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About this Book
"Jane Hamilton has removed all doubts that she belongs among the major writers of our time." --San Francisco Chronicle
The Goodwins, Howard, Alice, and their little girls, Emma and Claire, live on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Although suspiciously regarded by their neighbors as "that hippie couple" because of their well-educated, urban background, Howard and Alice believe they have found a source of emotional strength in the farm, he tending the barn while Alice works as a nurse in the local elementary school.
But their peaceful life is shattered one day when
a neighbor's two-year-old daughter drowns in the Goodwins' pond while
under Alice's care. Tormented by the accident, Alice descends even further
into darkness when she is accused of sexually abusing a student at the
elementary school. Soon, Alice is arrested, incarcerated, and as good
as convicted in the eyes of a suspicious community. As a child, Alice
designed her own map of the world to find her bearings. Now, as an adult,
she must find her way again, through a maze of lies, doubt and ill will.
A vivid human drama of guilt and betrayal, A
Map of the World chronicles the intricate geographies of the human
heart and all its mysterious, uncharted terrain. The result is a piercing
drama about family bonds and a disappearing rural American life.
"Ms. Hamilton has done a nimble job of showing
us how precarious the illusion of safety and security really is." --The
New York Times
"Hamilton's chillingly accurate prose keeps her
fine novel buoyant. She is superb in her observation of the natural world
and in her examination of psychological nuance." --The Washington Post
Also Available by Jane Hamilton
The Book of Ruth
Winner
of the 1989 PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award for best first novel, this
exquisite book confronts real-life issues of alienation and violence from
which the author creates a stunning testament to the human capacity for
mercy, compassion and love.
The Short History of a
Prince
Set in Jane Hamilton's signature Midwest, The Short History of
a Prince is the story of Walter McCloud and his ambition to become
a great ballet dancer. With compassion and humor, and alternating between
Walter's adolescent and adult voices, the novel tells of Walter's heartbreak
as he realizes that his passion cannot make up for the innate talent that
he lacks.
Also available as a Large Print paperback, and on Audio Cassette.