Country People | Daniel Mason

Country People: A Novel

Extended Synopsis

Miles Krzelewski is a devoted husband, a doting father beloved for his outlandish bedtime stories, and the proud owner of a truffle-hunting dog in a land with no truffles. He is also a bit lost, twelve years late with his PhD on Russian folktales, and increasingly haunted by a sense that he's become a disappointment to his family. So when his wife, Kate, accepts a visiting professorship at a prestigious college in the faraway forests of Vermont, he decides that this will be his year to finally move forward with his life.

But Miles is a man of many enthusiasms, possessing a great capacity to fall in with anyone, anywhere. No sooner does he arrive than he finds himself entangled with a cast of characters as colorful as any of his folktales—from a ghostly tree surgeon to a scythe-mad biochemist, a Shakespearean temptress, and a photographer of snowflakes obsessed with chronicling the world’s delusions. The new friends, the enchanted woods, and the histories provide endless diversion, until Miles stumbles upon a bizarre local legend that he soon suspects might not be just a legend after all. Country People is a joyous, absurd, and life-affirming exploration of marriage, the nature of belief, and the ways in which we find connection in an increasingly fragmented world.

Author Biography

Daniel Mason is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the bestselling author of acclaimed works such as North Woods. Widely regarded as one of America’s greatest living writers, his lyrical storytelling frequently explores human connection, natural landscapes, and the profound nuances of family life.

Reader Targeting

• Readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction with a joyous, life-affirming tone.
• Fans of stories featuring quirky, colorful ensembles and rural community settings.
• Those who appreciate explorations of marriage, parenthood, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Accolades & Key Highlights

• Acclaimed Author: Written by a Pulitzer Prize finalist and acclaimed bestselling novelist.
• Luminous Storytelling: Highly anticipated follow-up to the literary triumph North Woods.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main setting of Country People?
The novel takes place primarily in the faraway, enchanted forests of rural Vermont, where the family relocates for a visiting professorship.

Who is the protagonist of the story?
The story follows Miles Krzelewski, a devoted husband and father who is twelve years late finishing his PhD on Russian folktales.

What are the central themes of the novel?
The book explores themes of marriage, parenthood, the nature of belief, the power of storytelling, and the search for human connection.

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