Summary:

"The Easter Parade" by Richard Yates chronicles the lives of sisters Sarah and Emily Grimes, from their troubled childhood to their divergent adulthoods. Set against the backdrop of mid-20th century America, the novel explores themes of love, disappointment, and the quest for happiness. Yates' unflinching portrayal of their struggles offers a poignant commentary on the human condition.

In The Easter Parade, first published in 1976, we meet sisters Sarah and Emily Grimes when they are still the children of divorced parents. We observe the sisters over four decades, watching them grow into two very different women. Sarah is stable and stalwart, settling into an unhappy marriage. Emily is precocious and independent, struggling with one unsatisfactory love affair after another. Richard Yates's classic novel is about how both women struggle to overcome their tarnished family's past, and how both finally reach for some semblance of renewal.

Editorial Reviews:

"A masterful narrative of love and loss. Yates captures the complexities of familial relationships with precision and empathy." - The New York Times

"Yates' prose is both beautiful and heartbreaking. 'The Easter Parade' is a timeless exploration of the search for meaning in life." - The Guardian

"An evocative and deeply moving novel. Yates' ability to portray the intricacies of human emotions is unparalleled." - Booklist

About the Author:

Richard Yates was an American novelist and short story writer, celebrated for his insightful and often bleak depictions of mid-20th century American life. Best known for his novel "Revolutionary Road," Yates' work continues to resonate for its emotional depth and narrative precision.