Coniston [Hardcover]

Winston Churchill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002

This is a story of long ago, of a time after General Jackson had got into the White House and had shown the world what a real democracy was. It is a tale of the village of Coniston just after the Era of the first six Presidents had closed, and when a new Era had begun. No greater contrast was to be had in Coniston than that between Cynthia Ware and Jethro Bass. In the first place, Cynthia was the minister's daughter, and twenty-one. I can summon her now under the great maples of the village street, a virginal figure, gray eyes that kindled the face shaded by the poke bonnet, and up you went above the clouds. Cynthia was not only the minister's daughter, -- distinction enough, -- her reputation for learning was spread widely. Why in the world she should ever have been curious about Jethro Bass is a mystery to many, for the two of them were as far apart as the poles. Cynthia, of all people, took to watching the tanner's son, and listening to the brief colloquies he had with other men at Jonah Winch's store. On one or two of these occasions Cynthia had been startled to find his eyes fixed upon her, and though the feeling she had was closely akin to fear, she found something distinctly pleasurable in it. That was the crux of the tale: Cynthia and Jethro. Everything that came from them became the tale that was Coniston.

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About the Author

American novelist born in St. Louis, graduated from Annapolis, and mainly lived in New Hampshire during his career. He is chiefly noted for his successful historical romances. Although his first novel The Celebrity (1898) was moderately popular, it was with his second Richard Carvel that he gained much fame. Churchill was interested in social issues and religion and his later works reflect these concerns. His other novels include: The Crisis (1901), The Crossing (1904), Coniston (1906), A Far Country (1915), The Inside of the Cup (1913), A Far Country (1915), The Dwelling Place of Light (1917). --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 484 pages
• Publisher: Wildside Press (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592247288
• ISBN-13: 978-1592247288
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,311,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New England political novel, May 3, 2006

By 

Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coniston (Paperback)

With the vogue in historical novels in decline, America's most popular historical novelist up to that time turned to the political novel instead (the fact that he was running for governor of New Hampshire at the same time might have influenced his decision) and composed CONISTON. Set from the 1830s to the immediate post-Civil War period in the fictional New England town of Coniston, it centers around Jethro Bass, a man who uses the political system to achieve immense power. He is also in love with Cynthia Ware, who rejects him because of his unscrupulous motives; she goes to Boston and eventually marries another. When Cynthia dies, her widower and their young daughter come to Coniston to live, and Bass befriends the little girl. When the girl's father dies, he adopts her and reforms: he gives up a legal battle he has been waging with Isaac Worthington so that Worthington's son and the girl can marry and live happily.

Taken as a whole, it's very difficult to take the entire story seriously. But in smaller bits, there is some value to what Churchill writes. Some of the political maneuverings undertaken by Bass at the height of his power are superbly related, and the description of Bass at the end as his animosity toward Worthington ebbs from him, regardless of how hard it is to believe in the transformation, is well handled. Churchill's political message was very progressive and matched perfectly that of his contemporary and hero, Teddy Roosevelt. The book was never as popular as his historical novels, but it is better written than they were, despite its sentimentality, especially in terms of the main character. Not a great novel by any means, but not hopelessly forgettable either.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Coniston by Winston Churchill, July 5, 2007

By 

C. Swartz "Author, Coffee drinker, Chocolate ... (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Coniston by Winston Churchill takes a look at New Hampshire's rich political history. It's the story of Granite State politics during the era of progressive reform, of colorful politicians, corruption, and respect for our long standing political traditions which for such a small state has made a large impression throughout history. Churchill was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri, and moved to New Hampshire as an adult. He became acclaimed for his books on historical fiction and played with Granite State politics himself as a one-term legislator and Gubernatorial candidate. His fame was so great that the English Winston Churchill wrote him in 1899 to say that he would henceforth sign his name Winston Spencer Churchill to distinguish himself from the more famous American.

If you are an avid reader of political or historical fiction, you will find this book interesting and at times a bit humorous.