In The Tree of Liberty, Elizabeth Page uses the family of Matthew Howard as a lens through which to view American history from 1754 through 1806.
Archive for June, 2009
A novel that moves slower than Congress
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Historical, tagged American History, American Revolution, democracy, Elizabeth Page, politics, Thomas Jefferson, Tidewater, Virginia on June 24, 2009 | Comments Off
Second year for Yearling
Posted in 1938 Bestselling Novels, 1939 Bestselling Novels, Juvenile/Youth, My Top Pics on June 23, 2009 | Comments Off
In seventh place on the 1939 bestseller list was The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, which had occupied first place honors the previous year.
You will find my review of The Yearling listed among the 1938 bestsellers. I won’t repeat it here.
Instead tomorrow, I’ll review the #8 novel on the 1939 list, Elizabeth Page’s The Tree [...]
Escape Is Impossible to Put Down
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Adventure, My Top Pics, Psychological novel, Suspense, War on June 10, 2009 | Comments Off
In the opening scene of Escape, a doctor tells actress Emmy Ritter she’ll be able to walk in a week.
“Just in time for my execution,” she replies.
Ethel Vance hooked me with that line, and she didn’t let go until I’d read the rest of her novel that evening.
Authorities refuse to allow Emmy’s son, Mark, [...]
Wickford Point Punctures Literary Windbags
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Humor, tagged literature, New England poets, romance Transcendentalists, satire on June 3, 2009 | 1 Comment »
John P. Marquand’s Wickford Point is marvelously funny — something between Cold Comfort Farm and The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs. But it’s also sweetly sad.
