Description
A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton is a haunting and emotionally powerful novel that explores the fragility of trust and community in a rural American town. Following her acclaimed debut The Book of Ruth, Hamilton crafts a deeply affecting drama centred on Alice and Howard Goodwin, a farming couple struggling to fit into the close-knit but wary town of Prairie Center. Their lives are irrevocably changed when a tragic accident occurs under Alice’s care—a neighbour’s child drowns in their pond, setting off a chain of profound consequences.
Set against the backdrop of small-town life, this story examines themes of grief, guilt, and the tenuous boundaries between forgiveness and blame. Hamilton’s evocative prose captures the quiet struggles and emotional turmoil of a family and community grappling with loss and suspicion. Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award, A Map of the World is a compelling read for fans of literary fiction and character-driven narratives that explore the complexities of human relationships and rural life.
