The Prince of Tides: A Novel

“A masterpiece that can compare with Steinbeck’s East of Eden. … Some books make you laugh; some make you cry; some make you think. The Prince of Tides is a rarity: It does all three.” — Detroit Free Press

A modern American classic and a sweeping family saga that spans decades, this powerful work of Southern literary fiction is the story of the volatile Tom Wingo, his brilliant but troubled twin sister, Savannah, and the complex and damaging legacy of their dysfunctional family. Moving between the sparkling glamour of New York City and the vanishing beauty of the South Carolina low country, The Prince of Tides is Pat Conroy’s masterwork.

“A big, sprawling saga of a novel…the kind you hole up with and spend some days with and put down feeling you have emerged from a terrible, wonderful spell.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“A literary gem . . . The Prince of Tides is in the best tradition of novel writing. It is an engrossing story of unforgettable characters.” —The Pittsburgh Press

“With The Prince of Tides, it is Pat Conroy who has made the language sing and bleed at the same time. The pleasure is ours, but the triumph is his.” - Houston Post

“A masterpiece that can compare with Steinbeck’s East of Eden. … Some books make you laugh; some make you cry; some make you think. The Prince of Tides is a rarity: It does all three.” - Detroit Free Press

"This is a powerful book. ... Conroy is a master of language." - Atlanta Journal

“A big, sprawling saga of a novel. …The kind you hole up with and spend some days with and put down feeling you have emerged from a terrible, wonderful spell.” - San Francisco Chronicle

“A literary gem. …The Prince of Tides is in the best tradition of novel writing. It is an engrossing story of unforgettable characters. …. Its description of rural South Carolina and the effect of that ambiance on those who live there is masterful. Pat Conroy writes from the heart.” - Pittsburgh Press

“Teeming with the blows and victories of three generations…The Prince of Tides is Southern to the bone, in its generational saga, as well as its primeval geography of the heart.” - Boston Globe Sunday Magazine

“A seductive narrative, told with bravado, flourishes, portentous foreshadowing, sardonic humor and eloquent turns of phrase. … For sheer storytelling finesse, Conroy will have few rivals.” - Publishers Weekly

“A brilliant novel that ultimately affirms life, hope and the belief that one’s future need not be contaminated by a monstrous past.” - Chicago Tribune