The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer HomeFaced with the sale of the century-old family summer house on Cape Cod where he had spent forty-two summers, George Howe Colt recounts returning for one last stay with his wife and children in this stunning memoir that was a National Book Award Finalist and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. This poignant tribute to the eleven-bedroom jumble of gables, bays, and dormers that watched over weddings, divorces, deaths, anniversaries, birthdays, breakdowns, and love affairs for five generations interweaves Colt’s final visit with memories of a lifetime of summers. Run-down yet romantic, The Big House stands not only as a cherished reminder of summer’s ephemeral pleasures but also as a powerful symbol of a vanishing way of life. |
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The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home George Howe Colt Limited preview - 2003 |
The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home George Howe Colt Limited preview - 2004 |
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afternoon Anne asked Atkinson Aunt ball beach bedroom began believed Big House Bluff boat Boston brother brought built Buzzards Buzzards Bay called Cape Cod Colt course court cousins door Ellen father feel felt fish five floor Forbes four friends grandfather Grandma grandmother guests hand Harvard head Henry Jimmy keep kitchen knew land later learned leave less living look loved Mary months morning mother moved nearly never night once parents passed past play players returned sail seemed side sound spent stay summer Susannah swim talked tennis things told took trying turn Uncle walk wall wanted watch wind Wings Neck winter woods wrote