Set against the dual backdrop of World War I and the devastating 1918 influenza epidemic, "The Last Town On Earth" is a brilliantly drawn tale of morality and patriotism in a time of upheaval. Deep in the evergreen woods of Washington State lies the mill town of Commonwealth, a new community founded on progressive ideals, and a refuge for workers who have fled the labour violence in the surrounding towns. When rumours spread of a mysterious illness that is killing people at an alarming rate, the people of the uninfected ...
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Set against the dual backdrop of World War I and the devastating 1918 influenza epidemic, "The Last Town On Earth" is a brilliantly drawn tale of morality and patriotism in a time of upheaval. Deep in the evergreen woods of Washington State lies the mill town of Commonwealth, a new community founded on progressive ideals, and a refuge for workers who have fled the labour violence in the surrounding towns. When rumours spread of a mysterious illness that is killing people at an alarming rate, the people of the uninfected Commonwealth vote to block all roads into town and post armed guards to prevent any outsiders from entering. One day, two guards - Philip Worthy, the 16-year-old son of the town founder, and his friend, Graham Stone, a hardened survivor of vicious strikes - are confronted with a moral dilemma. A starving and apparently ill soldier attempts to enter the town, begging them for food and shelter. Should Worthy and Stone admit him, possibly putting their families at risk? Or should they place their lives above his and let him die in the woods? The choice they make - and the reaction it inspires not only in their town but in the neighbouring town's league of suspicious patriots - sets into motion a series of events that threaten to tear Commonwealth apart. From the rich threads running through this period of history, Thomas Mullen has created a truly gripping tale, which grows in tension and suspense as the panic and conflict within the town take hold. A sweeping cinematic novel, with a compelling cast of characters, "The Last Town On Earth" powerfully grapples with the tensions of individual safety and social responsibility, and of moral obligation and duty in the face of forces larger than oneself.
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Seller's Description:
"Set against the dual backdrop of World War I and the devastating 1918 influenza epidemic, "The Last Town On Earth" is a brilliantly drawn tale of morality and patriotism in a time of upheaval. Deep in the evergreen woods of Washington State lies the mill town of Commonwealth, a new community founded on progressive ideals, and a refuge for workers who have fled the labour violence in the surrounding towns. When rumours spread of a mysterious illness that is killing people at an alarming rate, the people of the uninfected Commonwealth vote to block all roads into town and post armed guards to prevent any outsiders from entering. One day two guards-Philip Worthy, the 16-year-old son of the town founder, and his friend Graham Stone, a hardened survivor of vicious strikes-are confronted with a moral dilemma. A starving and apparently ill soldier attempts to enter the town, begging them for food and shelter. Should Worthy and Stone admit him, possibly putting their families at risk? Or should they place their lives above his and let him die in the woods?
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Book is in good condition. Minimal signs of wear. It May have markings or highlights but kept to only a few pages. May not come with supplemental materials if applicable.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Fair. The outside of the pages has brown wets spots. The cover shows heavy wear. The cover has curled corners. The pages show normal wear and tear. Fast Shipping-Safe and Secure Bubble Mailer!
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This item is in overall good condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have minor wear including slight curls or bends to corners as well as cosmetic blemishes including stickers. Pages are intact but may have minor highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have slight wear overall. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. Minor shelf wear overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
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Fair. This item is in overall acceptable condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have heavy wear including creases, bends, edge wear, curled corners or minor tears as well as stickers or sticker-residue. Pages are intact but may have minor curls, bends or moderate to considerable highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have heavy wear. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. A well-read copy overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
I was really looking forward to this book but I was a little underwhelmed. The writing wasn't bad and the concept was interesting but I was just left with a feeling that something was missing. I just can't put my finger on it. Still I've read other glowing reviews of this book and I would still recommend it to a certain friends. What I did like about this book was it explored how fear can change who you basically are. How far would you go to protect your family/town/way of life? I think I may have enjoyed the book more if it had more focus on Grant. He seemed to be the character in the most turmoil.
KimbC
Oct 11, 2007
Fascinating
Well written, gripping story about how fear changes us. This is a real page-turner. Some flash-backs are a bit slow compared to the rest of the book and not all characters are well developed, but the story is compelling and you'll want to see how it turns out in the end.