Synopsis
John Crowley’s masterful Little, Big is the epic story of Smoky Barnable, an anonymous young man who travels by foot from the City to a place called Edgewood—not found on any map—to marry Daily Alice Drinkwater, as was prophesied. It is the story of four generations of a singular family, living in a house that is many houses on the magical border of an otherworld. It is a story of fantastic love and heartrending loss; of impossible things and unshakable destinies; and of the great Tale that envelops us all. It is a wonder.
First Paragraph, First Chapter
Men are men, but Man is a woman. —Chesterton
On a certain day in June, 19—, a young man was making his way on foot northward from the great City to a town or place called Edgewood, that he had been told of but had never visited. His name was Smoky Barnable, and he was going to Edge- wood to get married; the fact that he walked and didn’t ride was one of the conditions placed on his coming there at all.
My Thoughts
This is one of those stories that has been on my list forever, but I have never got around to reading. The story has a misty quality to it that is almost as if you are peering at the narrative through a fog. From what I have read of it, is beautifully done. I am looking forward to finishing it up one of these days. If you are new to this story, give it a read.
So many questions from that synopsis! And the “Chesterton” quote? passage? letter? I’m intrigued – adding to my TBR!
This is magical surrealism at it’s finest. Gorgeous writing, and visuals. Let me know what you think!
I started this book years ago (like more than ten?) and didn’t finish. I got busy and just had to put it aside and then didn’t come back. I remember it’s fae quality and other worldly aspect. I need to come back to it.
That is a great way to describe it! Otherwordly. It feels like reading something that us misty around the edges.