike tells of growing up in northern Saskatchewan in the 1930s and 1940s. From the heartwarming story of his beloved dog, Shorty, to the tale of a terrifying forest fire, Updike chronicles life in the north with insight and gentle humour. Amidst stories of boyish hijinx and outdoor adventures, The Edge of the Wilderness tells of Updike’s coming of age during a time of hardship, as he assumes responsibilities beyond his years and eventually embarks on a boxing career that will take him far from home and family. Updike’s memoirs of his boyhood are an evocative picture of a way of life that will bring back memories for anyone who grew up there, and make the North come alive for those who didn’t.