Arcadia by Lauren Groff
Arcadia by Lauren Groff
" I loved this novel! It's the story of a 1970's hippie commune in upstate New York - which is fascinating enough. But what really stands out about this novel is Groff's evocative, dreamlike writing. It's a novel you'll want to read slowly & savor! " - Recommended by Greg
In the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land, founding a commune centered on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House. Arcadia follows this romantic utopian dream from its hopeful start through its heyday. Arcadia's inhabitants include Handy, the charismatic leader; his wife, Astrid, a midwife; Abe, a master carpenter; Hannah, a baker and historian; and Abe and Hannah's only child, Bit. While Arcadia rises and falls, Bit, too, ages and changes. He falls in love with Helle, Handy's lovely, troubled daughter. And eventually he must face the world beyond Arcadia.