Mantrap by Sinclair Lewis

This is a 1925 novel of a Eastern lawyer and his wife who go into the wilderness where the lawyer finds himself in competition with a experienced woodsman for the attentions of his (the woodsman) beautiful, but bored, wife.

This book shows the conflicting roles of men and women in the 1920's. This book made good workings for a movie since it was a romance story, which is exactly what happened. This book was made into a film in 1926, that although not well known anymore, the film actually garnered more attention then the book.

The story is set in the mid 1920s. Ralph Prescott, a 40 year old bachelor is persuaded by E. Wesson Woodbury, Babbitty executive of a stockings company, to join him for several weeks
roughing it during the summer in northern Canada.

The plan is for them to will paddle canoes, move their gear overland, fish, hunt, meet Indians and fur trappers and live the "simple," rugged life of the great outdoors as a way of getting away for the summer.

Prescott made the trip because he was working long hours and stressing himself out badly because he had nothing to do other than work. He agrees to go, only to find out on the trail that he hates the bullying, self-important Wes Woodbury,.

At one of their camping spots a Canadian fur trader named Joe Easter shows up. Joe owns a store at Mantrap Landing, and Ralph comes to regard Joe as a true friend, and then begs him to take him away from Wes Woodbury. Joe agrees.

As their canoe heads toward Mantrap Landing, Joe tells Ralph about a visit he took to Minneapolis where he met and married a spunky woman manicurist, Alverna, and brought her to live with him in the wilds.

Alverna is bored and a famous flirt, and it doesn't take long before Ralph is madly in love with her. To break away from temptation (and to avoid hurting his friend) Ralph takes off in a canoe with only a single guide to find his original host, Woodbury.

Alverna runs away from Joe and persuades Ralph to take her with him back to civilization. The two become lovers, and their guide steals their canoe and abandons them right before an understandably furious Joe Easter catches up with them, right before massive forest fires almost engulf all three.

The men eventually renew their friendship and Alverna asserts her independence and determination to return to the USA and live her own life, making her one of several early strong female characters that Sinclair Lewis wrote about. Ralph intends to return to New York, but Joe decides to stay in the wild where he belongs.

The description is renowned, in part because Sinclair Lewis and his brother had traveled into Canada the summer before, so he had first hand experience of the area. Ironically, some academics talk about the title, which is not meant to have a double meaning but only refers to a location in Canada.