Four and a half million people read The Old Farmer's Almanac each year, and for fourteen years, the essays of Castle Freeman, Jr., have been a prominent feature. Freeman delights in Vermont through every season of the year, observing and participating in what happens inside the countryman's mind and outside it. He has something to say about all aspects of modern country life, from rototillers and chain saws to rabbits and raccoons, from day lilies to maple sugar, from snow on the roof to mice in the woodpile. He finds much in nature on which to draw a moral: "Woodpeckers make other birds look like triflers. Their lives have a complexity and purpose that reminds us of ourselves." Writing in the parallel traditions of Gilbert White and Benjamin Franklin, Freeman evokes a way of life sufficiently challenging to be exciting, sufficiently quiet to be philosophical, sufficiently varied to be fun. This book is for pleasure, to roll over in the mind in city and country alike, a book to keep by

Spring Snow: The Seasons of New England from the Old Farmer's Almanac

Castle Freeman Jr.

Science & Math

Houghton/Mifflin

The Vermont hill country is the stark, vivid setting for this gripping and entertaining story of bold determination. The local villain, Blackway, is making life hellish for Lillian, a young woman from parts elsewhere. Her boyfriend has fled the state in fear, and local law enforcement can do nothing to protect her. She resolves, however, to stand her ground, and to fight back. A pair of unlikely allies – Lester, a crafty old-timer, and Nate, a powerful but naive youth – join her cause, understanding that there is no point in taking up the challenge unless you’re willing to “go through.” In this modern-day drama, a kind of Greek chorus – wry, witty, digressive; obsessively, amusingly reminiscent; skeptical, opinionated, and not always entirely sober – enriches the telling of this unforgettable tale as the reader follows the threesome’s progress on their dangerous, suspenseful quest.

Go with Me

Gerald Duckworth Co Ltd

The Devil in the Valley

In this gripping, wise, and darkly funny tale of suspense, Sheriff Lucian Wing confronts a series of trials that test his work, his marriage, and the settled order of his life. Wing is an experienced, practical man who enforces the law in his corner of Vermont with a steady hand and a generous tolerance. Things are not as they should be, however, in the sheriff’s small, protected domain. The outside world draws near, and threats multiply: the arrival in the district of a band of exotic, major league criminals; an ambitious and aggressive deputy; the self-destructive exploits of a local bad boy; Wing’s discovery of a domestic crisis. The sheriff’s response to these diverse challenges calls on all the personal resources he has cultivated during his working life: patience, tact, and (especially) humor.

All That I Have: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Contemporary

Steerforth

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Castle Freeman Jr.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Castle Freeman Jr.