Raintree County (Rediscovered Classics)
"An achievement of art and purpose, a cosmically brooding book full of significance and beauty."  —The New York Times"[A] candidate for that mythical honor, the Great American Novel,Raintree Countydisplays unflagging industry [and] a . . . magnificent vitality."  —Saturday Review“No myth is more imposing than the Great American Novel; but if it is truly unattainable, I believe that Ross Lockridge made closer approach than any other writer has, before or since.”  —Fort Worth Star-Telegram"My favorite novel of all time isRaintree County. It's about American journalism, patriotism, and a star-crossed love affair a hundred years ago. Like the Bible, you can pick it up, read any page, and gain something. It's poetry. Forget the movie, if you saw it, the book is something entirely different."  —Edna Buchanan, author,You Only Die TwiceandCold Case Squad“The powerful currents and depth of this great swollen river of a book remain irresistible.Raintree Countydoesn't have to be the great American novel to be an American classic and a classic expression of the American dream; a time and place in our history are made permanent in this book."  —Richard Dyer, Boston Globe"Just how good isRaintree County? . . . Looking back at it, one is struck by the strength of its prose and the life of its characters. The Civil War section alone, well over 200 pages and the heart of the book, justifies the extravagant Great American Novel claims some critics have made for it. . . . Had Ross Lockridge, Jr. lived, he might well have changed the direction of American writing—for that, and nothing less, was his intention."  —Bruce Cook, Chicago Tribune"A work that should rank with Thomas Wolfe'sLook Homeward, Angelas a landmark in American fiction."  —Philadelphia Inquirer"[An] extraordinary work . . . I have rereadRaintree Countyat least once a year. It is a book that I, at least, have grown into, still grow into."  —Detroit News