Ranching for Sylvia

"Ranching for Sylvia" by Harold Bindloss is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around George Lansing, a quiet and self-contained man who becomes embroiled in a complex situation following the death of his friend and the return of Sylvia Marston, the widow he has long admired. As the executor of her late husband's will, George finds himself drawn back to the Canadian prairie, where he must grapple with both the harsh realities of ranching life and the intricate dynamics of his relationship with Sylvia. The beginning of "Ranching for Sylvia" introduces George Lansing as he awaits Sylvia's arrival at his cousin's estate, revealing a past filled with bittersweet emotions and unresolved feelings. Sylvia, clad in her widow's black dress, arrives with melancholy memories of her struggles on the harsh Canadian prairie after her husband’s death. Their interaction unfolds through a mixture of supported reminiscence and practical discussions about her farming property, underlining George's deep devotion to Sylvia while hinting at his internal conflicts. As George accepts the task of managing her farm to shield her from financial despair, readers are presented with the story's central theme—navigating duty, sacrifice, and the complexities of love amid the stark backdrop of rural life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Harold Edward Bindloss was an English novelist who wrote many adventure novels set in western Canada, and some in West Africa and England. His writing was strongly based on his own experience, whether as a seaman, a dock worker, a farmer or a planter.