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A Thousand Acres: A Novel Paperback – December 2, 2003

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 2,719 ratings

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PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A "powerful and poignant" twentieth-century reimagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear (The New York Times Book Review) that takes on themes of truth, justice, love, and pride—and centers on a wealthy Iowa farmer who decides to divide his farm between his three daughters. 

When the youngest daughter objects, she is cut out of his will. This sets off a chain of events that brings dark truths to light and explodes long-suppressed emotions. Ambitiously conceived and stunningly written, A Thousand Acres reveals the beautiful yet treacherous topography of humanity.

“A family portrait that is also a near-epic investigation into the broad landscape, the thousand dark acres of the human heart.... The book has all the stark brutality of a Shakespearean tragedy.” —
The Washington Post Book World
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Brilliant.... Absorbing.... A thrilling work of art.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“A family portrait that is also a near-epic investigation into the broad landscape, the thousand dark acres of the human heart....  The book has all the stark brutality of a Shakespearean tragedy.” —The Washington Post Book World

“Powerful and poignant.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Superb.... There seems to be nothing Smiley can’t write about fabulously well.” —
San Francisco Chronicle

“It has been a long time since a novel so surprised me with its power to haunt.... A Thousand Acres [has] the prismatic quality of the greatest art.” —Chicago Tribune

“Absorbing.... Exhilarating.... An engrossing piece of fiction.” —Time

“A full, commanding novel.... A story bound and tethered to a lonely road in the Midwest, but drawn from a universal source.... Profoundly American.” —The Boston Globe

From the Back Cover

A successful Iowa farmer decides to divide his farm between his three daughters. When the youngest objects, she is cut out of his will. This sets off a chain of events that brings dark truths to light and explodes long-suppressed emotions. An ambitious reimagining of Shakespeare's King Lear cast upon a typical American community in the late twentieth century, A Thousand Acres takes on themes of truth, justice, love, and pride, and reveals the beautiful yet treacherous topography of humanity.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Reprint edition (December 2, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1400033837
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400033836
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL930L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.14 x 0.76 x 7.95 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 2,719 ratings

About the author

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Jane Smiley
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Jane Smiley (born September 26, 1949) is an American novelist. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992 for her novel A Thousand Acres (1991). Born in Los Angeles, California, Smiley grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and graduated from Community School and from John Burroughs School. She obtained a BA in literature at Vassar College (1971), then earned an MA (1975), MFA (1976), and PhD (1978) from the University of Iowa. While working towards her doctorate, she also spent a year studying in Iceland as a Fulbright Scholar. From 1981 to 1996 she was a Professor of English at Iowa State University, teaching undergraduate and graduate creative writing workshops, and continuing to teach there even after relocating to California.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
2,719 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the writing quality and find the book easy to read. They appreciate the intriguing plot that provides a new perspective on the classic tale. Many find the story thought-provoking and instructive about daily rituals of an American way of farm life. However, some readers feel the content is depressing and boring. There are mixed opinions on the character development, with some finding them well-developed and likable, while others find them unlikable or poorly formed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

109 customers mention "Writing quality"83 positive26 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and enjoyable, with a sharp eye for social details. The language is rich yet succinct, and the narration by Ginny/Goneril adds an extra perspective. Overall, readers describe the book as a quick read that keeps them engaged.

"...There are well written summations as well including the epilogue." Read more

"...The book was praised for its quality of writing and its amazing, intellectual, and fresh examination of one of Shakespeare's lesser-known works...." Read more

"...However, it is also simple and honest. I say simple not as an insult, but indeed a compliment...." Read more

"...doesn't bring anything unique or unusal - not to say that it is bad writing, on the contrary it is a textbook example of how to write fiction... but..." Read more

99 customers mention "Readability"95 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the prose captivating and recommend it for literary fiction readers. The plot is intriguing and moves at a reasonable pace. The book captures their attention from the first page, making it enjoyable to see King Lear turned upside down.

"...that serve as motivation for the next course of action and deserve to be read carefully...." Read more

"...The book was praised for its quality of writing and its amazing, intellectual, and fresh examination of one of Shakespeare's lesser-known works...." Read more

"...stresses on family farms and those running them are palpable and unforgettable...." Read more

"...This book stands on it's own and is a very good read." Read more

91 customers mention "Story quality"68 positive23 negative

Customers enjoy the story's plot twists and turns. They appreciate the descriptive writing and new perspective on the classic tale. However, some find the subject matter too dark and bleak at times. The storytelling is enjoyable, but the subject matter may not be appropriate for all readers.

"...However, it is also simple and honest. I say simple not as an insult, but indeed a compliment...." Read more

"...The book is a quick read and compels one to move forward in order to help resolve the crises. (There is an endless string of these!)..." Read more

"...This novel won the Pulitzer Prize. It is a retelling of the King Lear tragedy with his three daughters and like that play, ends on a tragic note...." Read more

"...However, I was disappointed with how it ended and its nihilist perspectives of life. Ugh!..." Read more

32 customers mention "Thought provoking"29 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging and instructive about daily life on a farm. They appreciate the well-written story that provides insights into the subject matter. The book is described as engrossing with unexpected plot twists and turns.

"...theme (ironically... the potluck itself) as there were lots of mentions of church suppers, country dinners, country kitchens, and of course... the..." Read more

"...Such a well-written book and a very good topic for these times!..." Read more

"...author has the ability to write in a way that draws you in and keeps you interested, I don't believe this was a story that does that...." Read more

"...The book had unexpected twists and hidden deeper meanings. I couldn't put it down once the plot was revealed...." Read more

60 customers mention "Family dynamics"41 positive19 negative

Customers have mixed views on the family dynamics in the book. Some find it insightful and well-written, providing an eye-opening glimpse of rural agricultural families and communities. They appreciate the detailed descriptions of farm life and insights into how a family functions. However, others find it hard to relate to or like any of the characters, due to unnecessary details and unrealistic drama. While some parts are difficult to understand, overall the book is considered a great read overall.

"...I'm sorry I delayed so long. It has many well crafted features that make it stand out as a literary gem...." Read more

"...there were lots of mentions of church suppers, country dinners, country kitchens, and of course... the cuisine of Midwest Iowa...." Read more

"...The ending is a downer as is most of the book. It was hard to actually relate to or like any of the characters...." Read more

"...Much like Shakespeare's play, Smiley gives us a rich novel full of varying themes. However, it is also simple and honest...." Read more

56 customers mention "Character development"39 positive17 negative

Customers have different views on the character development. Some find the characters well-developed and their growth a slow reveal, while others find them unlikable, poorly formed, and unlikely. They also mention that there is no empathy for any of the characters and the father's character lacks perspective.

"...The characters are well developed and their growth is a well-paced, slow reveal. There is a good tension and pacing to the pages...." Read more

"...the setting are excellent, in that she (for the most part) makes the characters human (i.e., one can relate to and "know" them), and does Iowa..." Read more

"...the imperfections of a family story told through the distortions of a flawed primary character, lacking both perspective and honest objectivity...." Read more

"...Although this is sited in Iowa, that's close enough. Loved the characters and the story but just can't be totally happy when a life's story ends on..." Read more

22 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive12 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some appreciate the well-paced story and character development, while others find it slow at the beginning and take a long time to read through.

"I found this book to be very slow and boring. I forced myself to finish due to good reviews I had read. I skipped easily half of the pages...." Read more

"...The characters are well developed and their growth is a well-paced, slow reveal. There is a good tension and pacing to the pages...." Read more

"This book started so slowly I wanted to put it down but it gradually grabbed my attention and teased me into wanting to continue...." Read more

"...As a novel it works well; the plot is intriguing, moves at a reasonable pace, and is told with a common vernacular that has moments here and there..." Read more

38 customers mention "Depressing content"0 positive38 negative

Customers find the book's content depressing and boring. They find the story too depressing and not very believable. Some readers feel the book is about nothing.

"Not a happy book, Smiley's stark revision of Shakespeare's tragedy, King Lear, is even more disturbing than the Bard's excruciatingly painful story...." Read more

"While this is written to reimagine Shakespeare’s king Lear, it is a tragedy, and the author spends a normal and in Norman and I abnormal amount of..." Read more

"This was no great book by any stylistic, aesthetic, or meaningful way (i.e. it won't "touch" or "move" you as great liturature tends to do)...." Read more

"...The story was decent, at a few times not very believable. The dialogue wasn't written with enough references as to who was speaking...." Read more

Not in good condition.-  underlining throughout. Book should have been sold as acceptable!
2 out of 5 stars
Not in good condition.- underlining throughout. Book should have been sold as acceptable!
Messy writing and underlining with pen. Crease in cover. Acceptable condition, not good!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2019
    I finally read this Pulitzer Prize winning novel after many years of reading something else instead. I'm sorry I delayed so long. It has many well crafted features that make it stand out as a literary gem. Clearly, the author has spent considerable time around Iowa farm families. She knows that men are occupied by tasks like moisture levels in corn or gauging the best day to sell hogs. Farm women do drive combines and neuter piglets, but are expected to fix early breakfasts and keep up household appearances as well. I read page after page of this 30 something farm wife going on and on about her cooking, her cleaning, her weeding, her bean picking, her canning, her dosing a jar of sauerkraut with poison to kill her sister...What! WTF?
    Jane Smiley knows when to unleash her thunderbolts. Just when the American pastoral setting is at dead calm, she summons one of the deadly sins onto the page. They all show up. Some critics have found this exhibition too atypical to be believed, but I think some people who feel cheated by life resort to extremes when outrageousness is tolerated. Old Larry Cook (the stand in for King Lear), acquired a thousand acres, begot three daughters and destroyed it all. When I read his dialog I heard Chuck Grassley's voice in my head. (Sorry Senator.)
    Towards the end of the book the author implants sections that serve as motivation for the next course of action and deserve to be read carefully. The conversation between Ginny and Rose in Chapter 38 is crucial. There are well written summations as well including the epilogue.
    15 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017
    This is a book club review of A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. Our book club had seven women present who read the book in entirety, ages 31 to 42. This was our 52nd read and our fifth Pulitzer. We rate books on their quality and readability, as well as the discussion they prompt. We also play trivia games and enjoy themed potlucks, and that plays into the rating as well. This particular book rated very high, in our top ten reads, with a score of seven out of ten. I won't summarize the book here much, as there are many reviews that serve that purpose, and will stick mostly to an examination of this book as a book club option.

    Quality/readability/discussion: This is a very well-written book with lots of depth, wit, word play, and emotion. The characters are well developed and their growth is a well-paced, slow reveal. There is a good tension and pacing to the pages. The subject matter may seem dull (the central female characters live mostly in a farm setting with their family, and the major crisis deals with family trauma) but the story is anything but that. Despite the rural and bucolic background, this book is a page-turning, taunt tale. There are many layers to these characters that unfold slowly and deliciously. The discussion went on for hours. We, of course, discussed the obvious connection to Shakespeare's King Lear - and that particular topic was engrossing. Smiley presents the older two daughters (in the play, they were the one-dimensional villains) in a more sympathetic light... giving depth and reason to their decisions. There were many topics here that we picked apart including family dynamics, feminist angles, money, hierarchy, destiny, history, and Americana. Six out of seven women felt that the book was very readable, with one member siting it as a difficult or challenging read. See below for TRIGGER topics (which present spoilers) if you have any worry about this book as a viable option.

    Games/Food/Etc.: This book developed a fun potluck theme (ironically... the potluck itself) as there were lots of mentions of church suppers, country dinners, country kitchens, and of course... the cuisine of Midwest Iowa. The games were lots of fun as well, with a highlight being Shakespeare trivia.

    Overall: This book rated high due to readability and great discussion. The book was praised for its quality of writing and its amazing, intellectual, and fresh examination of one of Shakespeare's lesser-known works. Everyone enjoyed the surprising twists and turns found within the narrative. One member found the book a bit dry and boring, but all of the other members found it to be fascinating (which was a bit of a fun surprise, as our favorite genre is thrillers/mysteries).

    TRIGGER WARNINGS: DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU DO NOT WANT SPOILERS. These topics could be considered trigger items for some book club readers. Please note that none of our book club members had any issues with these topics and the way they were explored or presented, but I include them as I get a request often to do so. This book includes feminist topics, adultery, a woman suffering from breast cancer, molestation/sexual abuse, and a graphic injury that occurs "off camera."
    90 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2015
    I first read this when I was around 17, doing a comparative literature course on Shakespeare and contemporary writers. This was my first time reading anything by Jane Smiley, and to be honest, the Pulitizer didn't mean a whole lot to me! Now, I love King Lear - in fact, it is my favourite of Shakespeare's published plays. Reading Shakespeare at 17, especially one of the less "famous" ones, was quite daunting, but reading Smiley's interpretation alongside it, made it not only easier, but it gave me a better appreciation of it.
    If you don't know the plot, here is a very simplified version: Smiley presents us with a family that owns a 1000 acre farm in 1970's Iowa. We have Larry, Caroline, Ginny and Rose who are obviously representing Lear, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Larry, who is getting on in years, decides to transfer ownership of his farm between his 3 daughters, with Caroline not agreeing. This begins a journey in which none of the characters fare very well.
    Much like Shakespeare's play, Smiley gives us a rich novel full of varying themes. However, it is also simple and honest. I say simple not as an insult, but indeed a compliment. Smiley is able portray common tragedies and instances of abhorrence and turn them into a multi-faceted series of events that propel the actions and growth of the characters.
    If you haven't read this novel, do yourself a favour and pick up a copy today!
    27 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • cris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Me ha gustado
    Reviewed in Spain on June 24, 2023
    Facil de leer y me ha gustado bastante
  • Yvonne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written
    Reviewed in Germany on February 5, 2022
    This is a family saga, all can benefit from reading.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Can be compared to The Field
    Reviewed in Canada on August 18, 2017
    Conservative farming families are the central characters in this novel. Struggles to achieve a successful farm subjugate all other desires. Throw in infidelity and betrayals and you have a riveting novel that will keep you reading long after bedtime.
  • Tim_HunterValley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Novel
    Reviewed in Australia on May 16, 2020
    Purchased this as part of my study with University. The novel draws from the Shakespearean King Lear and creates a modern interpretation set in contemporary America. It won the Pulitzer Prize and its hard not to see why. Great read.
  • Lakshmi Raj Sharma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply great
    Reviewed in India on December 1, 2016
    A brilliant novel.