Two Knapsacks: A Novel of Canadian Summer Life

"Two Knapsacks: A Novel of Canadian Summer Life" by John Campbell is a late 19th-century story that follows Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson, two young, unmarried members of a Toronto literary society, as they decide to abandon the city's distractions for a hiking trip. The novel presents ideas around friendship and the allure of a more basic existence, as these friends plan their escape from urban life. After attending an uneventful literary society gathering, the two friends impulsively set a plan to explore the Canadian countryside with just their knapsacks. Through spirited conversation, the novel highlights their characters and their desire for refuge in nature, and also hints at a social critique as they avoid women. Overall, this sets the stage for an adventure that combines their literary interests with playful companionship.

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