Robert Kroetsch (1927-2011) was an Alberta-born author who received the Order of Canada in 2004 for his poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In 1968 he published “Alberta,” his first nonfiction work. Attempting to discover and articulate the spirit of Alberta, the book recounts and reflects on Kroetsch’s travels within the province. Trail rides in the Rocky Mountains, train trips north with Métis families and oil workers, and musings on Edmonton’s split personality as rough and respectable all combine into a patchwork of stories depicting Alberta’s geography, inhabitants, and history. This second edition includes a substantial new introduction by Kroetsch, a color photo essay by Alberta-born artist Harry Savage, and a brief Afterword by Alberta resident and celebrated author Rudy Wiebe. Includes index.
