The Prodigal Village (1920)

The Prodigal Village is a novel written by Irving Bacheller, first published in 1920. The story is set in the fictional village of North Bromfield, located in upstate New York. The novel follows the lives of the residents of the village, particularly the family of the wealthy and influential Judge Priest. The central character of the novel is Judge Priest's son, John Priest, who is the ""prodigal"" of the title. John has left the village to seek his fortune in the city, but returns after a decade of absence. He finds that the village has changed in his absence, and he struggles to find his place in the community once again. As John tries to reconnect with his family and friends, he becomes embroiled in a local political dispute over the construction of a new road. The conflict pits the wealthy landowners against the working-class farmers, and John must choose which side to support. The Prodigal Village is a story of love, loyalty, and community, set against the backdrop of a changing rural America. Bacheller's vivid descriptions of the landscape and the people of North Bromfield bring the village to life, and his characters are richly drawn and memorable. The novel is a timeless exploration of the human experience, and a tribute to the enduring power of home and family.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.