A Handful of Leaves Summary

Edgar's grandfather John buys the Wisconsin land that becomes the family farm in 1919. John and his wife begin raising a new breed of dog on their farm after John reads about Gregor Mendel's experiments with crossbreeding peas.

John also wonders about the former owner, Schultz, who left the farm after four years because he was lonely. The land is described as being somehow not quite right. John and Mary have two sons who are very different from one another. One of the sons, Gar, is Edgar's father. Edgar's mother is Trudy, a single foster child. They are friends with local veterinarian, Dr. Papineau. Trudy ends up managing the dogs and training them. She has two miscarriages and a stillborn baby before Edgar is born in May, 1958.

A Handful of Leaves Analysis

A history of the Sawtelle family...