The Sherrods

by Deceased George Barr McCutcheon, C.D. Williams (Illustrator)

The Sherrods by George Barr McCutcheon is a novel that follows the lives of the Sherrod family, a wealthy and influential family living in a small town in Indiana. The story begins with the arrival of a stranger, John Sherrod, who claims to be a long-lost relative of the family. John quickly ingratiates himself with the Sherrods, but his true motives are unclear.As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed and tensions rise within the family. John's true identity is eventually uncovered, and the Sherrods must come to terms with the consequences of their actions. Along the way, the novel explores themes of greed, love, and the corrupting influence of power.The Sherrods is a classic American novel that offers a compelling portrait of a family in crisis. McCutcheon's writing is vivid and engaging, and his characters are complex and well-drawn. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of American literature or the complexities of human relationships.1903. The American newspaperman and novelist begins The Through the soft summer night came the sounds of the silence that is heard only when nature sleeps, imperceptible except as one feels it behind the breath he draws or perhaps realizes it in the touch of an unexpected branch or flower. The stillness of a silence that is not silent; a stillness so dead that the croaking of frogs, the chirping of crickets, the barking of dogs, the hooting of owls, the rustling of leaves are not heard, although the air is heavy with those voices of the night-the stillness of a night in the country. All human activity apparently at an end, all sign of life lost in somber shadows. The ceaseless croaking, the chirping, the hooting, the rustling themselves make up this unspeakable silence-this sweet, unconscious solitude. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

356 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1903

Reviews

[Phil Syphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Sherrods” are a young couple who live in Glenville; a little spot in the country in Indiana. What starts off as a domestic situation, with two lovers and a man jealous of Jud Sherrod for claiming the best-looking woman for miles around as his bride, develops into more serious themes, gradually becoming a tragic tale.

Essentially this is a tragedy with a touch of humour, reminding me of some of Thomas Hardy’s famous works. I don’t know if George Barr McCutcheon was influenced by Hardy, but this novel does incorporate similar traits to Hardy’s great fiction.

In fact, amidst all the misery taking place for the heroine, there’s a humorous chapter featuring all the country locals having a discussion, similar to the way Hardy presents the “common folk” of Cornwell, writing characters’ speech in Cornish dialect. Here McCutcheon uses an Indianan dialect to great effect.

There are several twists and surprises in this tale with an unpredictable ending.