The Harrows of Spring

The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4

By: James Howard Kunstler

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

"From the renowned social critic, energy expert, and bestselling author James Howard Kunstler, The Harrows of Spring concludes the quartet of his extraordinary World Made by Hand novels, set in an American future of economic and political collapse, where electricity, automobiles, and the familiar social structures of the "old times" are a misty memory.

In the little upstate New York town of Union Grove, springtime is a most difficult season, known as "the six weeks want," when fresh food is scarce and winter stores have dwindled. Young Daniel Earle returns from his haunting travels around what is left of the United States intent on resurrecting the town newspaper. He is also recruited by the town trustees to help revive the Hudson River trade route shut down peevishly by the local grandee, planter Stephen Bullock. Meanwhile, a menacing gang of Social Justice Warriors styling themselves as agents of the Berkshire People's Republic appear one evening to camp on the outskirts of town. Their leaders are the imposing Amazonian beauty Flame Aurora Greengrass and the charismatic grifter Sylvester "Buddy" Goodfriend, progressive to a fault in their politics and intent on extracting whatever tribute they can from people of Union Grove.

Romance, politics, bunko, violence, and family tragedy swirl through the thrilling finale to Kunstler's bestselling series. The Harrows of Spring is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and satisfying conclusion to this poignant history of the future."

©2016 James Howard Kunstler (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Awesome and unpredictable

This is my 1st of my120 books that wasn't predictable.
It was a great series and I hope to find more like it

Great Series!!!

Well written series about the world in chaos. Read them you won’t be disappointed for sure.

Another jewel from a World made by hand series

Great story and performance - had read and or listened to all of the books from this series- wish that the saga continues :)

Good enough!!

I really like the World Made by Hand series. Sort of like zombie fiction without the zombies. This volume has room for improvement , but I anxiously await the next volume just the same.

Good book

I enjoyed this series. It clearly opines for the days of yore. But it’s a pleasant and entertaining listen. Good story, good narration.

Iike a fireside, warm blanket

I enjoy end of days stories. Apocalyptic, mutants, rough and tough… action. But this series is nothing like that. However, I still really enjoyed the complete series. It is Little House On the Prairie-esk, meets end of (modern) days. I was nice listening to the story and I enjoyed all books.

The best series ever!

No series of any author, topic, or kind has been written to compare . Sci fi romance ( just a touch) adventure, prepper( just enough) foodie ( glorious ) and drink , I am standing by , yeasty rich full bodied triple tripel ale in hand

A bittersweet history of the future

I have been transfixed by the four book series A World Made by Hand. Mr. Kuntsler has presented the horrors and resilience of a future that we may be facing in one form or another. I for one hope it does not come to pass, but I honestly believe that the best way to avoid such an outcome is to consider it's very real possibility. We are a wondrous and resilient nation, filled with people who have the capacity to rise to any occasion and to truly care about one another. I hope these books inspire readers to carefully consider becoming vital and powerful forces in their own communities to build local resilience and reduce the deleterious footprint that we are having on the natural world and the peoples of other nations.

My only critique of the fourth book is that Mr. Kuntsler spent a little too much time reminding us of all of the elements that were laid out in the previous three books.

The storytelling. And the story

It is an important and well crafted project to imagine a very possible future that awaits us if we don’t wake up to the seriousness of the time we live in.

A moving, fun, complex tale, not without anger, but also with affection for well developed delightful characters and the places that they and he call home.

This novel and the series of which it is a part attempts, and for me succeeds, to show us that we need to decide what we really value and to recognize what we may have to give up to leave a viable home for those who come after us.

But, too, a reminder to enjoy life as we find it when we can. And to grieve our loses.

A fine achievement.

Jim Meskimen is an excellent reader, giving each character his or her own voice. And tells the tale at a fine pace.

Excellent Read

I really enjoyed the telling of Daniel’s story in this 4th book of the series. As with the first three books, the story revolves around people in a small New England town surviving despite the loss of all modern conveniences. The author does a fantastic job intertwining the characters’ stories and weaving together harsh reality with a touch of mystical/miraculous thrown in. In addition to being entertaining, the story reminds the reader of many things we should be grateful for. Excellent narration and great tale!