Synopses & Reviews
A Washington Post Notable Book
One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, BookPage
It's 1987, and the next generation of Langdons is facing economic, social, and political challenges unlike anything their ancestors have encountered. Michael and Richie, twin sons of World War II hero Frank, work in the high-stakes worlds of government and finance—but their fiercest enemies may be closer to home. Charlie, the charmer, struggles to find his way; Guthrie is deployed to Iraq, leaving the Iowa family farm in the hands of his younger sister, Felicity— who, as always, has her own ideas. Determined to help preserve the planet, she worries that her family farm’s land is imperiled, and not only by the extremes of climate change.
Moving seamlessly from the power-brokered 1980s and the scandal-ridden '90s to our own present moment and beyond, Golden Age combines intimate drama, emotional suspense, and an intricate view of history, bringing to a magnificent conclusion the epic trilogy of one unforgettable family.
Review
"That all of these characters seem so true—from what they eat and wear and drive to how they act and think and feel—is a testament to Smiley’s extraordinary talent (and extraordinary application)." Minneapolis Star Tribune
Review
"Breathtaking....Epic....With The Last Hundred Years trilogy, [Smiley] surely confirms her place alongside Roth, Updike and Bellow as one of the truly great chroniclers of 20th-century American life....A powerful, moving and rewarding experience." The Guardian (London)
Review
"[Smiley] keeps the interwoven plotlines moving forward with her beautiful clean sentences and fully realized characters." San Francisco Chronicle
Review
"Strike[s] a fine balance between the history of an era’s 'great ideas' and the history of its everyday life....It's a small miracle how much ground Smiley covers and how much she knows: about biochemistry, horses and genetics, but also medieval literature, financial instruments and especially politics." The Washington Post
Review
"Outlines, with warmth and wisdom, a tumultuous time for the extended Langdon family and the United States." The Boston Globe
Review
"A monumental portrait of an American family and an American century....Smiley’s plot is a marvel of intricacy that’s full of surprises." Los Angeles Times
About the Author
Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and most recently, Some Luck and Early Warning, the first volumes of The Last Hundred Years trilogy. She is also the author of five works of nonfiction and a series of books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. She lives in Northern California.