Historical

The Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway

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  • Create Date：2021-07-10 11:31:09
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Amor Towles
  • ISBN：0593452097
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Summary

The bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility and master of absorbing， sophisticated fiction returns with a stylish and propulsive novel set in 1950s America

In June， 1954， eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year for involuntary manslaughter。 His mother long gone， his father recently deceased， and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank， Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother and head west where they can start their lives anew。 But when the warden drives away， Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car。 Together， they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future。

Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view， Towles’s third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings， characters， and themes。

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Reviews

Dorie - Cats&Books :） ，

DO YOU WANT TO GO ON A ROAD TRIP？？？？ The year is 1954 and our trip will take place along The Lincoln Highway。 We’ll start in New York City and travel to the end in San Francisco。 What you won’t know is how many different “side trips” and wonderful characters that you will encounter on your way。 。 Buckle up HERE WE GO！！！！！！READY TO MEET YOUR FELLOW TRAVELERS？Emmet Watson， age 18 is being driven to his home in Nebraska after having been released from a juvenile work farm。 Emmet’s mother had died m DO YOU WANT TO GO ON A ROAD TRIP？？？？ The year is 1954 and our trip will take place along The Lincoln Highway。 We’ll start in New York City and travel to the end in San Francisco。 What you won’t know is how many different “side trips” and wonderful characters that you will encounter on your way。 。 Buckle up HERE WE GO！！！！！！READY TO MEET YOUR FELLOW TRAVELERS？Emmet Watson， age 18 is being driven to his home in Nebraska after having been released from a juvenile work farm。 Emmet’s mother had died many years ago and now his father has passed away and the family home and failed farm are in foreclosure。 Emmet will have sole custody of his younger brother Billy。 He has come home to settle things and to pick up his brother and his car。 He is ready to start life anew， out of Nebraska and headed West， Texas or California。Young Billy Watson has been waiting for his brother’s return for 18 months。 He welcomes him with open arms！！！！！！！After their father died， a neighbor and friend watched Billy until Emmett was released。 Billy is a curious little guy， super intelligent and with lots of love to share， he has some interesting tastes in books！ His very favorite “big red book'' is something he keeps in his backpack at all times。 “PROFESSOR ABACUS ABERNATHE’S COMPENDIUM OF HEROES， ADVENTURERS AND OTHER INTREPID TRAVELERS”。 Given to him by the school librarian it is his most prized possession！ Billy will read many stories to friends along the way！！As soon as the warden drives away， two of Emmet’s friends from the farm appear on his doorstep， having hidden in the back of the truck， they still have part of their “sentence” to complete。 Duchess is a “wild and crazy” guy。 He’s mostly kind hearted but has hatched a plan with Wooley that should get them all a lot of money。He’s an alcoholic and often not dependable。 But when he sets his mind on something he will pursue it at all costs。 Wooley， is a well intentioned friend and will do anything for those he cares about。 He is estranged from his wealthy family。 He will， however， inherit money from his grandfather when he turns 18。 Wooley isn’t really that interested in the money， to him friendship and trust are more important。 He is a somewhat troubled young man， always different from his peers， and often ignored by his family。 He always felt like a PIECE OF A PUZZLE THAT DIDN'T FIT！I completely lost myself in this story。 Mr。 Towles is a master storyteller。 While I enjoyed his prior books， this one is definitely my favorite。 This novel and cast of characters drew me in。 It is， of course， beautifully and meticulously written。 At times a bit wordy， I loved how this group of adventurers continued to get side tracked to different places。 THAT’S A LOT LIKE LIFE ITSELF！！！The characters are so real， I feel a little lost now that the book is over。 I had to wait a day to write this review because I knew I would “gush” and I still have。 This is a book that I would love to put into everyone’s hands！ It’s about family that we are born into and families that are “made” by a combination of the people we love。 This is a quote from the novel “Wouldn’t it have been wonderful， thought Woolly， if everybody’s life was like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle。 。 。 。one person’s life would just fit snugly in its very own， specially designed spot， and in so doing， would enable the whole intricate picture to become complete”。 Is that not a beautiful quote？This novel is set to publish on October 5， 2021。I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and author through Edelweiss。 ， 。。。more

Eileen Miskell ，

I can’t wait for this book to be in our store this October to share with other Amor Towles fans。 I sat back and enjoyed the characters and the story。

Shannon A ，

A Beautiful crafted tale of friendship， family and adventure told with tenderness in rough contrast of the characters’ flaws。 This novel is an American road trip masterpiece。

Ellen ，

For anyone who loved A Gentleman in Moscow and William Kent Krueger’s This Tender Land， this is not to be missed。

Linda Quinn ，

This fantastic story starts as Emmett Watson is returned to his family's farm， lost to the bank after the death of his father。 He's been gone for over a year， serving time in a juvenile detention center/ work farm and is only home to retrieve his brother Billy and his car， the only things of value left to him。 Before he and Billy are able to hit the road to California， friends of Emmett's from the work farm arrive and plans go quickly awry。 Towles has created a Huck Finn for 1950's America， usin This fantastic story starts as Emmett Watson is returned to his family's farm， lost to the bank after the death of his father。 He's been gone for over a year， serving time in a juvenile detention center/ work farm and is only home to retrieve his brother Billy and his car， the only things of value left to him。 Before he and Billy are able to hit the road to California， friends of Emmett's from the work farm arrive and plans go quickly awry。 Towles has created a Huck Finn for 1950's America， using freight trains and the lure of the Lincoln Highway in place of the Mississippi River。 I would give this book 10 stars if I could。 。。。more

MarySue ，

One of the most compelling aspects of this novel is the quiet development of the characters。 Each reveals twists of the background and plot that together makes their lives intriguing and unforgettable。

Meg C ，

4。5 stars• A precocious kid， a young curmudgeon， a scamp， and a friend on a road trip in 1954， told by Amor？ Sold！！• Plus bonus myths and legends-but maybe a tad too many and a tad too on the nose？• It's all about the journey， so I shouldn't complain about the ending？ 4。5 stars• A precocious kid， a young curmudgeon， a scamp， and a friend on a road trip in 1954， told by Amor？ Sold！！• Plus bonus myths and legends-but maybe a tad too many and a tad too on the nose？• It's all about the journey， so I shouldn't complain about the ending？ 。。。more

Christian Duchateau ，

I loved this book。 Another masterfully told story from Mr。 Towles， so expertly crafted and impactful。 Populated with such memorable characters， a sense of nostalgia， some sadness， and most importantly， empathy。 Wholly original and worlds different from his previous work。 My time spent with Emmett， Billy， Sally， Duchess， Woolly & Ulysses won't soon be forgotten。 And if anyone thought there would be a drop-off after "A Gentleman in Moscow，" think again。 Fans will love this novel， and Mr。 Towles is I loved this book。 Another masterfully told story from Mr。 Towles， so expertly crafted and impactful。 Populated with such memorable characters， a sense of nostalgia， some sadness， and most importantly， empathy。 Wholly original and worlds different from his previous work。 My time spent with Emmett， Billy， Sally， Duchess， Woolly & Ulysses won't soon be forgotten。 And if anyone thought there would be a drop-off after "A Gentleman in Moscow，" think again。 Fans will love this novel， and Mr。 Towles is sure to win a legion of new followers， deservedly so， as he's written one of the best books of the year。 。。。more

Mel ，

Review to come。

Rebecca ，

This book is big—in size， in scope， in story。 And so enthralling。 In the vein of his other books， The Lincoln Highway does not disappoint。 Towles is a consummate story unwinder and this story unwinds beautifully with characters so distinct （as we experience the story through their eyes and experience） and so relatable。 I traveled the Lincoln Highway with them in all its majesty， grandeur， and happenstance。 It is a brief segment of lives richly drawn and eminently engaging。

Joanna ，

I have a problem with time。 When will October 5 come？？？？

Teri ，

This is the third book that I have read by this author。 I believe I have given five stars to each one。 Like one’s children， I have loved each; with their distinctly different stories ，but with the same fantastic writing that makes them all knockouts。 Most authors that I read are well vodka to the top shelf vodka that is Mr。。 Towles。 Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

Clare ，

I tore through this book and that is saying something as it is a big book！ Excellent characterisation that led you on a rollercoaster adventure across 1950s mid to eastern USA as fate and thought scupper all the plans。 The story of people brought together under unfortunate circumstances。 How too much kindness can be a flaw。 I spent so much time saying ‘no no no Duchess！’ Wanting the best for them all。 It is funny and despairing and hopeful and heartbreaking and kind and full of love and awfully I tore through this book and that is saying something as it is a big book！ Excellent characterisation that led you on a rollercoaster adventure across 1950s mid to eastern USA as fate and thought scupper all the plans。 The story of people brought together under unfortunate circumstances。 How too much kindness can be a flaw。 I spent so much time saying ‘no no no Duchess！’ Wanting the best for them all。 It is funny and despairing and hopeful and heartbreaking and kind and full of love and awfully sad。 I hope you enjoy it as much as I have。 I still think about every character in the warmest way （except the preacher， the preacher not so much at all！）。 。。。more

Hillary ，

Towles writes the kind of books that help you remember why you love reading。 Effervescent， a little bit melancholy， and， ultimately， charming。

Jill ，

While not as charming as Gentleman in Moscow， the story and the characters are very engaging in this grittier tale。 Well-developed characters and twists in plot （just like real life） keep this book open to read at every free moment。 The Lincoln Highway isn't so much a character as a device to guide the characters' paths。 Highly recommended。 While not as charming as Gentleman in Moscow， the story and the characters are very engaging in this grittier tale。 Well-developed characters and twists in plot （just like real life） keep this book open to read at every free moment。 The Lincoln Highway isn't so much a character as a device to guide the characters' paths。 Highly recommended。 。。。more

Stephanie Crowe ，

In his inimitable style， Towles， takes an incredible journey with Emmett and Billy Watson as they search for their mother who disappeared earlier in their lives。 But it is not a simple journey and there are a myriad adventures along with way with two wayward friends and many others they meet during their meandering travels。 A most amazing escapade that is reminiscent of the classical Greek traveler， Ulysses。 This surprising tale is captivating and must be read to be believed。 Absolutely fascinat In his inimitable style， Towles， takes an incredible journey with Emmett and Billy Watson as they search for their mother who disappeared earlier in their lives。 But it is not a simple journey and there are a myriad adventures along with way with two wayward friends and many others they meet during their meandering travels。 A most amazing escapade that is reminiscent of the classical Greek traveler， Ulysses。 This surprising tale is captivating and must be read to be believed。 Absolutely fascinating！ 。。。more

Diana ，

So much genuine sweetness and so much aching loss in this book。 Everyone tries to be kind， or at least all the main characters in this book do， even Duchess， the character who always causes all the trouble for everyone around him。I loved this， but it made me feel anxious much of the time I read it。 Emmett knew just what he wanted to do- and he could never do it。 It was like one of those dreams in which you’re late getting to the airport， but you keep remembering things you absolutely need to pac So much genuine sweetness and so much aching loss in this book。 Everyone tries to be kind， or at least all the main characters in this book do， even Duchess， the character who always causes all the trouble for everyone around him。I loved this， but it made me feel anxious much of the time I read it。 Emmett knew just what he wanted to do- and he could never do it。 It was like one of those dreams in which you’re late getting to the airport， but you keep remembering things you absolutely need to pack， and then the car won’t start， and endless barriers are put in your way。Emmett is almost 18 when gets out of a Nebraska juvenile detention facility/work farm in 1952。 There’s not much to return to。 His mother ran off a long time ago- one of those aching losses- his father has just died， and the family farm has been lost to mortgages。 But he has his 10-year-old brother Billy， a Studebaker， a little money， and some know-how around tools and building things。 The plan is to head west。 But then two of the other inmates at the juvenile detention facility show up。 One of them is Woolly， a big child from a rich， WASPy family back east， and the other is Duchess， a chaos agent， a charmer， and one of the best characters I’ve ever found in a book。 Everyone winds up going in the opposite direction they thought they would。This is a delight from the beginning。 Towles is better and better at creating characters。 The narration gets passed around between the characters I’ve already mentioned and also to Sally， the woman from the next farm over who has a tart， opinionated voice， and who has absotively had it with farm life， cooking and cleaning， and she winds up being part of this adventure too。 It takes no time for you to know these characters and to care about them deeply， and there are tons of those unpredictable， charming conversations I love most when I’m reading。I loved this book more than Rules of Civility， which had some pacing problems， and A Gentleman in Moscow。 One of the pleasures of the latter was its leisurely pace- but it could be too leisurely。 Spoilers below。That ending was abrupt。 Surely Emmett and Billy won’t just get to go to California with their hundred thousand dollars？ The police will never want to clean up some loose ends by talking with him？ Also- Emmett doesn’t know it， but he did kill another person- Duchess- as he swore he never would， although you could totally make a case for Duchess having killed himself。 I can’t quite believe that Emmett， moral person as he was， would have just left Woolly to rot up in that bedroom， wouldn’t have insisted on going to the police。Billy was maybe a little too much？ Always noticing everything， figuring everything out perfectly。 But whatever- I can accept him。 People are eccentric sometimes。As sad as I am about Duchess’s end， I think it follows the parameters of the world presented in this book。 He bashed through the world brandishing frying pans like the goddamned angel of death- and he was just going to saunter out of this with a big pile of money？ And this death was exactly what someone- Townsend？- had said about Duchess。 He focuses in on one thing- the bills blowing off his great stack of them- and misses what’s in his peripheral vision: he can’t swim and if he moves， the boat will sink。And Woolly。 How I loved Woolly’s wonderful day， FAO Schwarz， tea at the Plaza， the circus， the professor， the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge， pasta mon amore。 Fuck you， “Dennis。” And poor sister Sarah！I’ll miss the world of this book。 Thanks to Edelweiss for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Elisabeth ，

I will admit that I was initially put off by this book because it deviates so significantly from Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow。 I wanted more of the style and content I've come to know and love with Towles' writing。 After a week of being annoyed and a bit pissed off， I put on my big girl pants and restarted The Lincoln Highway。What Towles delivers is an epic adventure of three almost adult men and an eight year old boy。 Young Billy quickly steals the limelight and will delight read I will admit that I was initially put off by this book because it deviates so significantly from Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow。 I wanted more of the style and content I've come to know and love with Towles' writing。 After a week of being annoyed and a bit pissed off， I put on my big girl pants and restarted The Lincoln Highway。What Towles delivers is an epic adventure of three almost adult men and an eight year old boy。 Young Billy quickly steals the limelight and will delight readers with his quick wit and gentle observations。 His ever present big red book offers myth， history and insight。 The shenanigans of Woolly and the Duchess kept me at the edge of my seat while Emmett's steadfast focus on California tried to ever push the escapade westward。 The multiple literary and historical references throughout the novel gave me a summer's worth reading list。 Overall， a very endearing read。 。。。more

Laura Hill ，

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。 The book will be published on October 5th， 2021。Writing: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 4/5On the one hand， a wild adventure story。 It is 1954 and 18-year old Emmet Watson is driven back to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile detention facility where he has served 15 months for involuntary manslaughter。 His mother left years ago， and his father just died; the bank is prepari Thank you to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。 The book will be published on October 5th， 2021。Writing: 5/5 Characters: 5/5 Plot: 4/5On the one hand， a wild adventure story。 It is 1954 and 18-year old Emmet Watson is driven back to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile detention facility where he has served 15 months for involuntary manslaughter。 His mother left years ago， and his father just died; the bank is preparing to foreclose on the farm and all their belongings。 He is now the guardian of his 8-year old brother， Billy。 While they plan to drive to California to start a new life， two stowaways （Duchess and Woolly） from the facility have a different idea。 And so it goes…The writing is — of course — excellent。 The narration alternates between Emmett， Duchess， and Woolly， with occasional chapters from a few others。 Each character has a distinctive voice as they describe both events and their inner thought processes during the ten days covered。 Billy is my favorite character — never a narrator he somehow becomes a focal point for all of the stories。 He is earnest， innocent， smart as a whip， and somewhat beatific。 Billy doesn’t go anywhere without his large red book — Professor Abacus Abernathe’s Compendium of Heroes， Adventurers and Other Intrepid Travelers。 This book — which mixes mythical with real-life heroes （all male by the way） in its A to Z collection — serves as a kind of Greek chorus for the action as Billy pores over the pages offering its inspiration to those he meets。There are many layers to this book， and I don’t claim to understand them all。 Well articulated moral themes as interpreted and internalized by our different players。 I loved Sister Agnes’ Chains of Wrongdoing lecture （which I include in the quotes below）。 This book will keep book club discussions going forever。 Interesting note: I loved Rules of Civility and yet tried twice to read A Gentleman of Moscow and could not get past about page 50。 This book was impossible to put down。 One more interesting note: I did find this book a little stressful which says more about me than about the book。 It reminded me of the nightmares I sometimes have where I need to get to the airport but things keep happening and then while trying to address those things， other things keep happening， etc。 There is an element of that in the pages that stressed me while I tried （in my head） to get our protagonists back on track。 My advice for reading — just let it go and enjoy the ride。A few good quotes:“Rather， the comfort of knowing one’s sense of right and wrong was shared by another， and thus was somehow more true。”“Some evidence of that one desire so delectable， so insatiable that it overshadowed all others， eclipsing even the desires for a home， a family， or a sense of human dignity。”“From a man’s point of view， the one thing that’s needful is that you sit at his feet and listen to what he has to say， no matter how long it takes for him to say it， or how often he’s said it before。”“One of her favorite lessons was something she referred to as the Chains of Wrongdoing。 Boys， she would begin in her motherly way， in your time you shall do wrong unto others and others shall do wrong unto you。 And these opposing wrongs will become your chains。 The wrongs you have done unto others will be bound to you in the form of guilt， and the wrongs that other have done unto you in the form of indignation。 The teachings of Jesus Christ Our Savior are there to free you from both。 To free you from your guilt through atonement and from your indignation through forgiveness。 Only once you have freed yourself from both of these chains may you begin to live your life with love in your heart and serenity in your step。”“Let’s simply say that my academy was the thoroughfare， my primer experience， and my instructor the fickle finger of fate。” 。。。more

Shirley Freeman ，

What an incredible story teller Amor Towles is！！ I loved this new odyssey of four young men in 1950s America。 If A Gentleman in Moscow felt like the great Russian novel of its time， this feels like the great American novel of its time。 After serving 18 months in a detention center for an unintended accident， Emmett arrives back on the Kansas farm to pick up his Studebaker and his little brother and hit the road for， say， Texas， to begin a new life。 So many complications arise - Billy has his own What an incredible story teller Amor Towles is！！ I loved this new odyssey of four young men in 1950s America。 If A Gentleman in Moscow felt like the great Russian novel of its time， this feels like the great American novel of its time。 After serving 18 months in a detention center for an unintended accident， Emmett arrives back on the Kansas farm to pick up his Studebaker and his little brother and hit the road for， say， Texas， to begin a new life。 So many complications arise - Billy has his own thoughts about where to go， two friends from the detention center， with their own ideas about next steps， pay a surprise visit and neighbor Sally has her ideas about who to include。 It made me laugh， wince， and shake my head。 Just wanted it to keep going！ 。。。more

Tammy ，

Terrific！ Review TK

Emily ，

！！！！！！！ I had to call Cybil on the PHONE to learn about this book！

Fantaghiro23 ，

This is magical。 And it doesn’t even have any actual magic in it！ But it’s just a beautiful， beautiful tale with characters you care a lot about。

Lisa ，

A shaggy dog epic quest/road trip story with a cast of compelling characters， cheerful with more than a touch of malice。 The end was really discomfiting， even for a person who doesn't like happy endings， and I'm still thinking about it。 A shaggy dog epic quest/road trip story with a cast of compelling characters， cheerful with more than a touch of malice。 The end was really discomfiting， even for a person who doesn't like happy endings， and I'm still thinking about it。 。。。more

sidney ，

My excitement for this book is LITERALLY unparalleled。 I haven't read Rules of Civility yet but A Gentleman in Moscow is in my top 10， so。。。 My excitement for this book is LITERALLY unparalleled。 I haven't read Rules of Civility yet but A Gentleman in Moscow is in my top 10， so。。。 。。。more

Chrissie ，

***********************Rules of Civility 5 stars*A Gentleman in Moscow 2 stars*The Didomenico Fragment TBR*The Lincoln Highway TBR ***********************Rules of Civility 5 stars*A Gentleman in Moscow 2 stars*The Didomenico Fragment TBR*The Lincoln Highway TBR 。。。more

ر ，

I can't wait。I can't wait。I can't wait。I can't stress this enough that I can not wait。 I can't wait。I can't wait。I can't wait。I can't stress this enough that I can not wait。 。。。more

Jillian Doherty ，

Set during the 1950's in the midwest。 Spanning just ten days， and told from multiple points of view; a multi-layered literary styling while providing an array of new and richly imagined settings， characters， and themes - Imagine if Oh Brother Where Art Thou had been directed by Martin Scorsese。Wit， humor， intrigue， sophisticated storytelling， a flawless command of style， fascinating and compelling characters， splendid atmosphere， exquisite insight into human behavior-it's all here。Towels' novel Set during the 1950's in the midwest。 Spanning just ten days， and told from multiple points of view; a multi-layered literary styling while providing an array of new and richly imagined settings， characters， and themes - Imagine if Oh Brother Where Art Thou had been directed by Martin Scorsese。Wit， humor， intrigue， sophisticated storytelling， a flawless command of style， fascinating and compelling characters， splendid atmosphere， exquisite insight into human behavior-it's all here。Towels' novel has a thriller-ish element to it; one of the characters is a Machiavellian bad seed， a charming， manipulative， unreliable narrator passing himself off as something he is not。galley borrowed from the publisher。 。。。more

Ian Davis ，

Very excited for this one！ The premise sounds wonderful， and I LOVED A Gentleman in Moscow。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Lincoln Highway

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Lincoln Highway&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Lincoln Highway&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0