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Title: Raintree County
Author: Ross Lockridge
Narrator: Lloyd James
Format: Unabridged
Length: 43 hrs and 10 mins
Language: English
Release date: 01-29-09
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 76 votes
Genres: Classics, American Literature
Publisher's Summary:
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.
A number-one best seller when it was first published in 1948, this powerful novel is a compelling vision of 19th-century America with timeless resonance.
Critic Reviews:
"An achievement of art and purpose, a cosmically brooding book full of significance and beauty." (New York Times)
Members Reviews:
A great American novel, seriously!
If there's even been a candidate for the great American novel, this is certainly one of the front-runners. The only novel written by Ross Lockridge, Jr., who committed suicide shortly after publication, this tale of the United States and its history, seen from 1876, is as broad and deep as the Mississippi, and elevated as a New York skyscraper, and as full of wonder as any novel one can imagine. Both an intelligent book and one that is accessible to all, in spite of its length, Raintree County is my personal favorite American novel of all time. It combines the introspection of Emerson with the vast characterization of John Irving; the humor of Fitzgerald (when he was funny), with the seriousness of Steinbeck. In short, this is a novel not to miss. Don't be dissuaded by its length; it flies by, and you'll not regret reading (or listening to) it.
Well worth the time and money!
This is a fantastic book. I bought it because I have vowed to listen to some of the "Classics." I had never even heard of this book previously. The writing is incredible, verging on sheer poetry, though never going over the line to be pretentious or inaccessible. The narration is very fine. Of the hundreds of books I've listened to, this would be in the top five to take with me to listen to again on a desert island.
An American Brigadoon
I don't understand it! How can a 43 hour book keep my attention throughout? One reason is the "Above Excellent" rating I would give to the reader. Without him, the book would have been much less listenable. If the great American novel could be defined, this book would be it.
If you get a chance to see the movie - please don't!
It's very badly done and has only a nodding acquaintance with this book.
My pick for the GAN
I had never heard of this book.
Having always considered Gatsby and Moby Dick to be the best books ever written, I have changed my opinion. I think this one is far and away the Great American Novel and a must read for true lovers of American Lit. It is too bad the author died before he could write another one like this but he could not have done better.
What I can't understand is why this has been left out of the American canon.
The Best
This the best piece of American liturature I have read in my 65 plus years. At the core of the complexity of the narrative the soul of a new idea in the history of human-kind comes forth and joins with the substance of being. A beautiful book.
