GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- After the Roaring '20s, the Great Depression was a douse of bitterly cold water -- an economy that flew to great heights but crashed spectacularly. Dodge County Fair by James Sunwall is a brilliant portrayal of the emotions, the conflicts, and the reflections of that historical period as seen through the experiences of one family. A play and a collection of short fiction, this book greatly captures the unforgettable hardships of the times.
Set in a Midwestern village during the 1930s, the story centers on a family of Norwegian descent struggling through the Great Depression. The youngest son, Joey, has a dream of going to the county fair. Daydreaming of the excitement, the fun, the displays, and the food, he is whisked away from all the poverty and sadness of his everyday life. But one day a stranger appears, claiming to be a long-lost relative. Whether related or not, this person soon changes the life of the family forever.
Sunwall, who also wrote the anthology of poems (and a play) Escape of the Unicorn, in this new work brilliantly captures the details and emotions of the Great Depression and gives it a human face. This book also includes fifteen short stories that focus on the characters in the play and moves through the timeline of the twentieth century -- some even cleverly using animals to better portray important points to the reader. For an anthology of epic scope, this one will definitely capture your attention and imagination. Check out this book today!
About the Author
James Sunwall was born in 1922 in Hayfield, Minnesota. He served in the army in the Pacific during WWII. Afterward he received degrees from the Universities of Minnesota, Yale, and Iowa where he was a member of the Writers Workshop. He wrote and taught the writing of fiction, poetry, and drama for thirty years at the University of Florida where he is an emeritus professor.
Dodge County Fair * by James Sunwall
A Play and Selected Short Fiction
Publication Date: January 31, 2006
Trade Paperback; $17.84; 179 pages; 978-1-5992-6662-6
Cloth Hardback; $27.89; 179 pages; 978-1-5992-6663-3
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