Gilead

Marilynne Robinson's novel Gilead (2004) is set in the fictional town of Gilead, Iowa, during the 1950s. The story is told through the letters of the aging Reverend John Ames to his young son, whom he hopes will read them as an adult. Through these letters, Ames recounts his family history and reflects on the human condition and the broader narrative of America. The novel explores themes of faith, family, and the complexities of life. Gilead was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005. Robinson later revisited characters from Gilead in three other novels: Home (2008), Lila (2014), and Jack (2020).1