The essays included in North Writers II explore the special relationship that exists between the people of northern Minnesota and the rugged yet beautiful landscape that surrounds them. These writers consider the things that make living in the far north unique -- the red earth of the Iron Range, the spectacular and forbidding wildness of Lake Superior's North Shore, the elemental nature of climate and wilderness that tests one's mettle. There are also the farms and towns of northern Minnesota, with their heritage of self-reliance and the insight that comes with it.

Taken together, these essays provide an exploration of the character, the essence, the spirit of this northern country, as well as the mystique it holds for those from more hospitable climes.