Lauren Groff

In a lush, haunting story of the American dream, Bit, born in a back-to-nature commune in 1970s New York State, must come to grips with the outside world when the commune eventually fails. By the best-selling author of The Monsters of Templeton.

Arcadia

New York Times Bestseller "Timeless and vast... The raw beauty of Ms. Groff’s prose is one of the best things about Arcadia. But it is by no means this book’s only kind of splendor." --Janet Maslin, The New York Times "Even the most incidental details vibrate with life ï¿1⁄2 Arcadia wends a harrowing path back to a fragile, lovely place you can believe in." --Ron Charles, The Washington Post 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. In Arcadia, Groff displays her literary gifts to stunning effect. "Fascinating." --People (****) "It’s not possible to write any better without showing off." --Richard Russo, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Empire Falls "Dazzling." --Vogue

Patrick Book

Gorgeously, languidly written and deeply, surprisingly affecting (since it's entirely about hippies).

Daryl Houston

Such a lovely book (beautifully written) that explores ugliness in utopia and beauty in dystopia. One of my favorites of the year. Groff is 2 for 2 for me so far.

Sarah Bryan 

Kerry Allen

Sadie Kimbrough

Juliet

Karli Duncan

Emily

Jessica Ford

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FATES AND FURIES In the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House, a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land. Abe and Hannah’s only child, Bit, is born into the commune soon after its creation. He grows up there, becoming deeply attached to Arcadia's way of life and everyone within it, in particular the beautiful but troubled Helle. While Arcadia rises and falls, Bit, too, ages and changes. He needs to find a way to live in the world beyond Arcadia, but can he let go of the past to forge a new start?

Megan Ferguson

Amy Thibodeau

Ri Liu

Jonah Ollman

In the fields of western New York State in the 1970s, on the grounds of a decaying mansion called Arcadia House, a few dozen idealists set out to live off the land. Abe and Hannah's only child, Bit, is born into the commune soon after its creation. He grows up there, becoming deeply attached to Arcadia's way of life and everyone within it, in particular the beautiful but troubled Helle. While Arcadia rises and falls, Bit, too, ages and changes. He needs to find a way to live in the world beyond Arcadia, but can he let go of the past to forge a new start?

Neta Steingart

Kathy Rodger 

Mandi Jayne

Tracey O’Rourke

Lisa Sieverts 

Mary Coggins

In den siebziger Jahren auf dem Land in New York haben sich einige Aussteiger auf einem großen Grundstück mit einem alten Schulhaus niedergelassen. Sie haben den Traum, autark und frei zu leben, und nennen ihren Ort Arcadia. Die packende Geschichte vom romantischen Aufbruch, von Hochzeit, Niedergang und Nachwirken dieser Landkommune wird aus der Perspektive von Bit erzählt. Bit kam in Arcadia zur Welt. Als er älter ist, verliebt er sich in Helle, die aufmüpfige und selbstbewusste Tochter des charismatischen Anführers der Hippiegemeinschaft. Die Kinder wachsen ungezwungen und in enger Verbundenheit mit der Natur in geschützter Abgeschiedenheit auf. Später, nach der gewaltsamen Auflösung Arcadias, wird Bit Professor für Photographie in New York City. Helle und er haben ein Kind zusammen. Sie aber, die immer stärker war als er, ist letztlich der Wirklichkeit außerhalb Arcadias nicht gewachsen. Auch als Großstädter und obwohl die heile Welt seiner Kinderzeit untergegangen ist, bewahrt Bit die Utopie vom friedlichen Landleben in seinem Herzen. Am Ende am Grab seiner Mutter in Arcadia söhnt er sich trotz aller politischen und Umweltkatastrophen und im Bewusstsein der Irrtümer seiner Eltern mit dem widerstrebenden Nebeneinander von Traum und Realität aus.

Arcadia

Reviews