That Summer

That Summer follows the intertwining lives of wealthy residents in the California town of Greenmont during one transformative season. The narrative centers on the social dynamics and personal conflicts within this privileged community. The story tracks multiple characters through their romantic entanglements, family tensions, and power struggles. Set against the backdrop of California's monied elite, the novel explores the public faces and private truths of Greenmont's most prominent citizens. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Allen Drury, this work marks a departure from his well-known political novels like Advise and Consent. The book peels back layers of social pretense to examine themes of class, appearance versus reality, and the price of belonging in high society.

Readers describe this as one of Drury's lesser-known and more personal works, with a quieter tone than his political novels. The book averages 3.8/5 stars on Goodreads from 32 ratings. Readers appreciated: - Detailed portrait of small-town California life in the 1930s - Coming-of-age story elements - Focus on family relationships - Historical accuracy of the Depression era setting Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than Drury's other books - Plot meanders without clear direction - Characters lack depth compared to his political novels - Too much focus on mundane details From Amazon reviews (3.5/5 from 12 ratings): "Captures the feel of a simpler time but the story never quite takes off" - Reader J.M. "A departure from his usual style that will disappoint political thriller fans" - Reader D.K. Limited review data exists since this book had a smaller readership than Drury's more famous works.

All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren A chronicle of political corruption and power follows the rise and fall of a Southern demagogue, drawing parallels to the themes of political manipulation found in That Summer.

Advise and Consent by Allen Drury This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel examines the inner workings of Washington politics during a controversial Secretary of State nomination, expanding on the political intrigue present in That Summer.

The Last Hurrah by Edwin O'Connor The story tracks an aging politician's final campaign in a changing political landscape, reflecting the political machinery and personal relationships that drive That Summer.

The Gay Place by Billy Lee Brammer Three interconnected narratives explore Texas politics and the lives of those caught in its web, mirroring the political dynamics and character studies found in That Summer.

The Best Man by Gore Vidal Two candidates vie for their party's presidential nomination while dealing with personal scandals and political maneuvering, echoing the political power struggles central to That Summer.

🌟 Drury won the Pulitzer Prize for his political novel "Advise and Consent" (1959), making "That Summer" a departure from his usual Washington-focused narratives. 🏠 The fictional town of Greenmont was inspired by several affluent California communities, including Beverly Hills and Hillsborough, which experienced similar social dynamics in the 1960s. 📚 This was one of Drury's rare ventures into social drama; he was primarily known for his political thrillers and became America's foremost political novelist of the Cold War era. 🎭 The book was released during a period of significant social change in California, as the state's population and wealth grew dramatically during the post-war economic boom. 🖋️ Before becoming a novelist, Drury worked as a journalist for 15 years, including stints at the New York Times, which influenced his observant, detail-oriented writing style.