The Earth Abideth

by George Dell

In the late eighteen hundreds Thomas Linthorne elopes with Kate Harevell, and together they start a farm in Ohio and begin to raise a family

Genres: Fiction

299 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Characterization was phenomenal. It felt like I was right there living with the Linthorne family. It didn’t always go where I wanted it to go, which makes it even more realistic. It’s a book I will think about often.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Earth Abideth is a tale of life in rural Ohio of the last half of the 19th century. The quote, "One generation passeth away and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever," is the underlying theme. It's a story of family and community, of pride, of life and death. The setting is Bloom Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, which is about halfway between Columbus and Lancaster.
The book is a well written and a perceptive look into life of the times. I worked in Lithopolis for 16 years (1992-2008). Locals' comments about the book indicated it is a true reflection of the community of the past. It's a "biography" of Thomas Lindthorne. The constant is the land - and making a living from the bounty produced by hard labor. The inhabitants of the community reflect the people of any community - the good an the bad, the industrious and the lazy, dreamers and practical, hard workers. It follows Thomas' life from 1866 when he comes to the area with his young wife whom he has known only a few days. The life they build together is the substance of the tale - their children - and the land.

[Kat Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Wendell Berry and Barbara Kingsolver - lovely book, with beautifully flawed characters. HIGHLY recommended.