Those Days: An American AlbumThe MacArthur Grant-winning journalist who has written previously on village life in Asia, Africa, and Latin America here turns to his own heritage in a history of his family from 1880-1940. Initially, the book seems a skillful, but placid portrait of rural Midwestern life. However, uncovering the tragic dissolution of Critchfield's father--the author knew him only as a young child--turns the story from thoughtful nostalgia into a brooding chronicle that is turbulent, disturbing, and completely fascinating. The book's core is drawn from interviews with neighbors and family, as well as contemporary local newspapers, and hundreds of family documents, letters and journals. These pages of interviews re-create the dream-like workings of memory, fastening on minor details, linking unrelated images and ideas, omitting basic facts, yet telling the important story. Critchfield extrapolates and fills in details, his careful research justifies and gives credence to these fictions. |
Contents
Prologue | 1 |
Saints 17741884 | 13 |
Hadwen and Jessie Family Journal 188491 | 24 |
Copyright | |
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Anne asked Betty boys brother brought called church cold coming Critchfield Daddy dance didn't died doctor dollars door eyes face Fargo farm farmer Father feel felt Fessenden fire five four front gave getting girl give gone Hadwen hand hard he'd head hear heard horses Hunter Iowa Jessie Jimmy keep kids kind knew later letter light lived looked loved meeting miles minstrel show morning Mother moved never night North Dakota once played Quaker remember running seemed side sing sitting snow Sometimes soon started stayed summer talk tell thing thought told took town train trees trying turned walk wanted week whole wind window young