Crooked River Burning
Categories: Literature & Fiction
Crooked River Burning is a 2001 novel by Mark Winegardner, set in Cleveland, Ohio, between 1948 and 1969. Its title refers to the Cuyahoga River fires, the last of which, in 1969, became a symbol of industrial pollution. The book follows the romance between David Zielinski, a working-class West Side boy who goes into politics, and Anne O'Connor, the daughter of an East Side political boss. Their story is intercut with real Cleveland history, from the 1948 World Series to riots and urban decline.
Recommended by 1 person
- Stephen King: “A great American novel about…Cleveland? Yes, children, this is the real deal — by the man who has revived Mario Puzo’s Godfather characters with such wit and élan.”