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After the War
In his third and most powerful work of fiction, the acclaimed author of The Coming of Rain and Bound for the Promised Land —biographer also of Thomas More—immerses us in the rich life of an American town, in the subtle and complex experience of becoming an American, in the good and evil of a time gone by.
The place is Bourbonville, Tennessee. The the end of the First World War. The Paul Alexander—Greek by birth, Belgian by adoption, wounded in the war, nearly to death, and now washed up history, by accident, by odd fate, on the edges of Bourbonville, and soon to become part of its center.
This is a town where people have known one another for generations, a town full of talkers, compulsive storytellers—thrilled to have a new listener to whom they can pour out local scandals, triumphs, secrets, especially the ongoing saga of the great schism between Moreland Pinkerton, champion of Progress who has drained a swamp to a foundry, and Brian Ledbetter and his Weaver stepsons, independent farmers with the values of an earlier, more agrarian America, who see Pinkerton as a bully and a destroyer. Listening, fascinated, Paul is reluctantly drawn into the life of the town, into the world beyond Mrs. Coolidge’s where he boards, one of seven bachelors. And—through both his work and his friendships—into the battle between Pinkerton (his boss at the foundry) and Ledbetter (whose granddaughter loves him) for the town’s soul.
Inevitably, the two factions find themselves in dangerous confrontation where a black war veteran’s attempt to organize the foundry’s black workers erupts into racial animosities and bloody industrial conflict. And, in the midst of these violent events, Paul’s own astonishing story—his exile from Greece and his wartime ordeal—unfolds as he begins to move away from his past into the heart of the town, finding himself eventually part even of its myths.
In After the War , Marius has given us a large and moving novel that compels us both by its panoramic amplitude and by its revelation of one fascinating life in the throes of change.
The place is Bourbonville, Tennessee. The the end of the First World War. The Paul Alexander—Greek by birth, Belgian by adoption, wounded in the war, nearly to death, and now washed up history, by accident, by odd fate, on the edges of Bourbonville, and soon to become part of its center.
This is a town where people have known one another for generations, a town full of talkers, compulsive storytellers—thrilled to have a new listener to whom they can pour out local scandals, triumphs, secrets, especially the ongoing saga of the great schism between Moreland Pinkerton, champion of Progress who has drained a swamp to a foundry, and Brian Ledbetter and his Weaver stepsons, independent farmers with the values of an earlier, more agrarian America, who see Pinkerton as a bully and a destroyer. Listening, fascinated, Paul is reluctantly drawn into the life of the town, into the world beyond Mrs. Coolidge’s where he boards, one of seven bachelors. And—through both his work and his friendships—into the battle between Pinkerton (his boss at the foundry) and Ledbetter (whose granddaughter loves him) for the town’s soul.
Inevitably, the two factions find themselves in dangerous confrontation where a black war veteran’s attempt to organize the foundry’s black workers erupts into racial animosities and bloody industrial conflict. And, in the midst of these violent events, Paul’s own astonishing story—his exile from Greece and his wartime ordeal—unfolds as he begins to move away from his past into the heart of the town, finding himself eventually part even of its myths.
In After the War , Marius has given us a large and moving novel that compels us both by its panoramic amplitude and by its revelation of one fascinating life in the throes of change.
621 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 1992
About the author
Richard Marius
38 books13 followersRichard Curry Marius was an American academic and writer.
He was a scholar of the Reformation, novelist of the American South, speechwriter, and teacher of writing and English literature at Harvard University. He was widely published, leaving behind major biographies of Thomas More and Martin Luther, four novels set in his native Tennessee, several books on writing, and a host of scholarly articles for academic journals and mainstream book reviews.
Marius was known as a raconteur and political activist.
He was a scholar of the Reformation, novelist of the American South, speechwriter, and teacher of writing and English literature at Harvard University. He was widely published, leaving behind major biographies of Thomas More and Martin Luther, four novels set in his native Tennessee, several books on writing, and a host of scholarly articles for academic journals and mainstream book reviews.
Marius was known as a raconteur and political activist.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 14, 2022
I decided to pull this book off the shelf and re-read it after 10+ years. After the War is a sprawling narrative covering many years with a multitude of interesting characters and poignant tales. The book takes place in post-World War I Tennessee and captures all the idiosyncrasies and growing pains of both the country and its characters during that time.
The narrator, Paul Alexander, is a Greek immigrant who was raised in Belgium, served in the trenches of the Great War, was wounded and lost two very dear friends. His perspective, observations and journey through life are what drive this book as Paul is many things - sympathetic, frustrating, stubborn, disarming, naïve - as his life unfolds in this narrative.
This is a big, dense, magnificent novel and if you can find the time, is well worth the read - as are all of Marius' books.
The narrator, Paul Alexander, is a Greek immigrant who was raised in Belgium, served in the trenches of the Great War, was wounded and lost two very dear friends. His perspective, observations and journey through life are what drive this book as Paul is many things - sympathetic, frustrating, stubborn, disarming, naïve - as his life unfolds in this narrative.
This is a big, dense, magnificent novel and if you can find the time, is well worth the read - as are all of Marius' books.
August 16, 2012
There are many moments in this book that I have always found affecting - the big party when Paul first played in Tennessee, his recollection of Palmyre, the meetings in his office with various Ledbetters, the dealings with his father. This is a great book I feel lucky to have come across.
September 4, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, although my time to read it was limited to time available after caring for my disabled wife. Dr Marius taught at the University of Tennessee during the time that I was there and lists Dixie Lee Junction as his home in his biography, which coincidentally is where Paul Alexander built his home in the book.
This story covers many years of the life of a Paul Alexander. Paul was borne in Greece and was attending college in Belgium when World War I broke out. He is the narrator of his story of his college experiences, his involvement in the war how he came to Bourbonville, how he came to be the manager of the car shop there, his marriage and much the remainder of his life at Dixie Lee Junction.
This book is the second of three Bourbonville books and probably the best of the three, I did particularly like the way this book ended, maybe that is why I think it is the best. Maybe one day, I'll sit down and re-read all three, in order then. At that time, I reserve the right to re-choose the favorite of the series.
This story covers many years of the life of a Paul Alexander. Paul was borne in Greece and was attending college in Belgium when World War I broke out. He is the narrator of his story of his college experiences, his involvement in the war how he came to Bourbonville, how he came to be the manager of the car shop there, his marriage and much the remainder of his life at Dixie Lee Junction.
This book is the second of three Bourbonville books and probably the best of the three, I did particularly like the way this book ended, maybe that is why I think it is the best. Maybe one day, I'll sit down and re-read all three, in order then. At that time, I reserve the right to re-choose the favorite of the series.
April 20, 2014
Paul Alexander, born Paul Kephalopoulos in Greece but educated in Belgium, finds himself in the Belgian army with his two best friends fighting Germans in WWI. His friends are killed and Paul, grievously wounded, spends three years in English hospitals recovering. Through a chance encounter in England, Paul winds up as a chemist for a railroad car works in the mythical town of Bourbonville, Tennessee where the bulk of this lengthy book takes place. Paul slowly acclimates to small town Tennessee life, and although he constantly expects to return to Greece, he grows to accept Bourbonville and its people.
From the looks of Marius's life story, it would appear there is some of it (and probably his father's) in this book, but this is one of those happy cases where the author's life experiences actually enhance the story. Marius's writing is clear and his combination of action and reflection is excellent; I was quickly drawn into the book.
Marius makes Paul the narrator, albeit a generally faceless one in his interactions with other characters. He reminds one of Chance the gardener in the Peter Sellers classic, Being There, in that he impresses everyone in Bourbonville and gains stature and position primarily by simply listening and not offering any opinions of his own. I must admit that after a while this particular affect becomes a bit irritating (as in, why would anyone be interested in this guy?).
Still, there's a lot to like here. A vibrant story line, strong development of thematic elements (particularly the role of fate in our lives), memorable characters and more.
From the looks of Marius's life story, it would appear there is some of it (and probably his father's) in this book, but this is one of those happy cases where the author's life experiences actually enhance the story. Marius's writing is clear and his combination of action and reflection is excellent; I was quickly drawn into the book.
Marius makes Paul the narrator, albeit a generally faceless one in his interactions with other characters. He reminds one of Chance the gardener in the Peter Sellers classic, Being There, in that he impresses everyone in Bourbonville and gains stature and position primarily by simply listening and not offering any opinions of his own. I must admit that after a while this particular affect becomes a bit irritating (as in, why would anyone be interested in this guy?).
Still, there's a lot to like here. A vibrant story line, strong development of thematic elements (particularly the role of fate in our lives), memorable characters and more.
February 11, 2017
Huge canvas populated with rich detail.
May 28, 2018
I decided to abandon after 100 pages in. Not much to capture my interest and I couldn't stomach 600 pages of boredom.
March 20, 2015
I love that Marius decided to introduce an "outsider" as one of the main characters in this trilogy. Having someone new come into the world set up by the first book sets up a very different perspective on the town and its history. It also sets up the third book in which the "outsider" becomes part of the town and its history.
December 18, 2014
the second volume in the bourbonville trilogy. a masterpiece among southern saga novels. it's too bad that richard marius died leaving only three bourbonville novels. these were on track to rival (almost) faulkner's yoknapatawpha county. high praise indeed.
January 11, 2013
Tremendous. Try reading "The Coming of Rain" first. (Most of the characters carry over.)
February 3, 2013
Loved all richard Marius novels.... It is a sad fact that he died too young. Would have wanted to keep reading his magnificent books
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews