Name: The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton
Author: Jane. Smiley
ISBN: 9780002257527

The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton

Jane. Smiley

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Author Description

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERPulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres"Rousing... Action-packed... A gripping story about love, fortitude, and convictions that are worth fighting for."--Los Angeles TimesA NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK"POWERFUL... Smiley takes us back to Kansas in 1855, a place of rising passions and vast uncertainties. Narrated in the spirited, unsentimental voice of 20-year-old Lidie Newton, the novel is at once an ambitious examination of a turning point in history and the riveting story of one woman's journey into uncharted regions of place and self."--Chicago Tribune"[A] grand tale of the moral and political upheavals igniting antebellum frontier life and a heroine so wonderfully fleshed and unforgettable you will think you are listening to her story instead of reading it. Smiley may have snared a Pulitzer for A Thousand Acres... but it is with Lydia (Lidie) Harkness Newton that she emphatically captures our hearts.... The key word in Smiley's title is Adventures, and Lydia's are crammed with breathless movement, danger, and tension; populated by terrifically entertaining characters and securely grounded in telling detail."--The Miami Herald"SMILEY BRILLIANTLY EVOKES MID-19TH-CENTURY LIFE.... Richly imagined and superbly written, Jane Smiley's new novel is an extraordinary accomplishment in an already distinguished career."--Atlanta Journal-Constitution"A SPRAWLING EPIC... A garrulous, nights-by-the-hearth narrative not unlike those classics of the period it emulates. In following a rebellious young woman of 1855 into Kansas Territory and beyond, the novel is so persuasively authentic that it reads like a forgotten document from the days of Twain and Stowe."--The Boston Sunday Globe"CONSISTENTLY ENTERTAINING, FILLED WITH ACTION AND IDEAS."--The New York Times Book Review"ENGAGING... [A] HARROWING ADVENTURE... This picaresque tale presents a series of remarkable characters, particularly in the inexperienced narrator, whose graphic descripti

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

After marrying a fervent abolitionist, Lidie Newton finds herself thrust into the violent, volatile landscape of 1855 Kansas Territory. Following the death of her husband, Lidie must navigate a lawless frontier where political tensions over slavery threaten to consume everything in their path. The narrative, presented in Lidie's own spirited and unsentimental voice, tracks her transformation from a sheltered young woman into a survivor who must confront the harsh realities of a nation on the brink of civil war. Her objective is to maintain her autonomy and moral clarity while moving through a world defined by shifting loyalties and physical danger.

INSIDE THE PAGES

First-person narrative perspective providing an intimate look at the protagonist's internal growth
Picaresque structure that emphasizes movement and episodic encounters across the frontier
Detailed historical recreation of 1855 Kansas Territory and its socio-political climate
Exploration of the moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding the abolitionist movement
Focus on the physical and psychological challenges of frontier life for a woman in the mid-19th century
Inclusion of a diverse cast of characters representing the varied factions of the era
Use of a colloquial, authentic-sounding voice that mimics the literary style of the period
Examination of the intersection between personal identity and national upheaval

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

This novel is widely recognized for its successful emulation of 19th-century storytelling traditions while maintaining a modern, critical perspective on the antebellum era. Critics frequently highlight the strength of the protagonist's voice, noting how her unsentimental observations ground the sprawling historical events in a tangible, human experience. The work is often praised for its ability to balance high-stakes political tension with the intimate details of daily survival on the frontier. Readers and reviewers alike have noted the book's success in capturing the moral complexity of the period without resorting to simplistic portrayals of the conflict. The narrative's pacing and character development are consistently cited as key elements that sustain interest throughout the protagonist's extensive travels.

Page Count:
384

Publication Date:
1998-01-01

Publisher:
Flamingo

ISBN-10:
0002257521

ISBN-13:
9780002257527

Fiction

Western

Historical Fiction

Adventure

History

Historical

Fiction