Research Catalog

Title

House of good hope : a promise for a broken city / Michael Downs.

Author

Downs, Michael, 1964-

Publication

Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, c2007.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

viii, 318 p.; 22 cm.

Summary

"Combining a reporter's eye for detail, the breathless narrative rush of an action movie and the generous heart of a hometown boy desperately trying to make sense of a place gone terribly wrong, Downs examines the social and economic disintegration of Hartford, Conn., in the 1990s through the coming-of-age of five African-American teenage boys. These young men-track stars, football players, scholars-try to make the right decisions while local and state politicians squabble over money, drug gangs roam the streets and the middle class-both white and black-flees to the suburbs. Harvey, Derrick, Eric, Hiram and Joshua make a pledge that no matter their future path, they will return to Hartford to rebuild their shattered city. The first half of the book flows with the power and grace of a finely tuned magazine article. Then Downs loses his focus and gets bogged down in a lengthy recounting of the boys' track coach's trial. The narrative shifts from the boys-now young men with growing families and burgeoning careers-to Downs's own struggle with his identity and the declining health of his grandfather. If the narrative splinters, perhaps it is an apt metaphor for the boys' pledge. Just one-Joshua-returned to Hartford. (Apr.)"--Publishers Weekly.

Series Statement

River Teeth literary nonfiction prize

Uniform Title

River teeth literary nonfiction prize (Series)

Subject

• Hartford (Conn.) > Social conditions
• High school athletes > Hartford
• People with social disabilities > Hartford
• Youth with social disabilities > Hartford

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 309-318).

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

ISBN

• 9780803260122 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 0803260121 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2006029420

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library