A Summons to Memphis is a 1986 novel by Peter Taylor that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1987. It is the recollection of Phillip Carver, a middle aged editor from New York City, who is summoned back to Memphis by his two conniving unmarried sisters to help them prevent the marriage of their elderly father to a younger woman.
As the story unfolds, Phillip reflects on the major incidents in the life of his once well-to-do family, which was forced to leave Nashville during the time of the Great Depression after the older Mr. Carver, a distinguished lawyer, lost a great deal of money in failed investments with his then-friend and business associate Lewis Shackleford. Though this happened when the four Carver children were still in their teens, they recall the event as a great betrayal, and the resulting move had a major impact on them and continues to affect their abilities to build stable relationships and function as adults. Their lives were further dominated by their father as he ended romantic relationships for his children if he disapproved of them for any reason.
Ultimately, the oldest Carver son joined the army and died in World War II. Neither Phillip nor his sisters ever married. His sisters maintain an odd continued adolescence well into their fifties, dressing as though they were still attractive teenagers. Phillip moves to New York and lives with a younger woman whom he will never marry. The "summons" to Memphis in the book's title refers to several events, but chiefly a call by Phillip's sisters to return and help them block their then-octogenarian father from remarrying after the death of their mother.
The book is a rumination on the responsibilities of parents, friendships between men, the relationship between the "old" and "new" south, the nature of revenge and the possibility of forgiveness.
Photos of the first edition of A Summons to Memphis
October 27, 2023
summons, memphis, 1986, novel, peter, taylor, that, pulitzer, prize, fiction, 1987, recollection, phillip, carver, middle, aged, editor, from, york, city, summoned, back, memphis, conniving, unmarried, sisters, help, them, prevent, marriage, their, elderly, fa. A Summons to Memphis is a 1986 novel by Peter Taylor that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1987 It is the recollection of Phillip Carver a middle aged editor from New York City who is summoned back to Memphis by his two conniving unmarried sisters to help them prevent the marriage of their elderly father to a younger woman A Summons to MemphisFirst editionAuthorPeter TaylorCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishPublisherAlfred A KnopfPublication dateOctober 1986Media typePrint hardback amp paperback Pages224ISBN0 394 41062 9 hardback edition ISBN 0 345 34660 2 paperback edition OCLC13524488Dewey Decimal813 54 19LC ClassPS3539 A9633 S8 1986Plot summary editAs the story unfolds Phillip reflects on the major incidents in the life of his once well to do family which was forced to leave Nashville during the time of the Great Depression after the older Mr Carver a distinguished lawyer lost a great deal of money in failed investments with his then friend and business associate Lewis Shackleford Though this happened when the four Carver children were still in their teens they recall the event as a great betrayal and the resulting move had a major impact on them and continues to affect their abilities to build stable relationships and function as adults Their lives were further dominated by their father as he ended romantic relationships for his children if he disapproved of them for any reason Ultimately the oldest Carver son joined the army and died in World War II Neither Phillip nor his sisters ever married His sisters maintain an odd continued adolescence well into their fifties dressing as though they were still attractive teenagers Phillip moves to New York and lives with a younger woman whom he will never marry The summons to Memphis in the book s title refers to several events but chiefly a call by Phillip s sisters to return and help them block their then octogenarian father from remarrying after the death of their mother The book is a rumination on the responsibilities of parents friendships between men the relationship between the old and new south the nature of revenge and the possibility of forgiveness Awards and nominations editWon Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1987 Finalist for National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction in 1986 External links editPhotos of the first edition of A Summons to Memphis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title A Summons to Memphis amp oldid 1097231744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
