The Call of the North

"The Call of the North" by Stewart Edward White is a dramatic story set in the late 1800s portraying life in the rugged Northern wilderness. The story showcases Virginia Albret, a young woman living in a small settlement controlled by her father, Galen Albret, the area's influential Factor, whom everyone respects and fears. The central theme is the challenge of survival against nature's power, the customs of trade, and the looming fallout of rivalry in this tough environment. Initially, Virginia is presented watching the wild North, keenly aware of her father's power and the ever-changing lives of the traders and Indians passing through. As spring comes, she anticipates the return of a group from the wild, only to become interested in a newcomer, Ned Trent, an independent trader known for challenging the Company's control. These early chapters create suspense as Virginia's protected life begins to fall apart, exposing dark secrets about her father's harsh rules and the fear surrounding the fate of traders like Trent, who risk being sentenced to the dangerous "Long Traverse." With descriptive scenes and complicated character relationships, the story prepares for a thrilling look at love, power, and survival in the North.