Bright Flows the River
by Taylor Caldwell
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Description
New York Times Bestseller: A man who gained the world but lost his soul faces a critical midlife crisis in this suspenseful and inspiring novel about love and forgiveness. On a stormy, windswept night, Guy Jerald tried to kill himself. But he did not die. Now, the fifty-five-year-old Pennsylvania powerbroker and business titan--a living example of the American Dream--lies in a bed in a psychiatric hospital. He is on suicide watch, barely able to recognize his wife and two adult children. show more But a visitor from his distant past will open the floodgates. During one of the most harrowing battles of World War II, Guy saved the life of fellow soldier James Meyer. Now, James is a celebrated British psychiatrist determined to repay the favor and bring his old friend back from the brink. As the source of Guy's pain emerges, James must come to terms with his own unfulfilled goals and a mounting crisis that will test him in ways he never could have imagined. Shifting between the past and the present, Bright Flows the River is a story of faith, friendship, and the road not taken, in which a powerful, successful man may finally get the chance to become the person he long ago dreamed he could be. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This is the first book I have read by this prolific author.
Caldwell is obviously much taken with the "philosophy" of Ayn Rand. Objectivism favors people who do whatever they want to do, listening to no one's advice, unconcerned for the damage they may be doing to others. It mistrusts sacrifice, calling it manipulative.
Caldwell's device is constant flashbacks to the early days of the hero, who is in a hospital, catatonic after attempting - but failing -suicide. Characters are heroic or wimps - no shadows here. All the good women are ugly and all power is terrific.
Reading this novel is like watching a cobra swallow a mouse: it's mesmerizing and terrfiying at the same time - you know you should look away, but the temptation to voyeurism show more is too great. I did not enjoy it at all, but copuld not put it down. show less
Caldwell is obviously much taken with the "philosophy" of Ayn Rand. Objectivism favors people who do whatever they want to do, listening to no one's advice, unconcerned for the damage they may be doing to others. It mistrusts sacrifice, calling it manipulative.
Caldwell's device is constant flashbacks to the early days of the hero, who is in a hospital, catatonic after attempting - but failing -suicide. Characters are heroic or wimps - no shadows here. All the good women are ugly and all power is terrific.
Reading this novel is like watching a cobra swallow a mouse: it's mesmerizing and terrfiying at the same time - you know you should look away, but the temptation to voyeurism show more is too great. I did not enjoy it at all, but copuld not put it down. show less
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Author Information
65+ Works 8,042 Members
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England in 1900. Her family emigrated to the United States in 1907. She attended the University of Buffalo. Caldwell began writing stories at age eight. She wrote several best-selling novels including Dynasty of Death, The Strong City, The Sound of Thunder, Bright Flows the River and Answer As a Man. She show more wrote historical fiction and some of her titles contained religious themes. She also wrote under the pen name Max Reiner. Her memoir, Growing Up Tough, was published in 1971. Her titles won her numerous awards including the National League of American Pen Woman Gold Medal, Buffalo Evening News Award, Grand Prix Chatvain and two International Awards for Book of the Year. She died in Greenwich, Connecticut on September 2, 1985. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Bright Flows the River
- Original publication date
- 1978
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 813.5 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999
- LCC
- PZ3 .C12743 .B — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction in English
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 223
- Popularity
- 145,455
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.45)
- Languages
- English, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 14
- ASINs
- 12
