Ohio Town
by Helen Hooven Santmyer
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Description
"I wanted to tell the truth about the small town." Xenia, Ohio: The young among us sometimes rebel in their inexperience, saying "nothing ever happens here." They say it because they do not know the old houses. If they live long enough they will learn that everything has happened here, and may happen again. The town is Winesburg and Spoon River, it is Highbury and Cranford, it is even Illyria and Elsinore. Little that mankind knows and endures but has been here known and endured: even show more battles and sieges-Shiloh and Vicksburg, Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and all the others, before and since-have been fought here, in the minds of women who waited and the memories of soldiers who came home again. For all of her 90 years Helen Hooven Santmyer-critically acclaimed author of "...And Ladies of the Club"-has been carrying on a love affair with her hometown of Xenia. Her OHIO TOWN is a microcosm of a century of America. The history, heartache, and hilarity of small-town life...The sights and sounds, like the locomotive whistle, imprinted in our memories...The unsung heroes of Americana: Miss Harper, the rigorous, unforgettable sixth grade teacher; Dr. Will, the unfailingly patient family practitioner; Miss McElwain, the librarian for 50 years. All are celebrated in this award-winning, heart-warming memoir of an America that will live forever in our hearts. First published in 1956, Ohio Town received widespread critical recognition as a stirring, magical blend of history and memoir. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Having since the disturbing film Gummo, I have often wondered about the Xenia, Ohio from before the April 3, 1974 F5 tornadocut a path directly through the middle of Xenia during the 1974 Super Outbreak, the second largest series of tornadoes in recorded history, and destroyed almost half of the city's buildings. This does that, first published 1956 and looking back to a Nineteenth Century "'60s" and "'70s" and when authored recalled grandfatherly denizens that were Civil War veterans. Wistful, nostalgic without feeling overly romanticized although it does recall a small-town, quaint, patriotic, and religious ideal. Beautiful, evocative descriptions of buildings, neighborhoods, and neighbors.
Non-fiction,recollections of the author's youth in her beloved Xenia,Ohio.
Santmyer, born in 1895 writes of her memories of the the town,her childhood and warm,sunset memories of a town that no longer exists as she knew. Xenia was heavily damaged in a tornado in 1974.Written prior to 1962 she has captured important historical facts of the town as it originated before her birth and thru her youth.So many of her memories rekindled some of my own from life in the 1950's and 60's,and I can't help but feel that today's children with all their gadgets and games have been greatly cheated.Very sad.The chapters are broken into library,church,school,streets,cemetery,etc.Her successful book "AND LADIES OF THE CLUB" had its origins in this town.You show more can see many of her characters had their start from people she knew in Xenia.A female "tom sawyer-esque".Lovely.
If you liked the CLUB book,you may liekthis non-fiction book. Her writing is beautiful and her memories are lovely show less
Santmyer, born in 1895 writes of her memories of the the town,her childhood and warm,sunset memories of a town that no longer exists as she knew. Xenia was heavily damaged in a tornado in 1974.Written prior to 1962 she has captured important historical facts of the town as it originated before her birth and thru her youth.So many of her memories rekindled some of my own from life in the 1950's and 60's,and I can't help but feel that today's children with all their gadgets and games have been greatly cheated.Very sad.The chapters are broken into library,church,school,streets,cemetery,etc.Her successful book "AND LADIES OF THE CLUB" had its origins in this town.You show more can see many of her characters had their start from people she knew in Xenia.A female "tom sawyer-esque".Lovely.
If you liked the CLUB book,you may liekthis non-fiction book. Her writing is beautiful and her memories are lovely show less
A total disappointment. Boring; beyond boring. Stopped reading less than 50 pages in.
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Books Set in Ohio
30 works; 6 members
Author Information
6 Works 1,685 Members
Helen Hooven Santmyer was born on November 25, 1895 in Xenia, Ohio. She attended both Wellesley College and Oxford University and was active in the struggle for women's rights. During her life, she has worked as a writer, an English professor, a librarian, and a dean of women. She is the author of And Ladies of the Club (1984), which was published show more when she was 88 years old. Her other works include Early Promise, Late Reward; Herbs and Apples; Ohio Town; and The Fierce Dispute. Early Promise, Late Reward tells the story of a small town Midwestern girl who was educated at Wellesley and became one of the first female Rhodes Scholars. She died on February 21, 1986 and was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1996. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- Xenia, Ohio, USA
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- Members
- 111
- Popularity
- 293,514
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.89)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 4
