National Book Award Winner
Spartina
by John Casey
Summary
Dick Pierce, a stubborn, debt-ridden Rhode Island fisherman, dreams of finishing the boat he is building in his yard while juggling family duties, an affair, and the encroachment of wealthier summer people on his coastline. Casey lavishes attention on the practical details of nets, tides, and timber, treating physical labor as a kind of moral language. The result is a contemporary novel deeply attuned to the dignity and friction of working life.
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Historical Context & Significance
Casey was an associate of the 'Iowa Writers' Workshop'; the novel is celebrated for its precise technical descriptions of boat-building.