Shakespeare & Co. is pleased to host a celebration for the reissue of Norman’s Macleod’s classic novel The Bitter Roots on Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 pm. Missoula author Gabriella Graceffo, who wrote the afterword, will read from the book and be in conversation with Missoula author and Director of UM Press, Robert Stubblefield. This event is free and open to the public.
The Bitter Roots is more than just a novel—it’s a vivid snapshot of life in Missoula, Montana, from 1917 to 1920, through the eyes of a determined fourteen-year-old boy, Pauly. As he swims in the Clark Fork River one summer day, Pauly witnesses a tragedy that sets the stage for his own struggle to find his identity amidst the tumult of early 20th-century America.
Norman Macleod’s largely autobiographical novel, first published in 1941 and now reissued for the first time, offers an unfiltered portrayal of a nation grappling with the harsh realities of racism, class prejudice, labor disputes, and the impact of World War I. This forgotten classic brings to life the daily challenges faced by a young boy surrounded by violence, strikes, gang fights, and the looming presence of Prohibition.
The Bitter Roots provides a rare, unvarnished glimpse into a young America, where Macleod’s detailed recollections of Missoula capture the essence of a small town on the brink of change. Readers are treated to a literary journey filled with newspaper clippings, songs, movie ads, and patriotic slogans that paint a rich tapestry of the era.
This novel also offers a unique window into the formative years of Norman Maclean, the celebrated author of A River Runs Through It, and his brother Paul, adding another layer of depth to this historical narrative.