Midlander

Published in 1923, Midlander is the third novel in Booth Tarkington’s acclaimed Growth trilogy, which also features The Turmoil and The Magnificent Ambersons. Renamed National Avenue in 1927, this captivating story follows Dan Oliphant, a figure of boundless optimism who possesses a unique foresight about the impending transformation of his Midwestern market town into a bustling industrial city. Through a series of vivid vignettes, the novel explores Dans life and the diverse reactions of his family to both his character and the sweeping changes around them. At its core, Midlander poses profound questions about the choices we make in life and what truly matters in our journey. (Summary by Zach Hoyt)