The Silver Spooner: A Novel

by Darcy O'Brien

A novel of enduring power, The Silver Spooner is the story of a man who tries to be something he is not, a woman who loves him for what he is, and a friend who tries to free him from his illusionsEarl Kruger was one of the last of his breed. A kingpin rancher, he wanted to own all of Oklahoma. He ran the largest cattle operation in the state—and acted as though he ran everything else, too. A. G. Kruger is running hard—trying to catch his father’s shadow. But he lacks the old man’s confidence and power, and when Earl dies, A. G. feels unprepared to manage the Sunrise Ranch alone. He never knows whether to treat his workers as buddies or servants. He learns the hard way that he can’t do both.Claire is A. G.’s wife. She’s a bright and beautiful woman whose modern ideas and ambitions are respected—if not thoroughly understood—by A. G. and scorned by his father. But Claire is used to grappling for her share in life. She grapples now with Earl Kruger—and his memory—for possession of his son.Ramsey Hogan is A. G.’s best friend from childhood. Fatherless, he grew up on the Sunrise, and has always felt a great debt to the Krugers. Now he wonders if it was worth the price.These are people whose lives reflect all the subtle complexities of modern American life and the rawness of a land that rose out of dust bowl bankruptcy. Caught up in an environment of wildly clashing values, they struggle to play out their lives, torn between the claims of past and present. Their story is one of powerful dreams, expectations, attempts, and failures; of love that gets buried beneath disappointments, and unwanted desires that appear in its place; of friendship and marriage; of pride and resentment; and of hope.Peopled with characters who live and breathe, The Silver Spooner is an unforgettable human drama that is as funny and sad and unpredictable as life itself.

213 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Darcy O'Brien was born in Los Angeles, the son of Hollywood silent film actor George O’Brien and actress Marguerite Churchill.

O'Brien attended Princeton University and University of Cambridge, and received a master's degree and doctorate from the University of California, Berkely. From 1965 to 1978 he was a professor of English at Pomona College. In 1978 he moved to Tulsa, and taught at the Univesity of Tulsa until 1995.

O'Brien was married three times and had one daughter named Molly O'Brien.

O'Brien died of a heart attack in Tulsa on March 2, 1998.

Reviews

[Brad Kesner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read!!

Really top notch! Hard to put down from page one to the end. Thanks for a very entertaining and exciting novel!