How did Prairie social realism portray farming communities and harsh landscapes?

In Canadian literature, the novel of social realism emerged from the Prairies to document the lives of settlers in a challenging environment. These works portrayed farming communities as small and often narrow-minded, highlighting the intense pressures faced by those living in isolated regions.1

A central theme in this genre is the struggle of individuals pitted against an implacable nature. Authors such as Frederick Philip Grove depicted the arduous quest for mastery over both the land and oneself, while Martha Ostenso’s Wild Geese explored the harsh realities of domestic life within these rural settings. These novels serve as moving testaments to the courage and endurance required of farmers in the face of a demanding landscape. Over time, some Prairie literature, such as Sinclair Ross’s As for Me and My House and W.O. Mitchell’s Who Has Seen the Wind, began to shift away from strict social realism toward a more lyrical style, while still reflecting the profound influence of the Prairie setting on their protagonists.1