Backtracks: Growing Up in the Depression

About the Book

Backtracks: Growing Up in the Depression, is the true story of a granddaughter of Mormon pioneers and polygamists, growing up in Utah during the Great Depression. Born into ignorance and poverty, she had a “peculiar” love of learning, and a burning desire to read books every chance she got—attributes not well-received in her world. As her mother wasted away before her eyes with a debilitating illness, she became the family’s Cinderella, taking on all the domestic work for a family of men. Yet, she found a lifeline—education. By latching onto it, she managed to overcome a childhood of grinding poverty, ignorance, and oppression. Larene achieved her dream of going to college—the first in her family ever to do so, and even won her family’s grudging respect through her incredible struggle to better herself. But in the process, her faith and her will were tested in ways that are now hard to imagine. This is the remarkable story of her dismal childhood, and how she escaped through her own tenacity, courage, and the gift of her mother’s encouragement and a secret sacrifice.

About the Author

After graduating college during the Second World War, Larene Blaine went on to a teaching career while raising six children and writing in her “spare time”. After retirement, she got a PhD in medieval French poetry—for fun. She has traveled extensively, given lectures on her research, and written many books, short stories and poems. Backtracks is her first book to be published—another dream finally realized. Now in her 80’s and a widow for many years, Larene lives in Salt Lake City, Utah where she spends most of her time with her dog, Tessie and her beloved books.