Follow a family in a very remote part of southern British Columbia left alone by civilization until the world and progress forced them into the 20th century. The first of three books following the Magwin family and how the war and the coming of TB and all the other things that the human race brings on themselves affected this small town. A very cut off part of Canada had no choice but to open up to the world. How they had to adapt or die. the Kootenays remains to this day a slightly changed place except when they had no choice.