Wolfville Nights

A warm, epistolary portrait opens the novel, where a seasoned journalist writes to an old friend, recalling the bustling press rooms of Washington, the raucous election night in Madison Square, and the lively cafés of Fifth Avenue. The narrator mixes lively anecdotes about fellow reporters, the swagger of political rallies, and the heartfelt camaraderie that bound them, creating a vivid snapshot of turn‑of‑the‑century America. Through this nostalgic lens, readers glimpse the rhythm of city life, the pulsing urgency of telegraph bulletins, and the personal bonds that survived the shuffle of careers and continents.

Soon the narrative drifts westward, offering quick, vivid “cowboy facts” about the relentless spread of timber across the plains and the transformation of once‑barren lands. These observations blend natural history with the same keen humor that colors the earlier reminiscences, setting up a contrast between urban hustle and frontier change. The opening promises a story that celebrates friendship, the craft of reporting, and a nation in the midst of rapid growth.