The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
A town under quarantine during the 1918 flu epidemic must reckon with forces beyond their control in a powerful, sweeping novel of morality in a time of upheaval An American variation on Albert Camus' The Plague.--Chicago Tribune NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOKS OF THE YEAR BY USA TODAY AND CHICAGO TRIBUNE - WINER OF THE JAMES FENIMORE COPER PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION Deep in the mist-shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest is a small mill town called Commonwealth, conceived as a haven for workers weary of exploitation. For Philip Worthy, the adopted son of the town's founder, it is a haven in another sense--as the first place in his life he's had a loving family to call his own. And yet, the ideals that define this outpost are being threatened from all sides. A world war is raging, and with the fear of spies rampant, the loyalty of all Americans is coming under scrutiny. Meanwhile, another shadow has fallen across the region in the form of a deadly virus striking down vast swaths of surrounding communities. When Commonwealth votes to quarantine itself against contagion, guards are posted at the single road leading in and out of town, and Philip Worthy is among them. He will be unlucky enough to be on duty when a cold, hungry, tired--and apparently ill--soldier presents himself at the town's doorstep begging for sanctuary. The encounter that ensues, and the shots that are fired, will have deafening reverberations throughout Commonwealth, escalating until every human value--love, patriotism, community, family, friendship--not to mention the town's very survival, is imperiled. Inspired by a little-known historical footnote regarding towns that quarantined themselves during the 1918 epidemic, The Last Town on Earth is a remarkably moving and accomplished debut.
Thomas Mullen is the author of the crime novels Darktown, which was nominated for two CWA Daggers, and Lightning Men. His book The Last Town on Earth was named Best Debut Novel of 2006 by USATODAY. He was also awarded the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for excellence in historical fiction for The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers and The Revisionists. His works have been named to Year's Best lists by the Chicago Tribune and USATODAY, among others. His stories and essays have been published in Grantland, Paste, and the Huffington Post, and his Atlanta Magazine true crime story about a novelist/con man won the City and Regional Magazine Award for Best Feature. He lives in Atlanta with his wife and sons.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781400065202 |
| ISBN 10 | 1400065208 |
| Title | The Last Town on Earth |
| Author | Thomas Mullen |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Random House (NY) |
| Year published | 2006-08-29 |
| Number of pages | 394 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |