Title: A Thousand Acres
Author: Jane Smiley
First published January 1, 1991
371 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781400033836 (ISBN10: 1400033837)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres is a heart-wrenching novel about family, love, and tragedy. When aging patriarch Harold Bennett decides to divide his vast estate among his three daughters, Ginny, Rose, and Caroline, it seems like a generous gesture.
However, as the sisters begin to take on the responsibilities of running the farm, they uncover dark secrets that threaten to tear them apart. With vivid prose and raw emotion, Smiley explores the complexities of family relationships, the struggles of rural life, and the devastating consequences of betrayal.
A Thousand Acres is a powerful and unforgettable story that will stay with readers long after the final page.
About the Author
Jane Smiley is an accomplished American novelist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, which is a suburb of St. Louis.
She attended John Burroughs School and obtained her A.B. degree from Vassar College. Later, she earned her M.F.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Iowa.
During her doctoral studies, she also spent a year in Iceland as a Fulbright Scholar. Smiley taught at Iowa State University from 1981 to 1996.
Smiley’s first novel was published in 1980, and she won an O. Henry Award in 1985 for her short story “Lily,” which was featured in a collection.
Her best-selling novel, which is based on William Shakespeare’s , received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992. It was later adapted into a film.
In 1995, Smiley wrote the script for an episode of , which was her only television script produced. Her novella was also made into a film in 2002.
Smiley’s 2005 book is a non-fiction exploration of the history and nature of the novel, similar to E. M.
Forster’s seminal . It covers works from eleventh century Japan’s Murasaki Shikibu to twenty-first century American chick lit.
In 2001, Smiley was elected as a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Editoral Review
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley is a novel that earned her the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. The book takes a modern twist on William Shakespeare’s play King Lear, set in an Iowa farm in the 1970s.
Smiley is a prolific writer who has authored several works of fiction, including Private Life, The Greenlanders, and Moo. She has also received numerous literary awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award.
A Thousand Acres is a family drama that explores the dynamics and relationships of three sisters- Ginny, Caroline, and Rose- with their father, Larry Cook, and their spouses. The sisters are farmers on a vast acreage of land that has been handed down to them by their father, who is approaching old age.
The story unfolds around the issues of control, betrayal, and love, as the daughters negotiate their conflicting desires and expectations. One of the key themes of the book is the changing role of women in society, specifically their right to inheritance and decision-making.
The patriarch of the Cook family exhibits outdated beliefs, and these are challenged by the sisters as they strive for independence and equality. The novel captures the turbulence of the 1970s and reflects on the political and social changes of that era.
Smiley’s writing style is exquisite, vividly descriptive, and poetic. She captures the nuances of the characters’ emotions and moods, allowing the reader insights into their layered personalities.
The narrative is complex and multifaceted, with a seamless blend of past and present events, adding depth and richness to the story. While the book is engrossing and compelling, it lacks the punch, intensity, and emotional resonance of some of Smiley’s other works.
The pacing, at times, feels slow and drawn out, and the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying. The character development, although nuanced, is underwhelming, with some of the characters feeling underdeveloped and one-dimensional.
However, despite these limitations, A Thousand Acres is an illuminating work that raises important questions about family, power, identity, and justice. Smiley’s exploration of the human condition, and her themes of love, betrayal, and redemption, still resonate today.
The book is a timeless classic that is worth a read, and readers interested in family dramas, historical fiction, and feminist literature will find it captivating. In conclusion, A Thousand Acres is a well-crafted and thought-provoking novel that showcases Jane Smiley’s talent as a writer.
While it may not be her best work, it is still an engaging and insightful story that merits attention. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in exploring the complexities of family relationships and socio-cultural issues.
On a scale of one to five, I give this book a rating of 4.5, based on the quality of writing, creativity, themes, and relevance to contemporary issues.
