Raintree County

By: Ross Lockridge Jr.

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Throughout a single day in 1892, John Shawnessy recalls the great moments of his life - from the battles of the Civil War to the politics of the Gilded Age, from the love affairs of his youth in Indiana to his homecoming as schoolteacher, husband, and father.

Shawnessy is the epitome of the place and period in which he lives, a rural land of springlike women, shady gamblers, wandering vagabonds, and soapbox orators. Yet here on the banks of the Shawmucky River, which weaves its primitive course through Raintree County, Indiana, he also feels and obeys ancient rhythms.

A number-one best seller when it was first published in 1948, this powerful novel is a compelling vision of 19th-century America with timeless resonance.

©1948 Ross Lockridge, Jr. (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"An achievement of art and purpose, a cosmically brooding book full of significance and beauty." ( New York Times)

Superb narration of a superb novel

if any novel of the 20th century deserves that elusive mantle, "The Great American Novel," it is Ross Lockridge's "Raintree County."

My pick for the GAN

I had never heard of this book.
Having always considered Gatsby and Moby Dick to be the best books ever written, I have changed my opinion. I think this one is far and away the Great American Novel and a must read for true lovers of American Lit. It is too bad the author died before he could write another one like this but he could not have done better.
What I can't understand is why this has been left out of the American canon.

slow and confusing

What did you like best about Raintree County? What did you like least?

the story if you can catch it, is reasonably good.

Would you ever listen to anything by Ross Lockridge again?

I'm not sure, if it is al written in this overly wordy style, NO

Which character – as performed by Lloyd James – was your favorite?

the main character Mr Shawnesee

Do you think Raintree County needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I am not sure I could handle it, this story jumps around and I really have no idea where we are in the story half the time. at the VERY beginning he is seeing a naked woman in the post office but I dont understand what that has to do with ANYTHING. Maybe at the end of the book it will be explained. And what is all this about a republic? I don't think they are in Texas.

Any additional comments?

I dont want to be mean, but this book is hard for me to listen to, I am usually comitted to finish any book I start, so I am slowy making it through this one.

okay get on with it

this book has some great stories but drags getting from one setting to the next. could have been written in half the words and been great.

Ambivalence...

Listening to this book for so long (more than 40 hours) was a true challenge, especially with so much wasted verbiage and the disjointed narrative structure, which created the need to fill in the gaps slowly as the novel plodded along. However, the author offered many profound insights and created characters that seemed somehow timeless. And we particularly loved The Professor’s insights into religion and the role it has played in shaping American history. Also, the performance was one of the best we’ve heard. Great voices with rich characters.

Ultimately, not for the casual listener, but worth the endeavor...well, mostly worth it.

The Best

This the best piece of American liturature I have read in my 65 plus years. At the core of the complexity of the narrative the soul of a new idea in the history of human-kind comes forth and joins with the substance of being. A beautiful book.

America's Great (Obscure, Didactic, Absurd) Epic

This is, simply put, likely the closest we've ever come to the mythic Great American novel. It's hard to describe, but skips forward and backward through time over the course of the 18th Century in the memory and dreams of Johnny Shawnessy. It's one part Joyce, one part Hawthorne, and ninety-eight parts unlike anything else out there. It is sentimental and patriotic without being jingoistic, pious and moral without being preachy, romantic and erotic without ever stooping into the prurient. Simply, it is wonderful, and well read in this audio edition.

A Great American Novel

This is a beautifully written tale given a pitch perfect rendering by Lloyd James (i.e., Sean Pratt). Sure, at times the myth-making is over the top, and the frequent rhetorical questions could have been cut by half. But once you become comfortable with the structuring of the narrative, you are in for forty-plus hours of a heartbreaking yet uplifting story.

Too Long

I love classic literature, and maybe it's just me and this was too far over my head... but I don't think so. It just felt way too self important and self indulgent. And, it's WAY TOO LONG.

An American Brigadoon

I don't understand it! How can a 43 hour book keep my attention throughout? One reason is the "Above Excellent" rating I would give to the reader. Without him, the book would have been much less listenable. If the great American novel could be defined, this book would be it.
If you get a chance to see the movie - please don't!
It's very badly done and has only a nodding acquaintance with this book.