Customer Reviews

The Awakening Land: The Trees, The Fields, & The Town

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I saw this as a movie about 3 years ago. Beats me why it isn't played more often and the book is out of print. It was truly something for everyone. The history was spellbinding and the plot holds you better than Saving Private Ryan. The story address all aspects of what life must have been like to be the first to break ground in the frontier. It's all here, how they choose their homestead, hunting and hunger, domestics accidents and trials, the blooming politics, lonliness, fear,death, finding love and starting the next generation. I wish I could find the video. If you can get your hands on this one there are many of us that will be green with envy.

AROUND 1980 I SAW A MINI-SERIES "THE AWAKENING LAND"
WITH HAL HOLBROOK AND ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY WONDER WHY THIS IS NOT AVALIBLE TO PURCHASE ??I THEN PURCHASED THE 3 BOOK SERIES AND FOUND THE STORY TO BE EXCELLENT READING.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OUR AMERICAN LAND AND HOW THE MIDWEST FRONTIER PEOPLE HAD TO LIVE AMONG THE WILDS AND TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND
TO MAKE HOMES AND FAMILIES, YOU WILL LOVES THESE BOOKS

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT SERIES

This book is so amazing! I completly agree with the other people on this site who have reviewed this book. I see that I am very fortunate that my mother owns this book, since I see from other's comments how hard it is to come by. I also think that it should be put back into print. People now are missing out on a wonderful book that takes you back to a time when parts of this country were completly wild and what this family experienced as they struggled to make it a place that they could live and grow in. The family is so enthralling, you get totally caught up in their lives and it is definetly a book that you hate to come to the end of. I have loaned it to 4 other people who love it as much as I do. It is a gem of a book. Sincerely, Wendy Scopa

I just finished reading "The Awakening Land: The Trees, The Fields, The Town." I had to get on a waiting list at the library (and they had to borrow it from another library). I can't figure out why there aren't several copies in every library. I saw the miniseries years ago and was enraptured, and the book is every bit as good. Every time Sayward spoke, I pictured Elizabeth Montgomery - her performance was so true to the book. I can't see anyone else as Sayward Luckett; Elizabeth was made for the role. Why, oh why, hasn't this been released on VHS or DVD? Why isn't the book easily purchased? This is such a fascinating time in our American past. Shouldn't this be more available to our kids? I couldn't put the book down, but I know today's kids would rather watch a video -- so how about it, Powers that Be?

Years ago I watched a mini-series by this same title and was so impressed that I purchased the book. It has become one of my five books I'd take to a deserted island.

Good story - interesting characters - and a bit of history. All and all a great read!

All 3 of these books are beautifully written. I enjoyed the authors style-very colorful, wonderful characters, descriptive. I had seen the movie when I was 14 years old on t.v., and am now 38 and just about finished with the last book of this triology--very hard to put down. I truly would like to own a copy of this movie, but unfortunately it is not available.I know I will re-read these books soon.
Highly recommended.

"The Awakening Land" is the story of the settlement of America, told through the life of Sayward Luckett. When `Saird' is a young child, her father brings the family to the Ohio River valley, at that time an endless expanse of unsettled forest. Other settlers come, and eventually a town called Americus, Ohio is established. Sayward marries Portius Wheeler, a reclusive young lawyer, and together they raise nine children. The story covers the usual events you would expect in a multi-generational saga: births, deaths, marriages, infidelity, murder, illegitimate children, etc. Most of the story is told from the point of view of the plucky, practical Sayward, who never looses her "woodsy" heart, even after living over 40 years as the wife of one of the town's most prominent and prosperous citizens.

This was made into a miniseries in the 1970s, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Hal Holbrook, Jane Seymour, and William H. Macy. I remember it as being very good, but it is unfortunately not available on DVD.

Set in Ohio from 1790 to about 1860, this trilogy within one book tells of the members of an Ohio family as their state goes in the course of one human lifetime from a howling wilderness to one of the most industrialized places on planet earth. There's no way my review could do justice to the majestic goings-on inside this multi-faceted book, so I won't try. It's amazing. I will say that much. This trilogy is scary, uplifting, and adventurous, all at once. It won numerous awards for its author, Conrad Richter, and deserved every single one. Why this classic is so little know today, half a century after its publication I do not know, but hope that someday future readers rediscover it and give it its due.

Like others here, I first saw the mini series years ago. I haven't seen it since but remember it vividly. But this trilogy is so much more. It is a good example of how a movie or TV show can bring people to great literature.
This book is rich and wonderful in its language and story. If you can't get the collection then go for the books singly. I have re-read them at least a dozen times since I first read them about thirty years ago and they never get old. I can't say that about many books. I really don't know why Conrad Richter is not better known these days or mentioned more often as a great American writer.

This book was wonderful. I got it from the library and couldn't put it down. I wish I could buy it but it is out of print. Please help me find where I can purchase this book!