Earth and High Heaven: Amazon.ca: Gwethalyn Graham: Books

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Book Description

Publication Date: July 5 2003 | Series: Cormorant Classic Reprint Series

Winner of the 1944 Governor General's Literary Award For Fiction.

Earth and High Heaven is, simply, a drama of human relationships — of two people in love who are confronted by the obstacle of racial intolerance — presented with such cutting truth, such fidelity to life, such compassion and understanding, that their problem becomes, indelibly, the reader's own. With rare perceptiveness, Gwethalyn Graham takes the reader into the lives of Erica Drake and Marc Reiser, whose two worlds are separated by families and conventions. Here is the story of a man and woman who dared earth and high heaven to make their vision real.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } Winner of the 1944 Governor General's Literary Award For Fiction.

Earth and High Heaven is, simply, a drama of human relationships — of two people in love who are confronted by the obstacle of racial intolerance — presented with such cutting truth, such fidelity to life, such compassion and understanding, that their problem becomes, indelibly, the reader's own. With rare perceptiveness, Gwethalyn Graham takes the reader into the lives of Erica Drake and Marc Reiser, whose two worlds are separated by families and conventions. Here is the story of a man and woman who dared earth and high heaven to make their vision real.

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Product Details

Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: Cormorant Books (July 5 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1896951619
ISBN-13: 978-1896951614
Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 14 x 2.8 cm
Shipping Weight: 422 g

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #227,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

From the Publisher

After an absence of almost twenty years, Earth and High Heaven is back in print. This classic novel, published in 1944, was very timely; it spoke of the prejudices of its time, when Gentiles and Jews did not mix in society. When Erika Drake, of the Westmount Drakes, met and fell in love with Marc Reiser, a Jew from northern Ontario, their respective worlds were turned upside down. Set against the backdrop of the first three years of the Second World War, Earth and High Heaven captured the hearts and minds of its generation and helped to shape the more diverse and inclusive culture we have today.

Earth and High Heaven was the most successful Canadian novel of its time, winning many awards and prizes, including the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in 1945. (This award was founded to reward books that exposed racism or explored the richness of human diversity.) It was translated into eighteen languages and the film rights were purchased by Samuel Goldwyn for a remarkable $100,000. Earth and High Heaven was the first Canadian novel to top the New York Times bestseller list for the better part of a year.

About the Author

Gwethalyn Graham was born January 18, 1913 in Toronto. Her father was a lawyer, her mother entertained numerous international figures of importance in their home, and both encouraged their four children to think for themselves — theirs was a family which set the rules rather than followed them. At the age of 25, in 1938, she won her first Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction for her novel Swiss Sonata. After Earth and High Heaven, Gwethalyn wrote for Saturday Night, Chatelaine, and for film and television, and completed a collection of letters with Solange Chaput Roland titled Dear Enemies (1963). Gwethalyn died in 1965.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book Mar 22 2004

By Paul M Rodgers

Format:Paperback

Having read about this newly released book recently in the papers, I had to get it. Fanatical about Canadian literature I was amazed that I had never heard of this author. The story moves beautifully between historical and fictional and had me glued to the pages from start to finish. Although melodramatic at times, the characters are entirely believable. It truly is a shame that more people are not aware of this novel. It's a wonderful definition of Canadian society during World War II. Read this book. You won't regret it.

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Amazon.com: 4.6 out of 5 stars 5 reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book Mar 22 2004

By Paul M Rodgers - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Paperback

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ask Me How I Feel Sep 18 2008

By Delaney - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's an absolute shame that Gwethalyn Graham's life was too short and she graced the world with a mere 2 books. This book is easier to get a hold of in the U.S. than her other novel.

Erica Drake and Marc Reiser meet and there is an instant attraction. The problem begins. Erica Drake is from a wealthy Protestant family and Marc is a Jewish Lawyer and soldier.

The novel is set during World War II. Erica and Marc's relationship meets with the obstacles of anti-Semitism, family relationships, and finding that place where they belong, where their love can exist.

Gwethalyn Graham had a very fine talent for dialogue. She also seemed to have a real talent for understanding people's motiviations and the many intricate levels of human nature.

When you read this book, you will be able to take something with you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening and ultimately uplifting Sep 3 2005

By groovymamma - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Hardcover

Being a Canadian I was shocked to discover the realities of my beloved country's treatment of Jews during WWII. Ms. Graham's novel is well written and the characters are vivid and strong. Erica Drake is a woman torn between her genteel father and the Jewish Marc Reiser, both of whom she respects and loves dearly. Set against the backdrop of Montreal during WWII it is a tale of both a nation and a couple struggling with anti-semitism. The ending was beautiful and right. One of the most satisfying novels I've read this year.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews 4.6 out of 5 stars

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Earth and High Heaven [Paperback]