Fox's Earth [Mass Market Paperback]

Anne Rivers Siddons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2006

"A lusty Southern saga, this Gothic extravaganza of greed, madness and murder is a wicked brew, passionate and perverse....Excellently written."
COSMOPOLITAN
Ruth Yancey knew she was beautiful, she knew she was special. Despite her squalid Georgia mill town roots, it was her looks and her inbred belief in a powerful destiny that led her to the most exquisite mansion in Sparta: Fox's Earth. Through insinuation, manipulation, and an impenetrable evil, she became its mistress for three generations--until another woman attempted to match her madness....
"Beautifully calculated to keep the pages turning at a fast clip."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A lusty southern saga...passionate and perverse...psychologically astute and excellently written." -- --Cosmopolitan

"A splendid book...Absolutely mesmerizing!" -- --Chicago Tribune Book World

From the Inside Flap

"A lusty Southern saga, this Gothic extravaganza of greed, madness and murder is a wicked brew, passionate and perverse....Excellently written."
COSMOPOLITAN
Ruth Yancey knew she was beautiful, she knew she was special. Despite her squalid Georgia mill town roots, it was her looks and her inbred belief in a powerful destiny that led her to the most exquisite mansion in Sparta: Fox's Earth. Through insinuation, manipulation, and an impenetrable evil, she became its mistress for three generations--until another woman attempted to match her madness....
"Beautifully calculated to keep the pages turning at a fast clip."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061010650
• ISBN-13: 978-0061010651
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #925,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book Siddons has ever written!, August 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fox's Earth (Mass Market Paperback)

The synopsis of this book is misleading. It oversimplifies the story. This wonderful book traces three generations of women, their parents, husbands, children and servants. It plows new ground in insanity, cruelty, and child abuse. This is probably the first book Ann wrote because it is truly the great American novel. The best book Siddons has ever written!

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FRIGHTENING...........WELL WRITTEN, October 2, 2001

By 

Heather Marshall Negahdar "Haze" (Bridgetown, Barbados) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fox's Earth (Mass Market Paperback)

I have to give Fox's Earth five stars as this book has been so well written. Set in the Southern state of Georgia, Siddons delves into the lives of three generations of women.

The main character is Ruth Yancey, the daughter of impoverished and demented mill worker Cater. Cater is an embarassment to his family and makes a spectacle of himself on market days as he leads them shepherd-like into town, where he cusses and carries on any person he encounters who is better off financially than he. Returning home in a drunken state he strips his wife Pearl Yancey and daughter Ruth of what little self esteem they have, with brutal beatings,horrible rapings and screams which can be heard far into the night.

It isn't any wonder then that at such an early age, Ruth Yancey is forced to embrace the adoption offered by the seniors of Fox's Earth; Alicia and Claud Fox. Pearl Yancey convinces Ruth that going there will be the answer to all her dreams and the end of her nightmares. So they wait impatiently until Cater Yancey's death, and then Ruth is driven by Alicia Fox's chauffeur
to her new life.

The story takes full swing from here with Alicia turning Ruth into the lady who should be readily accepted by society. She learns all the social graces and proper etiquette, and all the finer things of life. Soon Paul Fox, son of Fox's Earth takes her hand in marriage and she now feels more in control.

See how quickly Ruth Yancey Fox forgets where she has arrived from, as she gains power over all her contacts by evil manipulations and such unpleasant dominance she lauds over all who live at the 'big house'including her husband and eventually the coming generations of Fox's children. It almost leaves you with your mouth open to see such ruthlessnes; for Ruth Yancey Fox rules, and she rules with a very long whip. A whip which leaves indelible marks. A highly recommended saga from Siddons.

Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE October 2nd, 2001)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An epic story of southern grandness and madness, March 1, 2000

By 

Jim McLeane - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fox's Earth (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the 3rd book I have read by Ms. Siddons, and so far the best. I am looking forward to reading every book she has written now, and intend to do so. I hope more people get a chance to experience this little-known early novel by this author. Ms. Siddons has wonderful descriptive powers and sense of location, and makes you feel as if you are right there experiencing the events along with the characters.