The Sweet Hereafter (1991) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

show spoilers

Characters/People edit see section history

• Mitchell Stephens: Lawyer who comes to town after the bus accident to pursue possible lawsuits.
• Dolores Driscoll: The driver of the bus at the time of the accident.
• Abbott Driscoll: Dolores' husband who is a quadrapalegic.
• Risa Walker: Owns the local motel with her husband, Wendell.
• Wendell Walker: Oens the local motel with his wife, Risa.
• Sean Walker: Risa and Wendell Walker's 5-year old son killed in the bus accident.
• Nichole Burnell: 14-year old survivor of the bus accident, left as a parapalegic.
• Mary Burnell: Nichole's mother; SHe and Sam hire Mitchell Stephens to represent them and Nichole.
• Sam Burnell: Father of Nichole; he and Mary hire Mitchell Stephens to represent them and Nichole.
• Bear Otto: 11-year old adopted Native-American son of the "hippies" Wanda and Hartley Otto; before being killed in the accident, Bear was described as bringing out the best in people.
• Hartley Otto: Father of Bear; with his wife, considers hiring Mitchell Stephens to represent them in a class action suit.
• Wanda Otto: Mother of Bear; with her husband, considers hiring Mitchell Stephens to represent them in a class action suit.
• Billy Ansell: Vietnam vet and widower who loses his twins in the bus accident.
• Mason Ansell: One of Billy's twins killed in the accident.
• Jessica Ansell: One of Billy's twins killed in the accident.
• Zoe Stephens: The daughter of Mitchell Stephens.
• Lydia: Nichole was wearing one of Lydia's sweaters the day of the accident.
• Klara Stephens: Mitchell's wife.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• New York
• Plattsburgh
• Lake Placid
• Wilmot Flats
• Keene Valley

First Sentence edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Grief: Describe this theme.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Russell Banks (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3552.A49S94
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Death, sex, grieving, alcoholism, very dysfunctional familiy dynamics.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Authors, A-Z › ( B ) › Banks, Russell
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

Movie Connections edit see section history

• The Sweet Hereafter (IMDb): (1997) Directed by Atom Egoyan, starring Ian Holm and Sarah Polley.

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history