The Wapshot Chronicle (1957) is John Cheever's debut novel, which won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction in 1958. Set in the fading Massachusetts fishing village of St. Botolphs, the story centers on the Wapshot family, whose fortunes and traditions are in decline. Leander Wapshot, the head of the family, is bound to the town’s past and struggles under the influence of his domineering cousin, Honora. She controls the family's finances and dictates the lives of Leander and his sons, Moses and Coverly. As the sons venture out into the world, the novel explores themes of legacy, change, and the randomness of fate. Both face challenges in their personal lives but eventually find a sense of reconciliation, allowing them to reconnect with their roots and honor their heritage. Through its depiction of family dynamics and the transition from past glories to uncertain futures, The Wapshot Chronicle reflects on the tension between tradition and modernity.
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