The Long Darkness

by Timothy Egan

The storms that terrorised America's high plains in the darkest years of the Depression were like nothing ever seen before or since, and the stories of the people who held on have never been fully told. Pulitzer-prize winning "New York Times" journalist and author, Timothy Egan follows half a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, going from sod homes to new framed houses to huddling in basements with the windows sealed by damp sheets in a futile effort to keep the dust out. He follows their desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black blizzards, crop failure and the deaths of loved ones. Drawing on the voices of those who stayed and survived, those who are now in their eighties and nineties, Egan tells a story of endurance and heroism against the backdrop of the Great Depression. This fascinating account of how people lived and died through one of the blackest periods in history is told with sensitivity and understanding.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Timothy Egan is a Pulitzer Prize winning author of nine books, including THE WORST HARD TIME, which won the National Book Award. His latest book, A PILGRIMAGE TO ETERNITY, is a personal story, a journey over an ancient trail, and a history of Christianity. He also writes a biweekly opinion column for The New York Times. HIs book on the photographer Edward Curtis, SHORT NIGHTS OF THE SHADOW CATCHER, won the Carnegie Medal for best nonfiction. His Irish-American book, THE IMMORTAL IRISHMAN, was a New York Times bestseller. A third-generation native of the Pacific Northwest, he lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing time, what an amazing story, and what a great story teller ! Thank you Mr. Egan, once again, for your talent and for sharing it with us !

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling stories of families living in different areas of the dustbowl in the 1930s. Published in 2006, this captures first-hand stories of some of the last people who have clear memories of the experience. Worth reading even if you already read Egan’s The Worst Hard Time. Bonus, if (like me) you didn’t know how the Oklahoma Panhandle came to be, you’ll find out here.