Sweet Promised Land, 50th Ed.
The Loom of the Desert

The Ox-Bow Incident

Set in 1885, The Ox-Bow Incident is a searing and realistic portrait of frontier life and mob violence in the American West. First published in 1940, it focuses on the lynching of three innocent men and the tragedy that ensues when law and order are abandoned. The result is an emotionally powerful, vivid, and unforgettable re-creation of the Western novel, which Clark transmuted into a universal story about good and evil, individual and community, justice and human nature. As Wallace Stegner writes, [Clark’s] theme was civilization, and he recorded, indelibly, its first steps in a new country.

More Adult Books

  • These perspectival, character-driven stories center on the margins and are deeply rooted in New Orleanian culture.
  • In The Other Valley, sixteen-year-old Odile navigates the complexities of time and choice as she vies for a position on the Conseil, which controls the borders of her town. When she discovers that the parents of her friend Edme have crossed into her present from the future, she must confront her feelings for him while grappling with the immense responsibility of preserving the timeline.
  • The Queen of Sugar Hill tells the poignant story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award, as she navigates the complexities of fame and identity after her historic win. Facing both adoration and scorn, she struggles to find her place in a divided society while remaining committed to paving the way for future Black actors. ReShonda Tate masterfully captures Hattie's resilience and determination in this unforgettable tale of ambition and equality.