Like that breathtaking debut, this new book is rooted in the american landscape and. This is the first novel of lents that ive read, and im glad i did. In my estimation, jeffrey lent is our most american writer since mark twain and one of the two of three best. A slant of light by jeffrey lent overdrive rakuten. This is jeffrey lent on his home ground and at the height of his powers. Lents latest novel dont necessarily separate it from previous brilliant efforts like in the fall and lost nation, not at all but they reinforce and. Lent pays special attention to the matters most important to that particular time and place. Jeffrey lent author jeffrey lent was born in vermont and grew up there and in western new york state on dairy farms. Jeffrey lents before we sleep follows the long shadow of. Bestselling author jeffrey lents newest book, a slant of light, by bloomsbury, continues the vermont writers tales of historical drama in the vividly descriptive prose his readers have come to. His other novels are lost nation, a peculiar grace, after youve gone, and a slant of light, which was a finalist for the new england book award and a washington post best book of 2015. The powerful new work from one of our greatest historical novelis.
Lent is a premier stylist in the current american novel. Jeffrey lent was born in vermont and grew up there and in western new york state. A slant of light is a novel about the aftershocks of violencebut not, perhaps, the violence that youd expect, given that its set in the immediate aftermath of the american civil war. The american civil war has been over for a few months, but life has not returned to normal. Early in jeffrey lents new historical novel, a slant of light, a teenage hired hand named harlan turns to a powerful lawyer whos questioning him and says, you know how people, when they think. Jeffrey lents a slant of light is a brilliant novel with a powerful narrative. It is a beautiful, peaceful area untouched directly by the atrocities of war. After youve gone, and a slant of light, which was a finalist for the new england book award and a washington post best book of 2015. Lent lives with his wife and two daughters in central vermont.
A slant of light by jeffrey lent hardback, 2015 for sale. At the close of the civil war, weary veteran malcolm hopeton returns to his. Tell others about this book about a slant of light. Lent weaves these elements into an engrossing story that grabs the readers attention from a slant of lights first page and sustains it to the end. Jeffrey lent has done for western new york what faulkner did for north mississippi. The anxious aftermath of world war ii and the turbulent confusion of the late 1960s provide the dual settings for lents latest exploration of the american psyche a slant of light, 2015, etc. It opens with a scene of shocking violence, as malcolm hopeton confronts amos wheeler, the hired hand who plundered his farm and stole his wife, bethany, while. A slant of light is a novel of earthly pleasure and deep love, of loss and war, of prophets and followers, of theft and revenge, in an american moment where a seemingly golden age has been shattered. Jim harrison in his superb new novel, a slant of light, jeffrey lent returns to the epic themes of his great first book, in the fall. The two bond, and helen learns there is a lot more to life than what she knows of death. A slant of light opens with a horrific double murder in the bucolic farming area of western new york near the border with canada. A slant of light by jeffrey lent library summer reading.
A slant of light is essentially a rumination on love and loss in the lives of three good men. A slant of light, by jeffrey lent seattle book mama. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint. A slant of light uses a device not often found in previous lent novels. Lent currently resides with his wife and two daughters in central vermont. A slant of light is a marvelous book by one of americas very best novelists. A slant of light by jeffrey lent, 9781620404966, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jeffrey lents before we sleep follows the long shadow of war. May 30, 2015 bestselling author jeffrey lent s newest book, a slant of light, by bloomsbury, continues the vermont writers tales of historical drama in the vividly descriptive prose his readers have come to. A certain slant of light by laura whitcomb tells the story of a ghost named helen. April 7, 2015 another keening, moving novel steeped in american history and the rhythms of country life from lent after youve gone, 2009, etc. Early in jeffrey lents new historical novel, a slant of light, a teenage hired hand named harlan turns to a powerful lawyer whos questioning. For fans of the orchardist and the cove and from the author of bestselling in the fall, an epic historical novel that fearlessly addresses the largest questions of love, justice, and how to live.
Wonderfully entertaining, deeply moving, beautifully written. Lent offers eloquent insight into what makes his characters tick, yet enough unknowns remain to keep the novel unpredictable through the final pages. Apr 06, 2015 a slant of light by jeffrey lent bloomsbury usa. In a slant of light, jeffrey lent uses vivid, lyrical prose to gradually reveal layers of hopetons crime, and the stories of those involved. Apr 07, 2015 jeffrey lent has done for western new york what faulkner did for north mississippi. A slant of light jeffrey lent 9781620404966 netgalley.
Mar 02, 2015 a slant of light is a novel about the aftershocks of violencebut not, perhaps, the violence that youd expect, given that its set in the immediate aftermath of the american civil war. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Jeffrey lents a slant of light chronicles a civil war veterans return. Katey snow is just 17 when she takes off from her home in vermont, headed for virginia on an odyssey set in motion by a stunning family revelation. A slant of light, by jeffrey lent posted on february 5, 2015 by seattlebookmama some great novels are painterly, and we sink into them like a warm bath, lost in a wholly different time and place. Malcolm hopeton returns to his finger lakes farm from fighting in the civil war. A slant of light by jeffrey lent 2016 0105 jeffrey lent on.
The widower stoically manages house and home with the assistance of hired woman becca davis, harlans older sister. A slant of light is one of jeffrey lents best novels that deals with some intensely seminal happenings in america including the civil war, the looming industrial revolution, the second great awakening that resulted in religious freedom and the death of the jeffersonian ideal. Jeffrey lents before we sleep follows the long shadow. Jeffrey lents a slant of light features the life and death issues so closely associated with his work, and in this case an oblique approach to resolving the central conflict. Maybe a slant of light doesnt deliver the resolution one might want from a modern police procedural, but its other virtues more than make up for it. Jeffrey lent s a slant of light is a brilliant novel with a powerful narrative. Malcolm hopeton, harlan davis, and farmer august swarthout, whose beloved wife died in childbirth. Buy a cheap copy of a slant of light book by jeffrey lent. Malcolm hopeton is on trial for his life he has committed a horrific act that reverberates through the community of the four corners as it emerges from the shadows of the american civil war. To be blunt, it ends just when things are getting really. It is also the tragic explosion of resentments and injustices that have been festering for years. Buy a slant of light by jeffrey lent online at alibris. A slant of light ebook by jeffrey lent rakuten kobo.
The gruesome double killing that opens jeffrey lents latest novel is an act of domestic violence. This article was originally published in the april 2015 issue of bookpage. Apr 28, 2017 jeffrey lents before we sleep follows the long shadow of war. Jeffrey lents a slant of light chronicles a civil war. Theres a spiritual majesty to jeffrey lents work lent has always been as deft with plot as any.
Becca davis has been keeping house for the widowed august swartout for four years when she receives word that her brother harlan has been injured in a tussle with the infamous murderer. See all books authored by jeffrey lent, including in the fall, and lost nation, and more on. A slant of light is a novel of lust and love, of loss and war, of prophets and followers, of theft and revenge, in an american moment where a seemingly golden age has been shattered. Stuck between life and death, she clings to her hosts and immerses herself in literature until one day she discovers that a student can see her. Set in upstate new york just after the civil war, jeffrey lents latest book is a bit puzzling. His first novel, in the fall, was a national bestseller.
Mar 08, 2015 lent offers eloquent insight into what makes his characters tick, yet enough unknowns remain to keep the novel unpredictable through the final pages. In his superb new novel, a slant of light, jeffrey lent returns to the epic themes of his great first book, in the fall. Jeffrey lent books list of books by author jeffrey lent. The resulting double murder impacts many in hopetons rural community in western new york. A slant of light is a powerful novel of lust and love, loss and war, prophets and followers. Early in jeffrey lent s new historical novel, a slant of light, a teenage hired hand named harlan turns to a powerful lawyer whos questioning him and says, you know how people, when they think. May 31, 2015 there are many threads weaving their way into the talereligion a cult even, sex, murder, fraud, theft, a conniving attorney, a judicious judge.
460 522 1487 51 827 281 9 777 853 1358 852 98 1365 193 1168 491 232 108 1574 393 1509 430 300 500 1217 530 823 319 1422 363 972 797 351 522