#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER#1 INDIE BESTSELLER”The Four Winds seems eerily prescient in 2021 . . . Its message is galvanizing and hopeful: We are a nation of scrappy survivors. We’ve been in dire straits before; we will be again. Hold your people close.”—The New York Times“A spectacular tour de force that shines a spotlight on the … close.”—The New York Times
“A spectacular tour de force that shines a spotlight on the indispensable but often overlooked role of Greatest Generation women.”—People
“Through one woman’s survival during the harsh and haunting Dust Bowl, master storyteller, Kristin Hannah, reminds us that the human heart and our Earth are as tough, yet as fragile, as a change in the wind.” —Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing
From the number-one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them.
“My land tells its story if you listen. The story of our family.”
Texas, 1921. A time of abundance. The Great War is over, the bounty of the land is plentiful, and America is on the brink of a new and optimistic era. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a woman’s only option, the future seems bleak. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows.
By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail and water dries up and the earth cracks open. Dust storms roll relentlessly across the plains. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsa’s tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive.
In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family.
The Four Winds is a rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it—the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.
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This was a hard book to read in the sense that it was extremely intense. Knowing that the events portrayed actually happened added to the intensity. So well written and one of those books you don’t put down until it’s finished. As I write this, having just finished reading it, I feel emotionally exhausted, but in a good way. I highly recommend this book, but block out a window of time because you won’t want to put it down.
As she evolves from wuss to warrior you cheer for the heroine of this absorbing and educational novel set in the dust bowl of Texas and California during the Depression. I experienced this book through its audio version, read by extremely talented Julia Whelan and ending with an interesting interview with her and the author, Kristin Hannah.
Easy reading and very informative of what went on in the early years.
I loved this book so much, I didn’t want it to end. The characters are so real, and the history of the times is authentic. I‘be read all of Kristen Hanna’s books, and each one is a treasure.
I’ve read a lot of Great Depression books – mainly true stories, diaries etc about that time. I also read and loved the Grapes of Wrath – Steinbecks book. I was so excited when The Four Winds came out and it was worth every penny. To say I enjoyed the book wouldn’t be quite right. The writing is wonderful and the story line true to life but when you see what those poor people endured in the Great Depression, it makes you feel so lucky to have what we have today. Sure Covid is causing us all problems but hopefully our lives will be back to relative normality soon.
Wonderful historical fiction portraying The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Finely crafted story that will emit many emotional experiences.
Yes, it was depressing. But that period in our history was depressing. In fact, it was called “the Great Depression”. But the story was also about hope and courage — and home. I loved the strong female characters. You could root for them to succeed. Five stars.
I was extremely move emotionally throughout !this story. The characters were brilliantly developed. I laughed out loud and cried in grief. Historically accurate depiction of the individuals, families, cities and states impacted by the great dust bowl .
Kept me wanting to read more. Great characters
I do not recommend this book. Too much of the writing focuses on dust storms, etc. you want to say, I get it already. It is a very depressing book and certainly not one to read during a pandemic.
Beautifully written, thought provoking, story of strong, under appreciated, women.
So real you can imagine yourself living it. Makes you want to read it again.
An incredibly moving book about hard times and the strength you find for survival. The courage one finds within themselves at difficult times as well as the humanity that one shows in struggle definitely defines the character of the individual.
Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.
Elsa shows this strength as well as a real sense of the mother daughter struggle and bond. Elsa Martinelli has to make a choice like her neighbors do: she may stay with her two kids and fight for her land or go west to settle in California for better life opportunities. Her life can never be defined as a fairytale. Till her childhood times she has been forced to be a survivor, a fighter. She fought with serious illness, she worked hard to earn love of her parents who never respected or accepted who she is, she never really finds her voice until she has her back up against the wall. Else finds a family in one that did not welcome her with open arms and then hangs on to that family when she is left alone, then with the strength she has she strikes out on her own to save the family that belongs to her.
I enjoyed the book as well as learning additional historical facts from the voice of the women. Kristin Hannah provides the voice of the woman in many of her novels. The Four Winds really hits home by adding the women’s voice to the struggles that women had when history books focuses on the voice of men as well as the struggles of men. Well Done Kristin Hannah!!
Exceptional writing, complex character development, interesting story.
The only thing I would say is that writing was a little too left of center for me politically.
Given the overwhelming ‘out of the gate’ praise for The Four Winds, I often wonder if such books can live up to expectations. This one absolutely did. Kristin Hannah’s latest novel is a compelling page turner. The linear plot moves along effortlessly as we follow the story of Elsa and her children as they confront one of nature’s most extreme hardships visited on America at that time – the Dust Bowl. After finally abandoning their fight to survive, Elsa leads her family along with thousands of other farmers west ti the promise of California – where they end up confronting another enemy – human bigotry. Readers will come away with admiration for the strength and perseverance of these American pioneers.
This was a very well-written book, but definitely not a feel-good read. Having written a number of stories that are within or pass through this era, I can say without a doubt that it is historically accurate and well-detailed. Although I have read a number of things pertaining to this area and knew a happy ending was neither likely nor logical, bI was nonetheless hoping. I would say this book is definitely worth reading, but if you are feeling blue or held down by the isolation of social distancing, etc. you might want to hold off reading this one until our own situation starts looking up.
Fabulous story about strong women understanding their worth
Love this!! Read it in three days. Also ordered more Kristin Hannah books because I’m so far behind!
Should be required reading for all students … middle school though college. …teachers & professors included.
Maybe a little to realistic portrayal of the dust bowl years. I kept on waiting for the main character to catch a break and find happiness. The book is well written but depressing