SOLVED. “Death” in the title, maybe?; “James” in the author’s name, maybe?; Novel set in 1950s American suburbs; protagonist is a husband and father; dies in a car accident; beautiful portrait of a character and of family tragedy

[Leah]

I picked this book off my parents’ basement shelves sometime between 1997 and 2003. It was an old yellowed paperback. It was set in mid-century America but not sure if it was written then. I think back on this book a lot because it was dumb chance that I picked it up, and it knocked me out with the depth of its emotional portrait. I thought of it as my favorite book for a time.

Thank you for your help!

[Leah]

Well, writing this up helped me figure it out: A Death in the Family by James Agee. Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1958.

[Kris]

Great. Glad you found your book, Leah.