The Eighth Day

In Thornton Wilder's acclaimed novel, The Eighth Day, a gripping murder mystery unfolds against the backdrop of a southern Illinois mining town, where the lives of two families are torn asunder following the accusation of John Ashley, a patriarch, for killing his best friend. As Ashley escapes execution and flees to South America, the narrative delves into a powerful exploration of human courage, aspiration, and the complexities of fate, ultimately tracing the lasting impacts of this tragedy on all involved. This edition features a foreword by John Updike and an afterword by Tappan Wilder, enriched with rare insights from Wilder’s unpublished letters and annotations.