Super Short Summary

The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner follows retiree Joe Allston as he reflects on his past, spurred by a postcard from a Danish friend, which leads him to revisit a journal from a trip to Denmark with his wife Ruth after their son's death. They encounter a destitute countess, Astrid, and uncover dark family secrets involving genetics and predation, prompting Joe to confront his own regrets and reaffirm his love for Ruth. The book includes references to suicide, rape, incest, and eugenics.