Two Moons: A NovelA galvanizing story of earthly heartbreak and otherworldly triumph, by the writer John Updike called "one of the most interesting American novelists at work". It's the spring of 1877 in Washington, D.C., and at the U.S. Naval Observatory, Hugh Allison's plan to project an image through time and space takes on urgent life when the mathematically gifted Cynthia May enters his orbit as one of the observatory's human "computers." But the fate of Hugh's heavenly vision-and of his love affair with Cynthia, a Civil War widow whose beauty has been shadowed by worry and poverty-may be out of his hands, decided instead by an astrologer and by the actions ofa dangerously magnetic politician. Thomas Mallon's moving romance mixes actual historical figures with fictional ones. By combining earthly matters-such as politics and money-with heavenly ones of love and immortality, Mallon evokes a distant time and place with astonishing immediacy and confirms his place as one of our most original and delightful writers. |
Contents
Section 1 | 3 |
Section 2 | 34 |
Section 3 | 61 |
Section 4 | 89 |
Section 5 | 112 |
Section 6 | 136 |
Section 7 | 164 |
Section 8 | 175 |
Section 9 | 191 |
Section 10 | 216 |
Section 11 | 243 |
Section 12 | 267 |
Section 13 | 294 |
Section 14 | |
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Common terms and phrases
admiral Allison already appeared arrived asked called closed coming Conkling Conkling's Custom Cynthia desk don't door eyes face feel felt give going gone half Hall hand Harkness Harrison he'd head hear heard hope hour House Hugh It's keep knew late later laughed least leaving less letter light looked Madam Costello Mary Mary Costello minutes Miss moon morning moving never Newcomb night noticed Observatory once passed past planet President Professor reached realized remained replied Rodgers Roscoe Conkling seemed senator she'd smile soon sound stars steps stopped Street suppose sure talk tell things thought Todd told tonight took trying turned waiting walked watched week woman wondered York young