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Blizzard
Fictional account of a blizzard in Iowa in the 1950's.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Phil Stong
53 books5 followersPhilip Duffield Stong (January 27, 1899-April 26, 1957) was an American author, journalist and Hollywood scenarist. He is best known for writing the novel State Fair, on which three films (1933, 1945 and 1962) and one musical by that name were based.
Stong was born in Pittsburg, Iowa, near Keosauqua. His father operated the general store, which is now an antique store. The 1844 brick house where Stong was born is located adjacent to the store and is now a private residence. He attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Stong scored his first success in 1932 with the publication of his famous novel, State Fair, which was later adapted for the screen as the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. In addition to his novels, his short stories were published in most of the leading national magazines of the time, and he wrote several screenplays.
As a nine-year old city boy travels from Des Moines, Iowa by train to visit his grandfather's farm in the early 1900s, he imagines how he will impress his cousins ― with stories of skyscrapers and trolley cars, automobiles and the Union Park Zoo, Ingersoll Amusement Park, and the Capitol ― things he thinks might dazzle farm boys. However, as his cousins and his grandfather introduce him to country life, the eyes that are dazzled become his own.
The Iowa Kids 1910 series is a collection of three unforgettable stories -- humorously captured and simply told. Farm Boy, High Waters, No-Sitch the Hound.
As a boy, the author Phil Stong spent many hours on a farm owned by his maternal grandparents -- the Duffields -- where he walked the land, fished in the creek, played in the dairy barn, chored for his grandparents, and otherwise immersed himself in the wonders and wisdom of rural life. Linwood Farm, as it was called, was located just three miles west of Keosauqua across the Des Moines River on the ridge line in Pittsburg. The farm remained in the Duffield family until it was sold during World War I. But in 1932, Stong bought back the family's historic farm which he owned until he died in 1957.
Phil Stong's experiences on Linwood Farm were later captured in many of his literary works, particularly in his books for young people. The Iowa Kids 1910 series is a collection of three unforgettable stories -- humorously captured and simply told.
About his writing career, he once said, "Fell while trying to clamber out of a low bathtub at the age of two. Became a writer. No other possible career."
Stong's The Other Worlds: 25 Modern Stories of Mystery and Imagination, was considered by Robert Silverberg (in the foreword to Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction) to be the first anthology of science-fiction. Compiling stories from 1930s pulp magazines, along with what Stong called "Scientifiction" it also contained works of horror and fantasy.
Stong published more than forty books. He died at his home in Washington, Connecticut, in 1957. Stong is buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Keosauqua.
Asked in 1951 to comment on humanism, Stong responded: "I’ve never gone deeply enough into any of the various definitions of “humanism” to be able to make any intelligent or instructive comment on the subject. When I read any of these tenuous expositions, they remind me (a) of the blind men and the elephant and (b) that I’d better have a glass of beer and get to bed. I don’t see how you distinguish between the humanism of More and that of Dewey or of Aristophanes or Lackland or Chaucer or Bunyan or Saintsbury or Taine. The boys that practice it seem to me tremendously more effective than the ones who preach it from the varied pulpits."
Stong was born in Pittsburg, Iowa, near Keosauqua. His father operated the general store, which is now an antique store. The 1844 brick house where Stong was born is located adjacent to the store and is now a private residence. He attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Stong scored his first success in 1932 with the publication of his famous novel, State Fair, which was later adapted for the screen as the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. In addition to his novels, his short stories were published in most of the leading national magazines of the time, and he wrote several screenplays.
As a nine-year old city boy travels from Des Moines, Iowa by train to visit his grandfather's farm in the early 1900s, he imagines how he will impress his cousins ― with stories of skyscrapers and trolley cars, automobiles and the Union Park Zoo, Ingersoll Amusement Park, and the Capitol ― things he thinks might dazzle farm boys. However, as his cousins and his grandfather introduce him to country life, the eyes that are dazzled become his own.
The Iowa Kids 1910 series is a collection of three unforgettable stories -- humorously captured and simply told. Farm Boy, High Waters, No-Sitch the Hound.
As a boy, the author Phil Stong spent many hours on a farm owned by his maternal grandparents -- the Duffields -- where he walked the land, fished in the creek, played in the dairy barn, chored for his grandparents, and otherwise immersed himself in the wonders and wisdom of rural life. Linwood Farm, as it was called, was located just three miles west of Keosauqua across the Des Moines River on the ridge line in Pittsburg. The farm remained in the Duffield family until it was sold during World War I. But in 1932, Stong bought back the family's historic farm which he owned until he died in 1957.
Phil Stong's experiences on Linwood Farm were later captured in many of his literary works, particularly in his books for young people. The Iowa Kids 1910 series is a collection of three unforgettable stories -- humorously captured and simply told.
About his writing career, he once said, "Fell while trying to clamber out of a low bathtub at the age of two. Became a writer. No other possible career."
Stong's The Other Worlds: 25 Modern Stories of Mystery and Imagination, was considered by Robert Silverberg (in the foreword to Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction) to be the first anthology of science-fiction. Compiling stories from 1930s pulp magazines, along with what Stong called "Scientifiction" it also contained works of horror and fantasy.
Stong published more than forty books. He died at his home in Washington, Connecticut, in 1957. Stong is buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Keosauqua.
Asked in 1951 to comment on humanism, Stong responded: "I’ve never gone deeply enough into any of the various definitions of “humanism” to be able to make any intelligent or instructive comment on the subject. When I read any of these tenuous expositions, they remind me (a) of the blind men and the elephant and (b) that I’d better have a glass of beer and get to bed. I don’t see how you distinguish between the humanism of More and that of Dewey or of Aristophanes or Lackland or Chaucer or Bunyan or Saintsbury or Taine. The boys that practice it seem to me tremendously more effective than the ones who preach it from the varied pulpits."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 2, 2024
A surprisingly good book! This story is about a group of people caught at a farmhouse in Iowa during a three day blizzard. It was entertaining, amusing and kept me interested until the very last page.
I found this vintage hardcover book in my grandmother’s old bookcase in the basement of my parents’ house. The cover of ‘Blizzard’ really appealed to me for some reason. It was so nice of my grandmother to give this book to me.
I thought it was about time that I finally read Phil Sting’s book—after two years of it sitting on my shelves. The characters are unique and very much like people you might meet in real life.
If you love books about storms and enjoy a bit of a soap opera type story, I highly recommend Blizzard!
I found this vintage hardcover book in my grandmother’s old bookcase in the basement of my parents’ house. The cover of ‘Blizzard’ really appealed to me for some reason. It was so nice of my grandmother to give this book to me.
I thought it was about time that I finally read Phil Sting’s book—after two years of it sitting on my shelves. The characters are unique and very much like people you might meet in real life.
If you love books about storms and enjoy a bit of a soap opera type story, I highly recommend Blizzard!
December 10, 2024
2 1/2 stars rounded up, just because 🙂
Written in 1955, this feels like the basis for a screenplay, with a cast of characters stranded on an Iowa farm for a very long weekend. Phil Stong also wrote State Fair, which was adapted into 4 movies and a Broadway musical! You can tell he is no stranger to blizzards and how they can suspend animation.
Written in 1955, this feels like the basis for a screenplay, with a cast of characters stranded on an Iowa farm for a very long weekend. Phil Stong also wrote State Fair, which was adapted into 4 movies and a Broadway musical! You can tell he is no stranger to blizzards and how they can suspend animation.
November 13, 2015
An often used device finds people thrown together and isolated by a storm, a shipwreck, an Indian attack, a trek etc. In this instance a record blizzard strands strangers and acquaintances at an Iowa farm. The time is post Korean War. There is some mystery and some romance. I expect to read more books by Stong.
February 7, 2022
An entertaining enough book, hardly profound and probably ultimately forgettable. Phil Stong creates a potentially dramatic situation and the results are effective in a calculating way. It does have atmosphere, though, and the author's experience with farm life and Iowa blizzards is evident.
February 13, 2021
For sure not a 5 star book but I really enjoyed this blistery winter story. I am still not sure but maybe a 3.5 or higher? It certainly keeps you entertained on a cold winters day. I don't think I could have done so well if I was stuck with a house full of strangers for a whole weekend.
January 5, 2026
a collection of unlikeable characters are stuck together in a farmhouse due to a blizzard, of course some have secrets. lumbering slog.
February 17, 2017
Good quick read!
January 1, 2014
I discovered this book at our local library book sale. Purchased it for a $1.00. It caught my eye because the open paragraph situated the story in southeast Iowa, specifically mentioning towns of West Point, Ottumwa, Fort Madison. I live in Fort Madison so thought it might be interesting to read, even though it had no cover jacket or other introduction to let me know the basic story line. It isn't the best read for sure, but it held my interest and I believe, improved as it went along.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews