"His life had come to this: save a few deer from the jaws of dogs. He was a small man sent to perform a small task." Howard Elman is a man whose internal landscape is as disordered as his front yard, where native New Hampshire birches and maples mingle with a bullet-riddled washer, abandoned bathroom fixtures, and several junk cars. Howard, anti-hero of this first novel in Ernest Hebert's highly acclaimed Darby Chronicles, is a man who is tough and tender. Howard's battle against encroaching change symbolizes the class conflict between indigenous Granite Staters scratching out a living and citified immigrants with "college degrees and big bank accounts." Like the winter-weakened deer threatened by the dogs of March―the normally docile house pets whose instincts arouse them to chase and kill for sport―Howard, too, is sorely beset. The seven novels of Hebert's Darby Chronicles cover 35 years in the life of a small New England town as seen through the eyes of three families―the Elmans, the Salmons, and the Jordans―each representing a distinct social class. It all starts with The Dogs of March, cited for excellence in 1980 by the Hemingway Foundation (now the Pen Faulkner Award for Fiction).
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
"The book rises or falls on the strength of Howard Elman, and this man could hold up a house. By turns tormented, funny, poignant and appalling, he lodges in the memory - and successfully launches the career of Ernest Hebert." --New York Times Book Review
"The American dream goes belly-up in this brilliant, sensitive, and funny account of what it's like to be a disposable New England mill worker in the post-industrial economy." --Mother Jones
"Hebert tells a story which is a triumph of spirit, skill, and imagination, a moving and oddly optimistic view of our times . . . not only a knowing picture of small-town life, but a human story in which each page offers some new insight into the human mind and heart."--Washington Post Book World
"To the list of splendidly crusty New Englanders created by the likes of John Gardner and John Cheever, add the name of Howard Elman, the protagonist of Ernest Hebert's impressive first novel . . . extremely readable and well-crafted."--Philadelphia Inquirer
The book rises or falls on the strength of Howard Elman, and this man could hold up a house. By turns tormented, funny, poignant and appalling, he lodges in the memory - and successfully launches the career of Ernest Hebert.-- "New York Times Book Review"
The American dream goes belly-up in this brilliant, sensitive, and funny account of what it's like to be a disposable New England mill worker in the post-industrial economy.-- "Mother Jones"
Hebert tells a story which is a triumph of spirit, skill, and imagination, a moving and oddly optimistic view of our times . . . not only a knowing picture of small-town life, but a human story in which each page offers some new insight into the human mind and heart.-- "Washington Post Book World"
To the list of splendidly crusty New Englanders created by the likes of John Gardner and John Cheever, add the name of Howard Elman, the protagonist of Ernest Hebert's impressive first novel . . . extremely readable and well-crafted.-- "Philadelphia Inquirer"
ERNEST HEBERT resides in a pleasant town outside Keene, teaches English in the small college town of Hanover, and spends a good deal of time in the imaginary Darby, all three situated in New Hampshire. For more about author Ernest Hebert and the Darby Chronicles go to erniehebert.com.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
£ 36.85 shipping from U.S.A. to United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speedsSeller: Best and Fastest Books, Wantage, NJ, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Collectible-Good. 1980 Penguin Book. cover has mild wear and tear. Good solid paperback with moderate reading/age wear, may have some light markings, pages may have some mild tanning. We take great pride in accurately describing the condition of our books and media, ship within 48 hours, and offer a 100% money back guarantee. Customers purchasing more than one item from us may be entitled to a shipping discount. Seller Inventory # 1M5000006OV6_ns
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Alley, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Very Good. Used with some reading wear but is still in great reading condition. No markings in text. Seller Inventory # mon0000724694
Quantity: 1 available