The Women on the Porch (Southern Classics Series) [Paperback]

Caroline Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2000 | Series: Southern Classics Series

One of the most remarkable novels every written by an American woman about women. First published in 1943, the story follows a woman’s flight from Manhattan and her unfaithful husband to her rural ancestral home. Southern Classics Series.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The Women on the Porch is an impressive performance. . ."--W.J. Stuckey

"There is a sharp sense of the land, as of the people who inhabit it. . . . The cottonwoods and the sycamores, the dew-wet brambles and the dust-deep country road, the kitchen garden with its snap-beans tangled and choked by the crowding morning-glory vines, the white fog from the branch at night, and a thousand and one other touches of observed and loved reality contribute to Miss Gordon's novel a beauty and a naturalness. . ."--F.H. Bullock

About the Author

Caroline Gordon (1895-1981), a native of Kentucky, began her literary career in the 1920s after her marriage to poet Allen Tate. In 1929 her first story appeared. In 1931 her first novel, Penhally, was published. This was followed by three volumes of short fiction and eight more novels.

Caroline Gordon (1895-1981), a native of Kentucky, began her literary career in the 1920s after her marriage to poet Allen Tate. In 1929 her first story appeared. In 1931 her first novel, Penhally, was published. This was followed by three volumes of short fiction and eight more novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: J.S. Sanders Books (October 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879941201
• ISBN-13: 978-1879941205
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #856,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disfunctionality has no age, November 29, 2002

By 

Manola Sommerfeld (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Women on the Porch (Southern Classics Series) (Paperback)

The book starts with the story of Catherine, who has just discovered that her husband is unfaithful. She leaves their NY home and drives all the way to her family's estate in Tennessee. When she arrives, her grandmother and aunts do not dare ask what has happened, even though everybody wonders where is her husband. What an excellent piece of commentary about Anglo culture: any hot-blooded, Mediterranean type would have pummeled her with questions in seconds. What an excellent opening act! The readers will soon realize that the reason nobody asks questions is so that they do not have to answer any in exchange. From Grandma to Aunt Willy to Cousin Daphne to Cousin Elsie, the entire array of women, whether they are sitting on the porch or not, have searched for love in all the wrong places. The men have not fared any better, and are even more unable to do so that the women themselves.

Almost in a vignette format, we learn about the sad interior lives of all characters. There is an overall feeling of despair that permeates each and every person in the book. There are no happy stories, and what is worse, no sense of hope either.

Caroline Gordon wrote this novel in 1944, which accounts for the fact that the language and tone are quite dated. This was a turbulent time in the US, not just because of the war, but also because of the societal changes that were brewing. Some of the topics addressed by this book are black-white relations, sex outside of marriage, divorce and homosexuality. I imagine that this book caused quite a turmoil, when it was first published.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A very confusing book, January 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Women on the Porch (Southern Classics Series) (Paperback)

I had high hopes for this book from the description and editorial reviews and it was disappointing on all counts. I found none of the characters to be sympathic, in fact they were rather self-centered and annoying. While I don't mind a tragic tale, noone in this book was allowed to be happy or fulfilled, not even the horse.