Between the Flowers

by Harriette Simpson Arnow

Between the Flowers is Harriette Simpson Arnow's second novel. Written in the late 1930s, but unpublished until 1997, this early work shows the development of social and cultural themes that would continue in Arnow's later the appeal of wandering and of modern life, the countervailing desire to stay within a traditional community, and the difficulties of communication between men and women in such a community.
    Between the Flowers goes far beyond categories of "local color," literary regionalism, or the agrarian novel, to the heart of human relationships in a modernized world. Arnow, who went on to write Hunter's Horn (1949) and The Dollmaker (1952)―her two most famous works―has continually been overlooked by critics as a regional writer. Ironically, it is her stinging realism that is seen as evidence of her realism, evidence that she is of the Cumberland―an area somehow more "regional" than others.
    Beginning with an edition of critical essays on her work in 1991 and a complete original edition of Hunter's Horn in 1997, the Michigan State University Press is pleased to continue its effort to make available the timeless insight of Arnow's work with the posthumous publication of Between the Flowers.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

426 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1999

About the author

Harriette Simpson Arnow (July 7, 1908 – March 22, 1986) was an American novelist, who lived in Kentucky and Michigan.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

harriet arnow's book pretty much always make me cry. her writing is so so beautiful, but then there is always the tragedy of life. I kept wishing that maybe this time she decided to let everything work out nicely. sigh.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fantastic saga of hill billy world changing over to the modern world, with a young couple who elope and go out away from the hills to try and make it in the "real" world. only thing is, hubby has the great idea to be a farmer, while wifey thought they were going to the bright lights, anywhere, anywhere else but Kentucky. Author Arnow is the very real thing, in style and substance with Thomas Hardy, Faulkner, or any other superior novelist.

[Cranbery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing..............her usual wonderful writing! I love Ms Simpson Arnow's books.........there just aren't enough of them!
Everyone should read at least one............

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Ms. Arnow writes it, I will read it.

[Denise Basinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, and very sad.

[Sharon Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was rather disappointed with this book. I had hoped it would be written in the tradition of the other books by Harriette Arnow that I've read. I had a hard time understanding Delph's character and why she did things the way she did.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great followup of the book about the Cumberlands I just read. Knowing the history beforehand made it come alive for me.