Raintree County [B1091]

1948 HC, with cover wear, missing jacket and clean text pages. Described by some reviewers as one of the lesser know 'Great American Novels', this powerful novel was a number-one bestseller when it was first published in 1948. It is a compelling vision of nineteenth-century America with timeless resonance. Throughout a single day in 1892, John Shawnessy recalls the great moments of his life--from the battles of the Civil War to the politics of the Gilded Age, from the love affairs of his youth in Indiana to his homecoming as schoolteacher, husband, and father. Shawnessy is the epitome of the place and period in which he lives, a rural land of springlike women, shady gamblers, wandering vagabonds, and soapbox orators. Yet here on the banks of the Shawmucky River, which weaves its primitive course through Raintree County, Indiana, he also feels and obeys ancient rhythms. This panoramic epic of the nineteenth century in Raintree County--particularly of the Civil War and its effects--was produced after six years of research, writing, and revision. It continues to command attention and respect as a stylistically unique work of considerable force.

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This is a great book, in both in the "great to read" and "great American novel" sense. A beautiful sweeping novel of the second half of the 19th century, with dozens of interesting characters, compelling stories, interesting moral and philosophical viewpoints. Add in romance, intrigue, (almost) sex.... Simply brilliant. Best book I've read in years."; "One of the best books I have read. I am biased, this mythical town is about 2 counties south of where i was born and raised. The movie did not do this book justice. I am a Civil War buff too, that part rang true as well."; "This 1000 page novel, first published in 1948, examines the life of the lead character, John Wickliff Shawnessy, the people in his circle, the challenges with which he copes, or does not. Shawnessy is a Midwestern teacher, lover of literature and poet in fictional Raintree County, Indiana. In both linear and flashback sequences we follow him into the Civil War, his hopes, goals, romances and betrayals. Despite its length this was a novel in which I immersed myself in the characters, the prose and the mystique. In due time it became one of my 20 favorite novels."