The Big House : A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home

A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home

By: George Howe Colt

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 June 2004

At a Glance

Paperback
336 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.43 x 13.97 x 2.79

Paperback

$37.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $9.44 with

or

Ships in 5 to 10 business days

Faced with the sale of the century-old family summer house on Cape Cod where he had spent forty-two summers, George Howe Colt recounts returning for one last stay with his wife and children in this stunning memoir that was a National Book Award Finalist and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

This poignant tribute to the eleven-bedroom jumble of gables, bays, and dormers that watched over weddings, divorces, deaths, anniversaries, birthdays, breakdowns, and love affairs for five generations interweaves Colt’s final visit with memories of a lifetime of summers. Run-down yet romantic, The Big House stands not only as a cherished reminder of summer’s ephemeral pleasures but also as a powerful symbol of a vanishing way of life.

Industry Reviews

David Halberstam What a wonderful book. George Howe Colt has taken an original idea -- over four generations a house is a family and a family is a house -- and turned it into an uncommon success, becoming in the process the writer as family archaeologist. It's a book that stands in a line with The Late George Apley and The Proper Bostonians.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

More in Biographies

Bread of Angels

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$28.75

18%
OFF

The Mushroom Tapes

Conversations on a Triple Murder Trial

Paperback

RRP $36.99

$29.75

20%
OFF

Steve Irwin : A Little Golden Book Biography - Sarah Mahoney

$28.75

18%
OFF

Kylie Minogue : A Little Golden Book Biography - Mia Ashley

$38.75

22%
OFF

Art Work

On the Creative Life

Hardcover

RRP $55.00

$42.75

22%
OFF

Champions Do Extra

Lessons from the rugby legend on resilience, mindset and leadership

Paperback

RRP $36.99

$29.75

20%
OFF

You Only Live Once

The Little Guide to Drake

Hardcover

RRP $17.99

$16.75

Your Time Starts Now

Food and fame, failure and freedom: the life story of Australia's first MasterChef

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

Sunstruck

An inspiring memoir of survival, resilience and one man's fight to save lives

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$26.99

23%
OFF

The Anthony Bourdain Reader

New, Classic and Rediscovered Writing

Hardcover

RRP $49.99

$38.75

22%
OFF

Bread of Angels

Hardcover

RRP $44.99

$35.75

21%
OFF

My Cursed Vagina

A memoir

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$29.99

14%
OFF

Born to Race

The Little Guide to Oscar Piastri

Hardcover

RRP $17.99

$16.75

In Love and Death

The Lost Notebook

Hardcover

RRP $99.99

$71.75

28%
OFF

Love Like This

A Memoir

Paperback

RRP $36.99

$26.99

27%
OFF

Hidden

Betrayed, Exploited and Forgotten. How One Boy Overcame the Odds.

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

I'm Glad My Mom Died

Paperback

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF

Year of Yes (10th Anniversary Edition)

Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun, Be Your Own Person

Hardcover

RRP $55.00

$42.75

22%
OFF

Richard the Lionheart

In Life and in Legend

Hardcover

RRP $39.99

$33.75

16%
OFF

What's Your Dream?

Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life.

Paperback

RRP $26.99

$22.99

15%
OFF

Out of the Ashes

A young woman's survival of White Island, and the mother's love that saved her

Paperback

RRP $36.99

$29.99

19%
OFF

You with the Sad Eyes

A Memoir

Paperback

RRP $34.99

$29.99

14%
OFF

Prologue: Winter	p. 1

Arriving	p. 5
The Family Tree	p. 20
1963	p. 30
The Discovery of Cape Cod	p. 42
Rooftree	p. 60
Renovations	p. 79
Fishing	p. 89
The North and South Faces	p. 100
The Barn	p. 117
Plain Living	p. 123
Money	p. 131
Sailing	p. 142
Tennis	p. 158
Midsummer	p. 173

Hidden House	p. 181
The Big Cove	p. 205
Missing Cards	p. 217
Rain	p. 228
The White Elephant	p. 237
Full House	p. 257
Florida	p. 272
Leaving	p. 284
Epilogue: Indian Summer	p. 301
Notes on Sources	p. 321
Acknowledgments	p. 325
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.

The Big House : A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home

A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Biographies

Bread of Angels

The Mushroom Tapes

Conversations on a Triple Murder Trial

Steve Irwin

A Little Golden Book Biography

A Fortunate Life

The Australian Classic

Kylie Minogue

A Little Golden Book Biography

Look Closer

How to Get More Out of Reading

Art Work

On the Creative Life

Champions Do Extra

Lessons from the rugby legend on resilience, mindset and leadership

You Only Live Once

The Little Guide to Drake

Your Time Starts Now

Food and fame, failure and freedom: the life story of Australia's first MasterChef

Sunstruck

An inspiring memoir of survival, resilience and one man's fight to save lives

The Anthony Bourdain Reader

New, Classic and Rediscovered Writing

Bread of Angels

My Cursed Vagina

A memoir

Born to Race

The Little Guide to Oscar Piastri

In Love and Death

The Lost Notebook

Love Like This

A Memoir

Hidden

Betrayed, Exploited and Forgotten. How One Boy Overcame the Odds.

I'm Glad My Mom Died

Year of Yes (10th Anniversary Edition)

Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun, Be Your Own Person

Richard the Lionheart

In Life and in Legend

What's Your Dream?

Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life.

Out of the Ashes

A young woman's survival of White Island, and the mother's love that saved her

You with the Sad Eyes

A Memoir

This product is categorised by