Dancing at the Rascal Fair Audiobook By Ivan Doig cover art

Dancing at the Rascal Fair

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Dancing at the Rascal Fair

By: Ivan Doig
Narrated by: Robert Ian MacKenzie
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Dancing at the Rascal Fair by National Book Award nominee Ivan Doig, captures the passion and tenacity of turn-of-the-century immigrants struggling to build new lives amidst Montana’s windswept Rockies. The tale unfolds into a contest of the heart between Anna Ramsay and Angus McCaskill—kept apart by obligations—as they and their stormy kin vie to tame the brutal land.

©1987 Ivan Doig (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC Coming of Age Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Westerns Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

“Magnificent… Dancing at the Rascal Fair establishes its author in the front ranks of contemporary American writers.” ( Seattle Times)
"The settlement of Montana between 1890 and 1919 is recounted through the quiet but compelling life of Angus McCaskill, a young Scotsman who travels with his friend Rob Barclay to Montana's Two Medicine Country to homestead. Doig writes fervently of the voyage from Scotland and the lean first years, as the two share the work and hardship of establishing claims and building up flocks of sheep. He tells of their separate marriages, the severing of their friendship, and the final resolution of their conflict through death. Doig successfully recaptures the violence of the Montana elements and the staunch heritage of the Scottish settlers." ( Library Journal)
Vivid Historical Setting • Rich Character Development • Authentic Scottish Accent • Poetic Prose • Compelling Relationships

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This is a low-key, kind of slow-moving (in a good way) book, but it is a well-written, engaging story of human life. Despite its length, I was sorry when it was over. My only complaint was that I found the sort of Gone-With-The-Wind ongoing "love" story a bit overblown but that is a very minor complaint. This was a very good listen and I highly recommend it.

I Loved This Book

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As others mentioned, this book has a bit of a slow start, but is so evocative of Northern Montana. Wonderful descriptions, interesting history. The underlying "love story" is somewhat irritating, but the relationships among the other characters are complex and keep the story alive

If you have ever been in Montana...

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What did you love best about Dancing at the Rascal Fair?

Great experience and in new history for me. Times were slow but overall sweet an enjoyable.

Overall it was wonderful.

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This book is historical, plot, building, and character study. The book brings out the historical background of shepherds from Scotland and Life in the Montana mountains. It will not be a book that will be forgotten. The reader had the grand Scottish Voice. He made each character sound different so it could be followed of who was speaking. It was like going to the movies. And much better. 

Don’t miss this in lightning and intense book with a fabulous reader

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This is an enjoyable book with lots of memorable characters. Plot wise it’s kinda slow, but if you like a character-driven novel with an interesting setting and historical background, you’ll probably like this book. The reader is fantastic. His Missouri voice is spot-on.

Not as good as Whistling Season

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