A thousand acres

by

Hardcover, 371 pages

English language

Published Dec. 14, 1991 by Knopf, Distributed by Random House.

ISBN:
978-0-394-57773-9
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(1 review)

This powerful twentieth-century reimagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear centers on a wealthy Iowa farmer who decides to divide his farm between his three daughters. When the youngest objects, she is cut out of his will. This sets off a chain of events that brings dark truths to light and explodes long-suppressed emotions. Ambitiously conceived and stunningly written, A Thousand Acres takes on themes of truth, justice, love, and pride—and reveals the beautiful yet treacherous topography of humanity.

9 editions

reviewed A thousand acres by Jane Smiley

Review of 'A thousand acres' on 'Goodreads'

This is a wonderful novel, full of vivid characters and unexpected twists. I had sympathy for almost all the characters and cared what happened to them--I could not put it down. Warning: It does not end well; it's a tragedy.

Subjects

  • Inheritance and succession -- Fiction
  • Parent and adult child -- Fiction
  • Fathers and daughters -- Fiction
  • Aging parents -- Fiction
  • Family farms -- Fiction
  • Farm life -- Fiction
  • Sisters -- Fiction
  • Iowa -- Fiction