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Description edit
This story of a young woman's confrontation with death and her past is a poetic study of human relations.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
When Laurel goes home to Mississippi to help her aging father through an eye surgery, she gets to know his second wife, Fay, very well. This is a story of human relationships interweaving the lives of Laurel, Fay, Laurel's father, her dead mother, Fay's family, and all of the friends and... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Laurel Hand: Formerly Laurel McKelva, she travels to New Orleans from Chicago to care for her dad.
- Fay McKelva: Laurel's stepmother originally from Texas
- Judge (Clint) McKelva: Laurel's father, a man who seemed to find it necessary to "dote" on the women in his life.
- Becky McKelva: Laurel's mother. She is deceased.
- Mrs. Chisom: Fay's mother
- Mrs. Pease: A neighbor
- Dr. Courtland: Judge McKelva's friend and eye doctor; the judge helped him through medical school.
- Major Bullock: Judge McKelva's friend, the only one who seems shocked at what happened; he seems to have lived his life through his friend Judge McKelva.
- Mr. Dalzell: Mr. McKelva's demented roommate at the hospital
- Tish: Laurel's friend, a former bridesmaid
- Wendell: Fay's nephew
- Mr. Pitts: the undertaker
- Phil: Laurel's husband who died in World War II
- Miss Tennyson: a neighbor
- Roscoe: Committed suicide some time after his father died. He is Fay's brother.
- Archie Lee: Mr. Dalzell's son; in his confusion before surgery, Mr. Dalzell thinks Mr. McKelva is Archie Lee and talks to him as though he is his son. Ironically, Archie Lee thinks his father doesn't even know he's alive.
- Mrs. Martell: The woman who sits with Mr. McKelva in the hospital following his surgery
- Mr. Cheek: a local handyman who is more interested in snooping through the house than he is in fixing anything
- Bubba: Fay's brother
- Miss Adele: a neighbor and schoolteacher who is a long-time friend of the McKelvas
- Dr. Bolt: The minister for the Presbyterian Church in Mississippi where the McKelvas live
- Tom Farris: A Mississippi local whom everyone recognizes and accepts as incompetent
- Nate: Add a description of this character.
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
A nurse held the door open for them.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 1973 of 85 in Pulitzer Prize Winners - Fiction. (authoritative list)
This book is in Book Lover's Cook Book, The. (authoritative list)
This is book 477 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
This book is in KCPL Discussion Kit (Aug2010). (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Eudora Welty (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Random House
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1972
ISBN: 0394480171
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Random House
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1972
ISBN: 0394480171
Page Count: 208
Awards edit
- Pulitzer Prize (1973: Fiction)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.52
Subjects edit
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