Slogum House

by Mari Sandoz

Slogum House "lay on the winter flat of Oxbow like the remains of some great, hulking animal that had foraged the region long ago, leaving its old gray carcass to dry and bleach at the foot of the hogback." Ruled by Gulla Slogum, the house was headquarters for a clan that terrorized what it couldn't seduce or steal. Using her daughter as poisoned bait and her sons as predators, Gulla plotted to put a whole county under her control. She had been insulted too often and worked too hard; now she sought power, land, and revenge.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Mari Susette Sandoz (May 11, 1896 – March 10, 1966) was a novelist, biographer, lecturer, and teacher. She was one of Nebraska's foremost writers, and wrote extensively about pioneer life and the Plains Indians.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it. bought an autographed copy first edition at a flea market because I lived in Nebraska for 10 years and knew of Mari Sandoz but had not read any of her books. it evokes the Sand Hills and the Niobrara beautifully and captures the time of transition from frontier to dust bowl. it's a rip roaring good western too but no pulp fiction. This was real literature and I want to read more of her works.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mari Sandoz had a way with words that is deeply captivating. She knew how to describe situations without going into detail, but one knows exactly what she tried to convey. This is a story about life on the frontier as first time settlers: on one hand the Slogum family - trying to survive at all cost with dishonest and immoral means as necessary, on the other hand those doing hard and honest work - and yet failing due to circumstances out of their hands. But even the Slogum family has its few decent people who will stand out more than the wrongdoers did in the end.

[Randi Samuelson-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal account of life in the Niobrara Hills of Nebraska - this really is a classic Frontier Fiction cornerstone that should be read. I don't know if this was ever a "popular" book - it is dark. Definitely deserves more recognition.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slogum House leaves little doubt Mari Sandoz had a unique mastery of prose and weaving a verbal tapestry that stays with one forever.

Slogum House is not for the squeamish or faint of heart, but it never fails to grab one by the throat in its depiction of frontier prairie life in western Nebraska.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me 100 pages to get into it but then it just stalled, slow with very predictable actions by very predictable characters, shallow characters, It was a waste of my reading time

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

A beautiful, brutal and sad look at a dysfunctional family. Humorously enough, Reudy Slogum reminds me of my new husband,Ron, and Regulla Slogum of Ron's ex wife. The story in some way gives me strength to deal with the mischeivous side of evil that confronts me now. Although I read this decades ago, it is truly unforgettable and haunting. A must read. In league with Genesis and East of Eden.