When the Men Were Gone LP - Large Print by Marjorie Herrera Lewis (Paperback)

About the Book

"Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism. Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over 18 and under 45 are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy's knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach. Faced with extreme opposition--by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees and even the players themselves--Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team and the town to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget. Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage."--

Book Synopsis

"...Sublimely ties together the drama of high school football, gender politics, and the impact of war on a small town in Texas." - Sports Illustrated

A 2019 One of the Best Books So Far--Newsweek.com

A cross between Friday Night Lights and The Atomic City Girls, When The Men Were Gone is a debut historical novel based on the true story of Tylene Wilson, a woman in 1940's Texas who, in spite of extreme opposition, became a female football coach in order to keep her students from heading off to war.

Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism.

Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over 18 and under 45 are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy's knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach.

Faced with extreme opposition--by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees and even the players themselves--Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team--and the town--to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget.

Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage.

From the Back Cover

Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can re-member, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism.

Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over eighteen and under forty-five are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy's knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach.

Faced with extreme opposition--by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees and even the players themselves--Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team and the town to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget.

Review Quotes

"A beautiful story that stays in your heart long after you finish reading When the Men Were Gone. A delightful true story, well written and touching. Looking forward to reading many more books by Lewis." -- Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Mornings on Main.

"...WHEN THE MEN WERE GONE sublimely ties together the drama of high school football, gender politics and the impact of war on a small town in Texas." -- Sports Illustrated

"Marjorie has written a wonderfully touching and beautiful story [...] Tylene makes me laugh, cry, and cheer for her in ways I have not done in a long time. I only wish the real Tylene were here to see what Marjorie has accomplished. I was literally having chills. I look forward to the day her book launches into the world!" -- Diane Les Becquets, bestselling author of Breaking Wild

"A big, radical, heartbreaking story. Throw in mid-century gender politics and Tylene's barrier breaking--her gendered domestic life--and what you've got here is an embarrassment of riches." -- Robin Wasserman, bestselling author of Girls on Fire

"Marjorie Herrera Lewis has a great knack for storytelling. Clear cinematic scenes with dialogue and clear motivation and suspense." -- Mark Sundeen, author of The Man Who Quit Money

"A feel-good story about one woman's persistence, strength, and love of the game." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Tylene's struggles, on and off the field, form the core of this satisfying historical novel based on a true story." -- Booklist