The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall
People here don’t care about the countryside in any deep way, she says. They just want nice walks, nice views, and a tearoom.
Sarah Hall's The Wolf Border tells the story of an eccentric Earl's somewhat quixotic plan to see wolves return to rural Britain. To execute the Earl of Annerdale's goal, he seeks out a daughter of Cumbria with sufficient canine nouse. Rachel Caine is committed to a wolf reservation in Idaho and turns down Thomas Pennington's offer. But situations, as they must, change and Rachel finds herself back home, battling with an unexpected pregnancy, an unconventional childhood and an aristocrat whose ruthless steel is not fully hidden behind his joviality.
The Wolf Border: Conflict
The Wolf Border is a captivating novel that weaves together themes of rewilding, identity, and conflict. Rachel's acceptance of the job is only small portion of said conflict. The project to reintroduce wolves has more than its fair share of human detractors and Rachel is forced to politically navigate opposition which moves from the odd to the unsettling. She also seeks to repair the conflict with her brother, who himself is battling demons that Rachel cannot yet comprehend. The novel cleverly uses Rachel's struggles, particularly her pregnancy, to mirror the challenges of the wolves. The sense of protection, the fear of obliteration and helplessness.
A Cumbrian Love Affair
Sarah Hall’s prose is luminous, capturing the rugged beauty of Cumbria with poetic precision. Hall is a master at representing the rural North of England, particularly the Cumbrian fells and she masters the subject again here. Her descriptions of the wolves - their movements, their instincts, their eerie howls - are particularly striking. The narrative shifts seamlessly between Rachel’s internal struggles and the broader ecological and political implications of the wolf project. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually. While not a thriller, the novel has moments of quiet intensity, particularly as the wolves begin to roam beyond their designated territory.
Sabotage on the border
Hall's writing subtly foreshadows the dooms which will befall the story and its wolves and much of the problems occur due to the sabotage of external players. However, Hall makes sure to show the human tendency to self-sabotage. It seems that life and death must almost, inevitably be shrouded in a tendency towards destruction. As such, Hall does not waste time decrying the ignorance of those who protest the release of the wolves, nor does she seek to persecute those who disrupt the process, for she seems to highlight that we all have a tendency to act against reason, even if the victim is one's self.
Final Thoughts: An understated masterpiece
Sarah Hall's style is understated and whilst the titular topic of The Wolf Border is undoubtedly interesting, it is not this that drives the novel. It is the superb, understated writing of Hall. She is one of those rare writers who writes a page turner without relying on an explosive plot. Don't misunderstand - the plot is solid and intriguing enough. But it is the total devotion to the character development which drives the story. I cannot wait to read my next Sarah Hall.
