A Louisiana Coastal Atlas: Resources, Economies, and Demographics (The Natural World of the Gulf South)

Although the 1960 movie starring Robert Mitchum and Eleanor Parker was quite good, it raises questions about the actions of the characters. As is usual, the book expands on the characters and explains their motivations.

The Hunnicutts are Wade, landowner, legendary hunter, and womanizer, much admired by everyone except his wife Hannah, the ultimate martyr. Son Theron idolizes his father and loves his mother. When the story begins, Hannah has died. Her coffin is taken to the graveyard, where three gravestones stand. The stones mark the dates of death of all three Hunnicutts -- the same day, fifteen years earlier. She's been dressed in a sequined gown from the 1920's, and in the coffin are written instructions that she be buried without ceremony. Her grave had been dug years before but has to be cleared of leaves and branches.

So you're hooked right there. How did Wade and Theron die? Why was Hannah's date of death the same as the others? Why the sequined gown?

The novel is set in a small town in Texas but could be a small town anywhere. Humphrey gets everything right. There's enough plot to keep readers interested, but it's more of a character study, focusing mainly on young Theron.

I'd recommend it for readers of any age. There's no explicit sex, violence, or language, and it's an excellent picture of life and morality in the 40's and 50's.

Humphrey's book is remarkable -- a tour de force on any number of levels. The story is brilliantly evocative of East Texas in the 1950s; the writing is masterful throughout; but more than anything "Home From the Hill" is a beautiful and shattering story about a young man and his father. A book-jacket note compares William Humphrey to William Faulkner; read this novel and you will understand that the comparison is not hyperbole.

This book was wonderful surprise. It is well written, engaging, and accessible for all readers. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a story full of intrigue, mystery, regional lore, and controversy.

I saw the movie at home during quarantine and decided to look for the book. The book is very different from the movie, much better than the movie. The seller was terrific! The delivery service, I don't remember which one, said the package was delivered, but it was not. I contacted Thrift Books and was offered another copy to be sent immediately, no cost and no questions asked. Amazing service!

The writing style is formal yet simply worded. I loved the flow, the authenic characters and decriptions of a place and time. For me, the book has the movie beat in every way!It earns its status as a classic.

This is a story that has stayed with me for years. I saw the movie first and I think it is the best of the two. Although different from the book, it is my favorite because the book is darker. I'm a literature major and I wanted to compare the two.

How can you improve on a classic? You don't.

Humphrey was and is a first rate novelist.