This extended review will delve deeper into Kristin Hannah’s “The Great Alone,” exploring its nuanced portrayal of trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of the wilderness on the human spirit. Kristen Hannah’s The Great Alone is just as vast as the Alaskan Wilderness.
What is The Great Alone about?
“The Great Alone” is a novel by Kristin Hannah about a family’s struggle for survival in the Alaskan wilderness, facing challenges from nature, domestic violence, and personal traumas.
Kristin Hannah’s “The Great Alone” stands as a testament to her ability to weave intricate tales that capture the complexity of human emotions against the backdrop of expansive, wild landscapes. Diverging from the historical drama of “The Nightingale,” this novel presents a more intimate, yet equally harrowing, exploration of a family’s struggle for survival in the untamed wilderness of 1970s Alaska. This review aims to dissect the novel’s multifaceted layers, from its rich character development and emotional depth to the eloquent portrayal of nature’s beauty and brutality.
“Books are the mile markers of my life. Some people have family photos or home movies to record their past. I’ve got books. Characters. For as long as I can remember, books have been my safe place.”
― The Great Alone
At the narrative’s core is the Allbright family, particularly the young Leni Allbright, whose life takes a dramatic turn when her family relocates to Alaska in search of a new beginning. Her father, Ernt, a Vietnam War veteran struggling with PTSD, and her mother, Cora, a woman of beauty and resilience, hope that the isolation and promise of self-sufficiency in Alaska will heal their broken family. However, the harsh realities of Alaskan frontier life, compounded by Ernt’s deteriorating mental health, thrust Leni into a coming-of-age journey marked by love, loss, and the fierce battle for personal and familial salvation.
Hannah’s portrayal of Alaska is nothing short of mesmerizing. Her vivid descriptions of the landscape serve not only as a backdrop but also as a formidable character that shapes the narrative. The wilderness of Alaska, with its pristine beauty and lethal challenges, mirrors the tumultuous inner landscapes of the characters. The novel excels in depicting the dual nature of the Alaskan wilderness—a source of both solace and peril, offering freedom and isolation in equal measure. Through this setting, Hannah masterfully explores themes of survival, the human connection to nature, and the idea that true wilderness can both reveal and forge one’s character.
“How will I stop loving him, Mama? Will I …. forget ?
Mama sighed.
Ah. That. Love doesn’t fade or die, baby girl. People tell you it does, but it doesn’t. If you love him now, you’ll love him in ten years and in forty. Differently, maybe , a faded version, but he’s part of you now. And you are part of him.”
― The Great Alone
Character development is one of the novel’s most compelling aspects. Leni Allbright emerges as a resilient and complex protagonist, whose journey from a naive teenager to a determined survivor encapsulates the essence of human resilience. Her relationship with her parents, especially her bond with her mother, Cora, forms the emotional backbone of the story. Cora’s character, trapped in a cycle of domestic violence, reflects the harrowing realities many women face, highlighting issues of codependency and the societal constraints of the time. Ernt Allbright is portrayed with a palpable sense of tragedy—his battle with PTSD and subsequent descent into violence and paranoia serves as a poignant commentary on the scars of war and the need for understanding and support for veterans.
“Leni had never known anyone who had died before. She had seen death on television and read about it in her beloved books, but now she saw the truth of it. In literature, death was many things – a message, catharsis, retribution. There were deaths that came from a beating heart that stopped and deaths of another kind, a choice made, like Frodo going to the Grey Havens. Death made you cry, filled you with sadness, but in the best of her books, there was peace, too, satisfaction, a sense of the story ending as it should.
In real life, she saw, it wasn’t like that. It was sadness opening up inside of you, changing how you saw the world.”
― The Great Alone
The novel’s secondary characters, including the indomitable Large Marge and the compassionate yet complex Matthew, enrich the narrative, creating a sense of community that contrasts with the isolation of the wilderness. Their interactions with the Allbright family underscore themes of community support, resilience, and the enduring human capacity for kindness and solidarity in the face of adversity.
“The Great Alone” also delves into the complexities of love and violence, examining the destructive patterns that bind the Allbright family. Hannah does not shy away from depicting the grim realities of domestic abuse, yet she also explores the nuanced territories of love, loyalty, and the difficult choices individuals make in the name of love. This exploration extends to the romantic subplot between Leni and Matthew, which, while occasionally veering towards the melodramatic, effectively highlights the transformative power of love and the possibility of hope and renewal.
Furthermore, the novel offers a critical perspective on the theme of escapism. The Allbrights’ move to Alaska represents a physical and metaphorical attempt to escape the traumas of the past. However, Hannah skillfully illustrates that true escape requires confronting inner demons, not just changing locations. This message resonates deeply, emphasizing the importance of facing one’s fears and the healing power of confronting and accepting the truth.
In conclusion, Kristin Hannah’s “The Great Alone” is a profoundly moving narrative that transcends the boundaries of a mere family saga or survival story. It is a richly textured examination of the human condition, a celebration of the indomitable spirit of survival that resides within us all, set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Alaska’s wilderness. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to blend heart-wrenching emotion with breathtaking descriptions of nature, creating a story that is as unforgettable as it is evocative. Through the trials and triumphs of the Allbright family, Hannah invites readers to ponder the depths of human resilience, the complexities of love and loyalty, and the unbreakable bond between humanity and the natural world. “The Great Alone” is not just a story of survival—it is a testament to the enduring capacity for love, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of light in the darkest of times.