The Year 1959: A pivotal year
Explore the pivotal year 1959 through a curated reading list of iconic fiction, from Barbara Kingsolver's *Poisonwood Bible* to *Doctor Zhivago* and *Hawaii*.
Book
Doctor Zhivago
by Boris Leonidovich Pasternak
An epic novel of Russia before and during the Revolution.
Book
Lady Chatterley's Lover
by D.H. Lawrence
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING THE CROWN’S EMMA CORRIN AND UNBROKEN’S JACK O’CONNELL Lyric and sensual, D.H. Lawrence’s last novel is one of the major works of fiction of the twentieth century. Filled with scenes of intimate beauty, it explores the emotions of a lonely woman trapped in a sterile marriage and her growing love for the robust gamekeeper of her husband’s estate. The most controversial of Lawrence’s books, Lady Chatterly’s Lover joyously affirms the author’s vision of individual regeneration through sexual love. The book’s power, complexity, and psychological intricacy make this a completely original work—a triumph of passion, and a celebration of life.
Book
Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver
In 1959, Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist, takes his four young daughters, his wife, and his mission to the Belgian Congo -- a place, he is sure, where he can save needy souls. But the seeds they plant bloom in tragic ways within this complex culture. Set against one of the most dramatic political events of the twentieth century -- the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium and its devastating consequences -- here is New York Times-bestselling author Barbara Kingslover's beautiful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable epic that chronicles the disintegration of family and a nation.
Book
Ugly American
by William J. Lederer
The ineffectual Ambassador is just one of the handicaps facing the Americans as Southeast Asia becomes increasingly involved with Communism.
Book
Advise and Consent
by Allen Drury
Probes the drama and maneuvering surrounding the choice of an American Secretary of State.
