The Last Great Snake Show - Hardcover

McLaurin, Tim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399142800 ISBN 13: 9780399142802

Publisher: Putnam Adult, 1997

Synopsis

A cast of colorful characters, including a snake handler and a dancer, is brought together by a wealthy Southern woman and travels about doing their show, encountering various prejudices that cause them to take a closer look not only at others but at themselves as well.

About this title

Review:

In his fourth novel, Tim McLaurin plows the fertile ground of the poor, rural South. On their way to Canterbury, a group of errant pilgrims are actually an unlikely troupe: snake handler Jubal Lee, exotic dancer Gloria Peacock, and Cappy, a testy, old Vietnam war veteran. They're employed by Miss Darlene, owner of the House of Joy, a bar on the coast of North Carolina that serves up moonshine, catfish, and baked raccoon--plus Gloria Peacock's proud gyrations. But whatever union they've found is momentarily torn asunder by a tornado, leveling the House of Joy and leaving Miss Darlene fatally wounded.

As the troupe heads toward Oregon, where Miss Darlene bought property sight unseen, they have to muster all of their resources and wit to battle prejudices and perversions they never encountered at home. With each new confrontation, past demons rise up, forcing our heroes to realize they can't run from the past forever. They must decide which holds the higher value: striking out for the territory or staying to mine the treasures of home.

About the Author:

Tim McLaurin teaches writing at North Carolina State University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0399142800
• ISBN 13: 9780399142802
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224