The Green Bay Tree

Bromfield wrote during the 1920-50's, much like Hemmingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald; although his style is much different. The book, The Green Bay Tree is the story of deep evocative change during the time period of 1880-WWI. One could read this story today and believe it was written about today's society; it's timeless. It's the story of an unnamed steel mill town (ostensibly Pittsburgh), the matron of Cypress Hill and her 2 daughters, one a societal flirt and the other a wanna be nun. Throw into the mix a Russian union agitator, the Governor of the State, a child born out of wedlock, and you have the makings of a great story and imho Bromfield serves it up well. The book does not even hint at the title, but other critics claim it was show more taken from Psalm 37:35 "I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree."

More on the author, he was one of the first environmentalists and wrote many agriculture books on farming and saving the soil. Both Hemmingway and Fitzgerald called him "Brommie" and said he wrote stories for their grandmothers.

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart were married on Bromfield's farm, Malabar, in front of the piano. Today the house is a museum and the piano is still there.

This was a timelessly-themed classic and a work of superior prose. I'm only giving it 4 1/2 stars because I could not figure out the reason for the title! 352 pages show less

A haunting story of the Shane family and specifically, their women.....a tale of pride, independence, obsession, stifled passion, and secrets.....secrets like we all have......those we never share, even with those we are closest to..... yet, we are not meant to live our lives alone, that is painfully clear here. Sad, yet compelling.......i always wanted to keep reading. Was most deeply moved by the slow demise of Shane's Castle on Cypress Hill (nothing worse than witnessing the physical decline of a great home), and Lily's calm witnessing of the actual onslaught of WWI German troops into the calm French countryside from her comfortable terrace. Now for the frustrating admission on my part. Knowing nothing of this book before reading, show more and having done no research since finishing this book 3 minutes ago, I have to admit that i have absolutely no idea what the title means.....i do not know what a green bay tree is, nor do i recall one ever mentioned in the novel........(these are the times when i feel the most stupid......but i will push on and figure it out, i'm sure.) Not a bad book, but one assumes that Bromfield's subsequent novel, the Pulitzer Prize winning 'Early Autumn' will eclipse this. I will keep you posted! show less

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