Plot Summary

The Town

Conrad Richter
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The Town

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1950

Book Brief

Conrad Richter

The Town

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1950
Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ohio • 1860s

Theme
Publication Year

1950

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Town by Conrad Richter follows frontier woman Sayward Luckett Wheeler as she witnesses the transformation of her Ohio Valley settlement into the thriving town of Americus during the early nineteenth century. Sayward navigates the changes brought by progress, familial relationships, and personal values, whilst her son Chancey grapples with his identity and controversial socialist ideals. The book contains references to suicide.

Nostalgic

Contemplative

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

4.3

4,622 ratings

73%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Conrad Richter's The Town completes his Awakening Land trilogy with a vivid depiction of frontier life, though some readers may find the pacing slow. The novel's strength lies in its detailed character development and rich historical setting, yet its meticulous descriptions can occasionally overshadow the plot. Ideal for those who appreciate immersive historical narratives.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Town?

The ideal reader for Conrad Richter's The Town enjoys historical fiction rich in American frontier life. Fans of Willa Cather's My Ántonia or Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, who appreciate vivid portrayals of pioneer struggles and triumphs, will find this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel captivating and evocative.

4.3

4,622 ratings

73%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

448

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Ohio • 1860s

Theme
Publication Year

1950

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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