The Rim of the Desert

"The Rim of the Desert" by Ada Woodruff Anderson, is a story set in the early 1900s, painting a picture of life in a tough, dry area east of the Columbia River. We meet Hollis Tisdale, a hardy man who learned a lot from his time in Alaska, and David Weatherbee, whose sad story stirs up strong feelings in everyone around him. The book starts with a group meeting in a simple clubhouse, where people talk about the need for a railroad in Alaska. As a speaker named Feversham talks passionately about Alaska’s problems, we learn about Tisdale’s past with Weatherbee, filled with friendship, sacrifice, and dreams that never came true. Through conversations, the characters share their thoughts about leadership, ambition, and the difficulties of living in a harsh land. The story then focuses on what happened to Weatherbee and the sadness caused by hopes that were dashed and strong bonds, creating a foundation for the characters' connected destinies and the problems they face in their difficult world.