The Planter of Modern Life

The Planter of Modern LifeDiscover the captivating life of Louis Bromfield, an influential figure in American agriculture and literature. This **brand new** biography, published by **W W Norton & Company** in 2021, reintroduces readers to a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist who transcended traditional literary acclaim. In the 1920s, Bromfield was as celebrated as Hemingway and Fitzgerald, known for his lavish hospitality and green thumb in Parisian literary circles. However, he

Discover the captivating life of Louis Bromfield, an influential figure in American agriculture and literature. This **brand new** biography, published by **W W Norton & Company** in 2021, reintroduces readers to a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who transcended traditional literary acclaim. In the 1920s, Bromfield was as celebrated as Hemingway and Fitzgerald, known for his lavish hospitality and green thumb in Parisian literary circles. However, he took an unexpected turn by investing in a dream to revitalize the land at his experimental farm, **Malabar**. This 352-page book offers an immersive dive into Bromfield's unique journey, highlighting his pioneering role in organic farming and environmentalism, long before these concepts took root in mainstream consciousness. This biography paints a vivid portrait of a man who transformed 600 acres of eroded land into a thriving cooperative farm, attracting celebrities and agricultural pioneers alike. With **historical insights**, anecdotes from his social circle, and a focus on sustainable agriculture, this narrative is perfect for readers passionate about farming, nature, and literary history. Whether you are an avid horticulturist or a lover of American literature, this book captures the spirit of Bromfield's legacy and his impact on eco-friendly practices. Note: **Shipping is free** for this item, with delivery expected within **6 weeks** after your order is placed. Once your order is confirmed, it cannot be cancelled. Don't miss this chance to explore the life of a man who nurtured both soil and society - a compelling read for anyone interested in the intersection of agriculture and literature.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780393868463
Year: 2021
Publisher: W W Norton & Company
Pages: 352


Description:


Louis Bromfield was a World War I ambulance driver, a Paris expat, and a Pulitzer Prize?winning novelist as famous in the 1920s as Hemingway or Fitzgerald. But he cashed in his literary success to finance a wild agrarian dream in his native Ohio. The ideas he planted at his utopian experimental farm, Malabar, would inspire America's first generation of organic farmers and popularize the tenets of environmentalism years before Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.


A lanky Midwestern farm boy dressed up like a Left Bank bohemian, Bromfield stood out in literary Paris for his lavish hospitality and his green thumb. He built a magnificent garden outside the city where he entertained aristocrats, movie stars, flower breeders, and writers of all stripes. Gertrude Stein enjoyed his food, Edith Wharton admired his roses, Ernest Hemingway boiled with jealousy over his critical acclaim. Millions savored his novels, which were turned into Broadway plays and Hollywood blockbusters, yet Bromfield's greatest passion was the soil.


In 1938, Bromfield returned to Ohio to transform 600 badly eroded acres into a thriving cooperative farm, which became a mecca for agricultural pioneers and a country retreat for celebrities like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall (who were married there in 1945).


This sweeping biography unearths a lost icon of American culture, a fascinating, hilarious and unclassifiable character who?between writing and plowing?also dabbled in global politics and high society. Through it all, he fought for an agriculture that would enrich the soil and protect the planet. While Bromfield's name has faded into obscurity, his mis