Lee Smith, Saving Grace

Cecilia Donohue (Independent Scholar - North America)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.4: American (US) Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary, 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Sofia Ahlberg (Uppsala University), Patrick Chura (University of Akron), Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Dale Enggass (University of Utah), Christopher Hugh Gair (University of Glasgow), Matthew Hofer (University of New Mexico), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Justin Parks (UiT - The Arctic University of Norway), Nick Selby (University of East Anglia)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1995

Places

United States (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

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Recommended Reading

Saving Grace

, Lee Smith's ninth novel, was published in 1995. Like Smith's 1983 novel

Oral History

, which is considered by many to be her best,

Saving Grace

takes place in the Appalachian region of the United States as progress and outside influences are gradually encroaching upon the nature and traditions of the area. In both novels, folklore, faith, fractured families and failed relationships play a role in the telling of personal histories. While

Saving Grace

lacks the richness of

Oral History

's multiple narration, its first-person testimony of Florida Grace Shepherd's coming of age and journey to self-knowledge is nonetheless compelling. The particulars of Florida Grace's story provide ample fodder for discussion, making this novel a worthwhile choice for reading lists in a variety…

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1518 words

Citation: Donohue, Cecilia. "Saving Grace". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 November 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=2234, accessed 16 April 2024.]

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Lee Smith, Saving Grace

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