Last House -- Jessica Shattuck

<p><strong>"An ambitious historical epic that doubles as an intimate family saga. Jessica Shattuck captures and connects it all--the imperial ambitions of the postwar generation, the rebellion of their offspring in the Sixties, and the fallout we're still sifting through today. . . . This is a wide-ranging novel to savor." --</strong> <strong>TOM PERROTTA</strong></p><p><strong>From the <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <em>The Women in the Castle</em> comes a sweeping story of a nation on the rise, and one family's deeply complicated relationship to the resource that built their fortune and fueled their greatest tragedy, perfect for fans of <em>The Dutch House</em> and <em>Great Circle</em>.</strong></p><p>It's 1953, and for Nick Taylor, WWII veteran turned company lawyer, oil is the key to the future. He takes the train into the city for work and returns to the peaceful streets of the suburbs and to his wife, Bet, former codebreaker now housewife, and their two children, Katherine and Harry. Nick comes from humble origins but thanks to his work for American Oil, he can provide every comfort for his family, including Last House, a secluded country escape. Deep in the Vermont mountains, the Taylors are free from the stresses of modern life. Bet doesn't have to worry about the Russian H-bombs that haunt her dreams, and the children roam free in the woods. Last House is a place that could survive the end of the world.</p><p>It's 1968, and America is on the brink of