A Peculiar Grace - by Jeffrey Lent (Paperback)

About the Book

The critically acclaimed author of "In the Fall" delivers this insightful, revealing portrait of family secrets, in a book marked by an unforgettable cast of characters who have learned to survive by giving shape to their losses.

Book Synopsis

An unforgettable tale of love, family secrets, and the hold of the past in a family of New England artists, A Peculiar Grace is the latest triumph from the author of In the Fall, hailed by The Christian Science Monitor and The New York Times as one of the best books of the year. Hewitt Pearce lives alone in his family home, producing custom ironwork and safeguarding a small collection of art his late father left behind. When Jessica, a troubled young vagabond, washes up in his backwoods one morning, Hewitt's hermetic existence is challenged. As he gradually uncovers Jessica's secrets and reestablishes contact with a woman he thought he had lost twenty years before, Hewitt must confront his own dark history and rediscover how much he craves human connection. A Peculiar Grace is a remarkable achievement by one of our finest authors, an insightful portrait of family secrets, and a rich tapestry filled with characters who have learned to survive by giving shape to their losses.

Review Quotes

"A compelling, at times chilling, achievement."

"A stunning success . . . builds like a thunderstorm coming over the horizon."

"A visceral book . . . Rugged, carefully plotted, and thoughtfully constructed, offering a glimpse of a place and time most contemporary novelists simply can't take us to. . . . A powerful and potentially timeless book."

"Majestic . . . epic . . . vital . . . a necessary piece in the uniquely American mosaic."

An unforgettable tale of obsession, inspiration, and tragedy in a family of New England artists, by an author with "the absolute mastery to create his own reality" -- Jim Harrison