Originally published: New York: Summit, 1990; London: Picador, 2004.

Formerly CIP. Uk

"Heavy-built Jack Burdette is quite literally too big for his boots - and too big, certainly, for the small-town attitudes of Holt, Colorado. But when he fails to make the grade as a college footballer, and takes a job with the local farmers' cooperative, it seems he has finally settled into the rhythm and routine of everyday life. Outward appearances can be deceptive, however, as Jack proves: returning from a weekend conference with a new wife in tow, then leaving her behind and skipping town with a bundle of other folks' money. Nearly a decade later, no one has forgiven or forgotten, and when Jack reappears, resentment runs high. Once again, though, it is Jack whose presence - even more than his eight-year absense - proves the most devastating.
With sparse, simple prose, Kent Haruf paints a revealing and insightful portrait of small-town life - and the chilling consequences of one man's actions." -- Back cover