First published 1975
Judge Howard Potter has died after a prolonged illness in his suburban Philadelphia town. The respected citizen leaves behind five people whose lives he shaped in profound ways. Each survivor carries memories and emotions tied to Potter, and through their individual perspectives, the true story of the judge emerges. One by one, these five very different characters reveal their innermost thoughts about the man who influenced them. Their recollections weave together past and present, creating a portrait of Potter that goes beyond his public reputation. Morris enters the minds of each character rather than observing from above, allowing their authentic voices to tell the story. The novel explores how one person's death forces others to examine their own lives and relationships. Through these intimate reflections, the emotional weight of loss and memory becomes clear.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: multiple-perspectives, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Philadelphia, Suburban
Period: 20th Century
312 pages · Paperback · University of Nebraska Press